56 VEGETABLE GltOWlNG IN NEW SOUTH WALES. 



GARLIC. 



This plant is grown for flavouring purposes, but is otherwise of little 

 culinary use. 



The soil and cultivation requirements of garlic are similar to those of 

 other crops of the onion family. It is propagated either by planting bulblets 

 or cloves 6 inches apart in rows 1 foot apart, or the- whole bulb envelope, 

 which consists of about ten cloves, is planted at distances of 1 foot apart. In 

 either case planting should be very shallow, and may be carried out during 

 the autumn or winter. Small Red is the variety desired by sauce 

 factories. 



GRAMMA. 

 See Pumpkin (page 73). 



HERBS* 



All herbs do exceptionally well in this State, and every householder should 

 have a few plants of the more important sorts, even if he confines his opera- 

 tions to growing them in pots. All garden soils will be found suitable for 

 the purpose. Those plants that are propagated from seed should be raised 

 in the spring, but where only one or two plants are required it would be 

 an advantage to buy rooted plants. 



For marketing, the tops are either bunched and sold green, or they may be 

 dried and the leaves separated, in which condition they are in most demand. 

 Large quantities are annually imported in this dried state, but: as there is a 

 protective duty of id. per Ib. on imports there is considerable scope for local 

 growers. 



Mint. This perennial plant requires a situation where there is a constant 

 supply of moisture, such as a creek bed, &c., where it will spread very 

 rapidly. The method of propogation is by rooted plants, these quickly send 

 out underground roots, which can be divided and used for extending the bed. 



As grown in suburban gardens mint is harvested green and sold in bunches. 



Oils distilled from variecies of mint have high commercial values (spear- 

 mint <! per gallon, peppermint 15s. to 18s. per gallon). One local firm alone 

 requires annually a quantity equal to the product of over 100 acres ; at 

 present outside sources are depended on for supplies. 



English or black mint is the best of the peppermint varieties, and spear- 

 mint is of a lighter green colour, and longer in the leaf. 



Marjoram. This plant is easily grown from seed, and lasts for many 

 years. 



Parsley. The seed of this herb is very slow in germinating, and better 

 results are obtained by sowing in a seed-box containing good quality soil, 

 and transplanting to the field when the plants are very young, as they form 

 a very long taproot. Fresh plants should be raised every year. 



Sage. This herb is more in demand than any other in its dry state. The 

 plant is easily grown from seed, or it may be propogated by root division^ 

 and when established will last for years. Besides the ordinary variety, there 

 is a giant form known as Mammoth, which has proved of merit. 



