“14 
a 
Vegetable Garden. 
OPERATIONS FOR JANUARY. 
(Bx W. S, Campzett.) 
Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. 
The weather has been most satisfactory for 
wegetables, and, as the prospects for a good 
Summer seem to be favorable, any kind of vege- 
@ableg suitable for the warm season may be sown 
or planted as extensively as may be necessary. 
There is one thing that should be carefully 
avoided during a moist, or, as it is often termed, 
a “drooping” season, and that is the digging up 
ground whilst it is very wet, and consequently 
puddling it into something like mortar. This 
tefers chiefly to soil or loam that is more stiff 
than sandy, or “red soil,” which can be dug with 
impunity even whilst it is raining. 
The stiff, heavy soils may be greatly improved 
by heavy dressings of dung, or by liming, but the 
mse of the two would probably be found the best 
method to adopt, not together, but applied at 
different times. The reason for this is, that if 
lime be applied with the dung it might liberate a 
good deal of one of the most important con- 
stituents of the dung. It would be as well to 
avoid the risk. . 
Tomatoes—Should be ripening well during the 
month, but where rain has been heavy, and the 
soil keeps damp about and under the plants, it is” 
not improbable that the great pest of tomatoes, 
the black spot on the fruit, may be prevalent, 
although this does not always tollow; for I have 
frequently noticed that during dry seasons fungus 
pests amongst vegetables and flower - garden 
plants were both common and virulent. Remove 
all diseased fruits or leaves from tomatoes or 
from any other vegetables which may be affectea 
by fungus diseases, and then burn them. 4 
Beans—With the exception of the Broad or 
Windsor bean, all other kinds, such as the French 
or Kidney, the Lima, the Snake, the Butter bean, 
with their vari-ties, may be sown as extensively 
BS may be required during the month—not all at 
‘once, but several times during the month, and so 
on; then a continuous tupply can be kept up. 
As soon as bean plants cexse to produce their 
pods satisfactorizy, remove them ; and, after the 
#round has been well dug and manured; sow or 
iiant some other kind of vegetable altogether. 
Beet, Red—this is a good vegetable for 
Summer use—cool and delicious on a hot day ,and 
one which should be grown in sufficient quantity 
to keep up a good supply. Obtain the best seed 
procurable, and grow chiefly the Globe varieties, 
most of which are excellent. The secd generally 
takes a good while to germinate, as 1t has a hard 
«oating or shell, which, botanically, is known as 
the periearp derived from the two Greek words— 
_ “peri” around, and “ karpos” fruit. As this peri- 
warp or shell is hard, it takes some time to soften 
and admit the necessary moisture which, I may 
Bay, is perhaps the main factor in setting the 
slumbering life of the seed in motion, by making 
the soluble ferment, known as disastaste, active, 
_ by converting the starch which the seed contains 
into a sort of sugary matter or glucose or 
maltose. If the seed be soaked in water for a 
short time, or laid between a folded damp bag in 
2 warm place, the germination will be hastened, 
and 4s seon as the seeds begin to crack they may 
tbe sown; but if the soil is at all dry, moisten it 
well before sowing the seeds in the drill, or they 
mmay perish, When the beets develop a few 
Aeaves, you may perhaps notice a few hearing 
THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER. 
leaves of a pale red color; if so, you may as well 
pull them up, for the chances are that the color 
of the roots will be a light red, which is very 
objectionable in this kind of beet. Asa rule, 
however, beet seed turns out good and reliable. 
Beet, Silver—A few plants of this kind of beet 
should suffice for an ordinary sized family, if it be 
well looked after, and occasionally treated to 
some liquid manure When properly grown, the 
leaves will be large, succulent, and tender; but if 
the plants are neglected the leaves may become 
rather like leather when cooked. The seeds may. 
be sown in a small bed, whence the plants can be 
transplanted to well manured ground when the J 
have grown large enough to move. or they may 
be sown in drills, where the plants are to stand 
about 20 inches apart. Thin out the young 
plants to about the same distance, or rather more, 
apart. 
Broccoli—Sow seed and transplant from pre- 
vious sowing; manure heavily, and never allow- 
the plants to receive a check if possible. It may 
not succeed very well at this time of year in the 
warm parts of the State unless the weather 
should turn out to be extremely favorable during 
remainder of the summer. 
Cabbage—Mr., Ellis, of the Viticultural Station, 
Howlong, finds that the splendid cabbage, Phe- 
nomenal, succeeds best at that place if the seed 
be sown in January. St. John’s Day is an old, 
well-known, and good variety, which probably 
succeeds better than any other cabbage during the 
average summer. Use plenty of manure for the 
cabbage, or for any of the cabbage family, for 
they are all strong feeders, and they all thrive 
best when the ground is kept well cultivated 
around them. Plant out a few young cabbages 
occasionally, and sow enough seed to keep a 
sufficient supply of young cabbages ready for 
transplanting or for pricking out. 
