The Vegetable Garden. 491 



THE VEGETABLE GARDEN, 



August, 1920. 



By H. B. Terry, Cert. R.H.S., Lecturer in Horticulture. School of 

 Agriculture, Potchefstroom. 



As this month begins the sowing calendar for the spring and summer, all spare 

 ground that has not been dug over and manured should be so prepared without 

 delay. 



Under cover for protection from frosts the following may be sown : — 



Cabbage. — Early Jersey, Wakefield, Surehead, Copenhagen Market, Castle. 

 These are not mammoth varieties, but as they mature early they all help in 

 giving successional crops. 



Cauliflower. — Early heading varieties are Early London, Gilt Edge, Snow- 

 ball. An early crop and a late crop are all that can be successfully grown. 

 The summer heat is too great for others. 



Tomato. — Earliana, Bonnie Best, Beauty, Sunrise, Matchless. It is best to 

 sow these in tins or boxes and give a little bottom heat by placing the tins on 

 a well tramped bed of stable manure. 



Mustard and Cress should be sown in boxes and protected to cause the 

 plants to grow quickly and stand erect. 



In open ground, according to climatic conditions, there is a great variety of 

 vegetables that may be sown in drills. 



Broad Beans. — Further sowings may be made; they require fairly rich soil 

 and at all times plenty of water. 



Beetroot. — Eclipse, Egyptian, Turnip-rooted are good sorts to sow now. 

 Thin out the young seedlings later on and transplant. 



f Carrots. — Early Dutch Horn, Chantenay, and Model may be sown to 

 mature during November and December. 



Knol-kohl (Kool Rabi). — White Vienna, Goliath should be sown for succes- 

 sion. The young seedlings should be thinned early and ti'ansplanted. 



Radish. — All varieties excepting China Rose and Spanish. 



Turnips. — A good sowing should be made for spring use. 



Peas.— Where severe frosts have prevented sowings the present is a good 

 time to commence. Dwarf sorts such as Daisy, Gradus, American Wonder, 

 Stratagem, Pride of the Market give the earliest yield. Late sorts may also be 

 sown to follow on and prolong the season. Peas are not as a rule successfully 

 grown if sown later. 



Herbs. — Mint, Marjoram, Thyme, and Sage may be lifted, divided, and 

 replanted. 



Asparagus. — No time should be lost in completing the planting of this 

 delicious vegetable. The crowns commence to grow early and any check is 

 disastrous. 



Rhubarb may be divided and replanted. Old established crowns may be 

 forced to provide early succulent stalks by placing half barrels, buckets, or 

 parafl&n tins over them and giving plenty of water. Care should be taken not 

 to overdo the forcing, otherwise it weakens the plant. 



Scarlet Runner Beans.- — These roots unless removed will break into growth 

 this spring and give an early crop. The soil around them should be covered 

 with manure and left. It is too early for other varieties of beans to be sown. 



Lettuce. — Both Cos and Cabbage varieties may be sown. If too crowded 

 the seedlings may be transplanted and given copious supplies of water. 



Chicory and Seakale will provide a beautiful lot of stalks for boiling as 

 vegetables if treated in the same way as described above for rhubarb. 



To grow vegetables successfully they must be kept continually on the move 

 and never allowed to check. The soil should always be kept loose and moist. 

 Don't keep on continually sprinkling the soil. (Give a good soaking, then 

 cultivate when dry enough. This keeeps down weeds, saves watering, and allows 

 air to get down to the roots. 



