E. B. COX & Co. Seedsmen, Ete. Corner Rundle St. and East Terrace 
February Number of 
1907 
The Nusttalian Gatdener 
Practical Flower and Vege- 
table Growing. 
By W.S. Campbell, 
There are numerous places, even in 
80me of the dryest districts of the State, 
Where water can easily be obtained, if not 
in the creeks and watercourses, at a 
comparatively shallow depth below the 
Surface, so that there need be no excuse 
for the want of the very necessary vege- 
tables. A simple system of irrigation 
can be carried out by anyone without 
difficulty, if use be made of the old, old 
method which has been in operation in 
the Hiast for thousands of years, and 
which s in use in many places in the 
State, and-has been, probably, since the 
Colony has been established. All that is 
necessary is a bucket, oil-drum, kerosine- 
tin, or any other vessel available, a long 
pole with a weight or counterpoise on 
one end and a support for the pole. In 
ancient times, and even in some parts of 
the East to-day, buckets of cowhide were 
and are used, but these are gradually 
Ziving place to kerosene tins. When 
Visiting Pilliga scrub recently, I came 
‘ Across asettler who started work about 
24 years ago with practically no capital 
ut energy and determination, and with 
No knowledge or experience in farming or 
gardening, but who soon cleared and grub- 
ded about a quarter of an acre of land, 
Tigged up oneof the water lifts referred to 
and raised a sufficiency of vegetables for 
ig fainily and also a surplus to dispose 
of. He now has a considerable area under 
fruit trees and vegetables, and raises 
enough vegetables to supply distant neigh- 
ours at good prices. ‘his, of course, is 
Only a portion of his work, and I regret — 
that I have not sufficient space to record 
his interesting story as an illustration of 
what perseverance will effect against ap- 
Pareutly insurmountable obstacles, and 
Ya young man brought up to indoor 
Sccupation. 
IrgiaaTinG A GARDEN, 
When irrigating, use as little water as 
Possible, merely sufficient to keep the 
Vegetables growing satisfactorily, and 
_ apply the water to the vegetables in fur- 
Tows alongside the vegetables. T'o do the 
Work properly the ground should be made 
48 level as practicable: indeed, it is al- 
Ways advisable to make the ground level 
_ tor vegetables whether it be irrigated or 
Not. Overwatering causes excessive 
growth, and, consequently, the vegetable 
are watery and flavourless; and when 
anyone takes the trouble to grow his own 
vegetables he may just as well grow the 
very best he possibly can. 
VEGETABLES 
Beans, Frencu or Kipnry — This 
vegetable should be bearing well in all 
but the cold parts of the State, and the 
plants should, if well looked after and all 
the beans are picked before they are ripe 
or nearly ripe, continue to produce for 
some time; but before the plants show 
signs of ceasing to bear well, plant a row 
or two with seed. and the fresh plants 
will soon take the places of the old ones, 
which may be pulled up and used for 
manure or blanching celery, or for a 
mulch. Scarlet runners will bear for a 
long time if the beans are gathered regu- 
larly and before they are large and nearly 
mature, 
When digging and manuring ground 
for the beans, mix sulphate of lime with 
the farmyard manure or dung if easily 
obtainable, or add some superphosate of 
lime, not a very great deal say 2 or 3 lb. 
weight, or even half that, in the dung you 
are likely to use tothe perch. A perch 
measures 16} feet.x 163 feet. It is always 
as well to measure the ground you are 
making use of for vegetables, or, indeed. 
for anything for that matter When 
manuring for beans or for any other kind 
of vegetables use farmyard manure avoid- 
ing the dung of pigs, and if artificial 
manures are used, apply some farmyard 
manure as well. If the farmyard manure 
is difficult to obtain, use raked-up leaves 
or any vegetable matter procurable. 
Broccot1—A very little seed may be 
sown, and when the seedlings are large 
enough to remove from the seed-bed, 
‘prick them out in a small well-manured 
bed about 4 to 5 feet ors» apart, and 
afterwards plant out in the garden, Be- 
fore and after moving the young plants, 
water them well. 
CappaGE—This vegetable is, probably, 
with the exception of the potato, the 
‘chief vegetable used in Australia, and it 
~ seems to be a necessity for the general 
public who cannot get on without cabbage 
No matter how coarse or rank it may be, 
cabbage must be had: and sometimes, in 
time of dry weather, cabbages are <arried 
hundreds of miles. [ have travelled with 
enbbages for more than 1,000 miles, and 
at the end of the journey they were not 
particularly choice, If 1 happened to in- 
quite why cabbages and cauliflowers are 
not grown in certain places where soil is 
good and water plentiful, the excuse is 
that some bug, or caterpillar, or aphis, or 
something or other prevents the growing 
of the vegetable; but. as a rule, I formed 
the conclusion that want of energy is the 
true cause. Seed of cabbage may be 
sown, just in sufficient quantities to keep- 
up a supply of plants for pricking out and 
planting out, 
CauLIFLowER—Sow a small quantity of 
seed. Sow thin, and endeavour to raise 
good strong plants for pricking out. A 
great deal depends on good treatment of 
seedlings for satisfactory flower heads. 
Carrots—Sow a tittle seed. 
Cucumprer—Seed may be sown in pots 
or boxes, and when the seedlings have 
made two leaves they can be transferred 
to open garden: or seed can be sown in 
the garden if thought best, Some liquid 
manure should be given to plants which 
are not making good headway in the 
garden. Rain, however, will do more 
good than anything else. 
CreLERY—Sow sufficient seed to keep: 
up a supply of plants. Prick out seed- 
lings from seed bed and plant a few well- 
grown plants in shallow trenches. Selery 
ig a semi aquatic plant and needs a good 
deal of moisture, and in order to grow it 
to perfection a good deal of manure is. 
necessary. Earth up or cover up ad. 
vanced plants that are nearly full grown 
Cress aNp Mustarp—Sow seeds oc 
cassionally to keep up a supply. The soi- 
should be well manured, and if the 
weather is at all dry, frequent waterings 
will be necessary. 
Japsicum—This may be planted out, or 
seeds may be sown if plants have not 
already been raised. 
Eaa pranr—May he planted if seed- 
lings have been raised and are large 
enough, or seeds may be sown if plants are 
required. In some of the early districts. 
the egg-plant should be fruiting by this 
time. 
Ontons — Anyone desiring to grow 
onions may try a little seed. In harvest- 
ing onions be careful not to bruise them, 
and dry them off ina cool shady place. 
Onions of the best variety may be kept. 
for a considerable time if they be allowed 
to mature properly in the ground, and 
are not taken up before they are thorou- 
ghly ripe and the leaves and stems are 
quite withered up. 
