September 1, 1909 
RUMSEY’S 
HONEST 
SEEDS. 
OUR OFFER. 
A Sample Packet containing a mixture 
of 50 varieties of Tomatoes, large and 
small, yellow, red, and purple, or a mix- 
ture of 100 sorts of Flower Seeds, and a 
copy of our Vegetable Book, all post paid 
THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER. 
The A.B.C. 
OLA 
AUSTRALIAN 
VEGETABLE 
GROWING, 
for 1/6. 
HERBERT J. RUMSEY, 
44 Adderton Road, Dundas. 
CATALOGUE FREE. 
By H. J, Rumsey. 
1/2 post free. 
The Vegetable Garden. 
Operations for the Month. 
Judging from the wet weather experi- 
enced in July and August (up to time of 
writing) it is probable that we may have 
a late spring. 
This is one of the busiest times of the 
year with both vegetables and flowers in 
Sowing, planting, pruning, lawn-making, 
walk-making, &c. 
With a good start in the spring, the 
chances are in favor of a good vegetable 
‘supply in the summer. 
Whilst there is yet time a sufficient 
‘extent of ground should be prepared on 
which to carry on a succession of vege- 
tables; not that it need take a very 
extensive space in which to grow all the 
vegetables needed in a fair-sized family if 
proper economy be carried out. The 
great point to be kept in view is, never to 
allow any part of the vegetable garden to 
Temain unoccupied longer than can 
be avoided. Use abundance of good 
dung for most vegetables, and, if possible. 
“use it in a well-rotted condition, without 
the best part, or the soul of it, so to 
Speak, having been washed away by 
rain. 
Asparagus Bran. 
This is also known as Yard-long or 
Snake Bean. It has remarkably long, 
slender, light green pods, which are used 
in the same manner as French Beans, 
This isa good month to make the first 
Sowing, and in doing so follow the cul- 
tural directions given below for the 
French Bean. The plants grow about 
8ix feet high, and require sticks, or will 
Stow well against a wall. 
Frencu Beans. 
It is now time to commence sowing 
French Beans again. Any good garden 
soil will grow them, but the best crops 
are obtained from good loams or alluvial 
soils. The drills should be a few inches 
deep, varying from 2 to 4 inches, 
according to the weather and state of the 
soil. Make the rows 3 feet apart, and 
put the seeds at least 6 inches apart in 
the rows. 7 
A good manure for this popular vege- 
table is a light dressing of farmyard 
manure, 4 to 6 cwt. of superphosphate, 
and 1 cwt, of sulphate of potash (or 4 
ewt. of kainit) per acre. The use of 2 
cwt. of nitrate of soda per acre gives a 
a very substantial increase of crop, 
Should the soil be very dry, water it 
well before sowtng. The’ beans should 
be gathered as they become fit—that is, 
while young and tender; and unless it is 
desired to save some seed they should 
not be allowed to ripen, as thereby the 
bearing powers of the plants will be con- 
siderably lessened. 
The varieties of French Beans, includ- 
ing Butter Beans, are very numerous, so 
it is advisable for each grower to choose 
what best suits his requirements. 
Runner BEAns. ' 
Thesh are summer plants, and may be 
sown from September to March. The 
rows for these should be 4 or 5 feet 
apart, and before planting, poles about 
6 feet long should be set up along the 
rows at a distance of three or four feet 
apart. Around each pole plant each 6 or 
8 seeds, 2 inches deep, and when they 
come up thin them out, leaving four of 
the strongest plants to each pole, It may 
sometimes become necessary to tie the 
« 
15 
young tendrils to the poles at first, but as 
soon as they begin to run they will twine 
around the sticks naturally without any 
artificial help. They require plenty of 
water during the hot weather, and should 
be liberally mulched. 
Broccoi1. 
Seed may be sown in small beds or 
seed-boxes, and the seedlings transplanted 
when the young broccolis are large 
enough. Sow thinly in little drills. 
CABBAGE, 
The JImproyed Heading Chinese 
Cabbage is a good variety for present 
sowing being both vigorous and rapid, 
The leaves are Jarge light green, and of a 
mild, delicate flavor. 
Carz GoosEBERRY. 
This is a very branching perennial, 
growing about 3 feet high, bearing 
bladder-shaped pods, each enclosing one 
juicy orange-yellow fruit about the size 
of a cherry. The fruit is valued for 
dessert and for preserves. It is very 
productive. : 
Sow in September or October, and 
plant out in October or November in 
rows 3 feet apart. A rich sandy loam, 
well drained, deeply ploughed, and sub- 
soiled is best for the purpose. When the 
plants are about 6 inches high, thin out 
to about 3 feet apart, and put up a light 
trellis to train them on. The plants 
which have been taken out may be planted 
in some other part of the garden. Before 
planting out, clip all the leaves off except 
the top bud. 
Cress and Musrarp. 
Sow for succession about once a fort- 
night in light rich soil in drills half an 
inch deep and 8 inches apart, and sow 
thickly. 
CucumBER. 
We dealt fully with the Cucumber in 
our last issue, More seed may he sown 
in order to keep up a succession, 
This will be about the time to plant 
out the Cucumbers raised on heat (as 
advised in our July issue), but see that 
they are well protected from frost. 
Eaq Prant, — 
This excellent vegetable was described 
Pane oe el nape cane tart Le 
ee es Rat ee et ee ae a ere en eater 
