VEGETABLE GROWING IN NEW SOUTH WALES. 



71 



The treatment of seed is also important ; variety and treatment often 

 assert a greater influence on the yield than cultivation and manuring. Seed 

 exposed to light and air is better than that taken direct from the pit. Where 

 early crops are grown, more especially on the coast, the question of "boxing" 

 the seen in autumn should receive consideration. This treatment causes a 

 greening of the tubers, and develops short, sturdy, green shoots which are 

 not easily broken off. In addition to this, the crop gets an early start, and 

 there is less loss in storage. 



On coastal areas seed from cooler districts should be obtained at least once 

 a year. Immature seed is considered better than mature, and to this fact 

 is attributed some of the superiority of cold-country seed. If a seed is cut, 

 the sets should be as uniform as possible ; the number of eyes in the set has 

 not the same influence on the production as the size of the set. The sets 

 are dropped 12 to 18 inches apart in drills 27 to 30 inches apart, and after- 

 wards covered 4 inches deep. The manure should be dusted along the 

 furrows in which the sets are planted. 



Manurial Recommendations. 



The following, based on financial results from farmers' experimental plots, 

 are manurial recommendations for various districts : 



District. 



Manure recommended per acre. 



Approximate 



cost 

 per acre. 



North Coast j 2 cwt. superphosphate 



or 

 j \\ cwt. superphosphate and 1 cwt. bonedust 



North Coast Plateau..] H cwt. superphosphate and 1^ cwt. bonedust 



South Coast ! 2 cwt. superphosphate and \ cwt. sulphate of potash 



Northern Tablelands.. 



Central Tablelands .. 



2 cwt. superphosphate and \ cwt. sulphate of potash, 



on sandy soils ! 



2 cwt. superphosphate on clay soils 



\\ cwt. superphosphate and \\ cwt. bonedust 



12/- 



221- 

 221- 



271- 

 12]- 



Southern Tablelands.. j 1 cwt. superphosphate, 1 cwt. bonedust, and cwt. 



sulphate of potash 30|- 



Time of Planting. 



x The time of planting varies with the district. On the coast two crops 

 are grown, the first being sown from June in the far north, to September 

 in the south. This crop usually realises high prices, because it generally 

 comes on a bare market. The second crop is usually planted in February 

 and harvested during the winter, when' potatoes are cheaper. Seed for this 

 crop is obtained from the spring crop. 



