680 JOUENAL OP THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. 



October, 1920. 



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

 Agriculture, Potchefstroom. 



Taken on an avercage the present spring season may be considered an early 

 one ; sowings may he made of all summer crops, though it would be wise to 

 omit Broad Beans, Turnips, and Cauliflowe.- at this stage. 



Beans (Dwarf). — Canadian Wonder, Wax Podded, Everbearing, Sugar 

 Beans, Stringless, Natal Red, White Kidney, etc., may be sown in drills 

 15 to 18 inches apart; 6 to 8 lb. of seed required per acre. These dwarf kinds 

 are usually ready for table in eight weeks. Soaking the seed hastens germina- 

 tion. 



Beetroot. — Make a good sowing of Eclipse, Egyptian, Crosby's. The rows 

 need only be 20 inches apart ; thinning the seedlings out to 6 inches in the 

 rows materially as.sists the crop. 



Cabbage.— Sow Surehead, Castle, Mammoth, Early Offenham, to transplant 

 end of November for first crop. Grow seedlings in rich soil to force them 

 along all the time and so ward off attacks of aphis. 



Carrot. — Continue to sow for succession ; water freely, and keep down 

 weeds to ensure a tender crop. 



Celery. — Early plants may now be planted in trenches. 



Cucumber.- — General sowings may now be made, either in clumps of three 

 or singly in rows. 



Egg Plant. — Should be sown or transplanted 3 feet apart each way. This 

 is a delicious vegetable when sliced, fried in butter, and served with raw 

 tomatoes. 



Leeks. — Transplant all available seedlings and sow another small lot to 

 follow on. 



Lettuce. — To be successful this must now be grown quickly. Iceberg, 

 Neapolitan, Continuity, Boston, etc., are suitable cabbage varieties. 



Melons. — Sow Watermelons and Sweet Melons. Keep the soil moist and 

 clean; watch for cutworms. 



Mealies. — Sweet Corn should be sown largely; do not put in too much 

 at one time ; sow fortnightly. 



Onions. — Plant out all available seedlings. Autumn-sown crops should 

 now be forming bulbs ; plenty of water is necessary to enable them to develop 

 fully. Sow Eaily Golden Globe, Prizetaker, Au.stralian Brown, Ailsa Craig. 



Parsnips. — Hollow Crown, Student, Gearnsey are useful sorts to sow now. 

 The soil must be deep and well worked. 



Peas. — Sow a main crop of Black-Eyed Susan. As a rule the summer heat 

 is too great for other varieties. 



Pumpkins. — Make a large sowing of good long-keeping varieties. 



Squashes, such as Custard, Long White, Long Green, Bush, and Hubbard 

 are useful summer sorts. 



Tomatoes. ^ — Early raised plants may now be transplanted in almost every 

 district. The plants come into bearing much earlier if staked and the laterals 

 are pinched out from the axis of the leaves. 



Radish. — Sow French Breakfast, Turnip Rooted for succession; grow these 

 quickly and use when ready, otherwise they bolt to seed. 



Pot.\toes. — Plant tubers for main crop now; give liberal supplies of manure; 

 keep a lookout for any sign of leaf blight and spray with bordeaux mixture. 



Herbs.- — Herbs of all sorts should be divided and replanted without further 

 delay. 



Spinach. — Where the o'dinary sorts are diflBcult to cultivate, New Zealand 

 spinach will be found very successful. It should be sown 2 feet apart in 

 drills; later, thin out seedlings to 1 foot apart. The young growths may be 

 continually cut for u.se throughout the summer. 