Carrot—This is a vegetable that is always 
esteemed in the kitchen, for it can be put to 
many uses in cookery. It is said to be wholesume 
and also useful for various human ailments, but 
whether it is of any real value for such purposes 
seems doubtful. F 
Cauliflower—Sow a little of the best seed that 
can be obtained, and after sowing see that it is 
regularly watered and shaded and mulched to 
prevent a sudden drying-up of the soil, which 
may occur through hot winds at anytime. 
Celery—Sow a little seed during the month, 
and when the seedlings are large enough to move 
prick them out a few inches apart and endeavour 
to make them grow into strong, hardy, plants, 
after which they van be transplanted to shallow 
trenches where the soil has been heavily ma- 
nured. Advanced plants which are almost full-_ 
grown may be earthed up; or boards, dead leaves, 
or vine hau’m, or anything of that nature, may 
be used to keep away the light from the leaf 
stalks. Grow the self-blanching kinds. 
Celeriac, or Turnip-rooted Celery—Sow a little 
seed in drills or in a seed-bed. his can be 
transplanted like the ordinary celery, but it will 
not need blanching. Very useful for a change 
when cooked. 
Cucumber—Seed mvy be sown if necessary. 
Keep the plants busby by pinching the leading 
shoots occasionally. A little liquid manure will 
benefit cucumber plants which may be back- 
ward. 
Cress and Mustard—Most useful during the 
summer for addition to salads. Liquid manure 
will be found useful to encourage growth, which 
should be as quick as possible. 
Cress, Water—Can easily be grown without¥a, 
pond or watercourse by anyone who Jikes“to take 
Jan, 9, 1904 
the trouble of watering the plants once or twice- 
a day. The tops will root quite well if kept 
sufficiently moist, and these can be planted in a. 
small bed or in a tub or box, and if liquid manure 
be applied frequently and the plants be well 
watered the supply of cress that can be cut from 
a very few plants will be surprising. 
Leek—Sow a little seed occasionally. Plant in 
heavily manured soil, for the leek is a gross feeder- 
and needs abundance of rich food. It can be most 
easily grown in shallow trenches, like celery, and 
then watering and the application of liquid. 
manure can be best applied. Plant out young 
leeks, a few at a time, so as to keep up a supply. 
A very few plants will probably suffice, for this 
vegetable, although an excellent and wholesome 
one, is as a rule but little used. 
Lettuce—Sow a row or two occasionally during 
the month on well-manured ground where the 
plants are to grow. When the seed comes up 
thin out plants and encovrage the quick growth 
of those remaining by cultivation—if necessary,. 
watering—and the application of liquid manure, 
They will then be less likely to run to seed than 
if traasplanted in the ordinary manner. 
Maize, Sweet—This should now be growing 
well. Cultivate frequently, but not deep. 
Melons—Should be growing satisfactorily this 
season. Pinch the leading shoots to keep the 
plants from straggling about too much. More- 
seed may be sown if required. 
Okra or Gumbo—Plant out seedlings that have 
been raised for the purpose, or seed may be sown. 
The young seed-pods of this plant are used for 
thickening soup or for adding to stews, &c., and is 
considered very useful for this purpose. 
Onions—Cultivate the soil between the rows of 
onions, which should be growing satisfactorily 
by this time. More seed may be sown if neces- 
"sary. 
Peas—Sow a row or two occasionally. They 
will probably succeed best in cool districts. 
Peppers or Vapsicum—Plant out from seed-bed 
any plants that are large enough. ‘here isa 
great variety of the capsicum, some kinds very 
small and intensely hot flavored and others ex-- 
tremely large and mild. Many kinds are grown 
for ornamental purposes in the flower garden, 
where they become handsome objects 
Potatoes—Plant out a few rows if required. 
Early planted potatoes should be quite ready far- 
digging. : 
Pumpkins—If any more plants are required 
sow a few seeds. New ground seems to suit 
pumpkins better than on old well-worked soil. 
Pinch back leading shoots to prevent the runners. 
from rambling too much. 
Radish—Sow a little seed occasionally, and. 
make use of the plants whilst they are quite 
young and tender. 
Rhubarb—If plants are not easny obtainable: 
save sufficient seed to raise all that may be re- 
quired. 
Sweet Potatoes—Tubers should be planted in a 
warm situation, and as soon as the vines make 
sufficient growth cuttings should be taken and 
planced in a bed where they may root and make 
plants for setting out. 
Spinach—> ow a very little seed. 
Tomato -thould any plants be required, sow 
seed, or take cuttings from plants already grow- 
ing if the varieties are all that are desired. 
These cuttings will strike roet readily it they be 
inserted in moist sandy soil, and are covered by 
bell glass or glass frame, and are kept sufficiently: 
moist without making the soil too wet or sloppy. 
Turnips—Sow a little seed in drills. 
Vegetable Marrow and Squash—Sow seed if 
required, and treat the same as melons and. 
‘pumpkins. 
