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HINTS FOR ALLOTMENT HOLDERS.…

Newyddion
Dyfynnu
Rhannu

HINTS FOR ALLOTMENT HOLDERS. By SPADE-WORKER. MAKINO UP FOR LOST TIMB. The present week may be said to afford a last opportunity of making good any de- ficiencies as far aa parsnip, Broad beans, shalot, artichoke, and leek are concerned. Of course, leek plants can be purchased later on, but delay in getting in the other crops will mean disappointment. Leeks raised from seed sown out of doore now will never develop into large specimens, but they will nevertheless prove mest useful next winter and early spring. For getting rough land into suitable condition for sowing and planting there is no better tool than the Canterbury hoe, a strong three-pronged im- plement which will do a lot of work in a short time. The mattock is another most useful tool for rough ground; it breaks down clods and lumps admirably, though it does not make such a good tilth as the Canterbury hoe. THE VEGETABLE MARROW. Those who have a email frame or green- house should now sow soeds of vegetable marrow, placing one seed in each small flower-pot, filed with fairly light soil. It is advisable to push the seed in the soil edgewise, as is done with that of cucum- ber; otherwise it may decay instead of ger- minating. If kept moist the seeds will soon germinate, and by the midle of May the little plants will be ready to plant out of doors. Failing a frame or greenhouse sow. the seeds about the second week in May where the plants are to grow; they should be put about 2in. deep. I find the vege- table marrow likes nothing better than a bed made up of odd pieces of turf and weeds, with which some leaf mould and manure are mixed. This is better than, us- ing a lot of manure, which causes rank growth. I grow my marrows in the same place every year, merely adding a little fresh material .to the old bed. Long White and Long Green are the best of the large marrows, while Moore's Cream and Pen-y- Byd are excellent small sorts- HARICOT BEANS. These form one of the most useful crops the allotment holder can grow, providing sufficient space can be allotted to them to ensure a fair quantity of produce. If, say, one rod of grourtd is sown there will be an abundance of haricots for ube during the winter months. I have tried several varie- ties, but none is so good as the Dutch Brown bean, which is to be obtained from most seedsmen. The plant is of low growth, but it crops heavily and the beans ripen earlier than those of any other sort I ha, e I grown, which is a great advantage in the event of a wet autumn. The beans are ready to gather early in September. Seede may. be sown during the next week or two; thev should be placed about 4in. apart, and" if all the seeds germinate alternate ones* should be removed, thus leaving the plants at about 8in. apart. Deeply dug and manured soil is essential to a success- I ful crop. PRIZEWINNING HINTS. -Mr. Frank W. Parks, who sends the fol- lowing hint and sketch, showing how to make a useful seed box, is awarded a copy i of "Garden Work for Every Day." The bottom of the box, which is removable and rests on two stripe fixed to the under part, is a full-sized slate. The advantage is that the seedlings can be separated easily; there is no need to "dig them out "—a pro- cess which damages the roots. I A Home Made Seed Sowing Box. When the seedlings are ready the box it :placed on the upturned end of a large flower-pot; the sides will then drop clear, leaving the contents in the beet position for easy handling. I PARSLEY AND MINT. It seems absurd that the allotment holder should need to beg "a bit of parsley." yet he often has to do so because he forgets to sow seed. A little seed only is needed, and any cdd corner will do, providing the soil is really well prepared. Dig it deeply, mix in some decayed manure and leaf soil, sow thinly, and thin out the seedlings to about Sin. apart; then you will hme first-class sprigs of this herb. Don't forget also te beg or buy a few roots of mint; this will be indispensable when the green peas and new potatoes are ready. It will grow any- where if the rcots are put in now and covered with two or three inches of soil. I KOHL RABI. This rather curious vegetable is becom- ing more popular on allotments, if one may judge by the number grown last eeasom. In appearance it is quite decorative.^ There are two small points to observe if this vege- table is to be really enjoyed; the first is to sow only on rich soil, and the second is to pull the roots before they are fully grown—when the.y are about the size »f a small orange. If allowed to reach full they become tough and strongly flavoured. Sow thinly in rows 12 to 14in. apart, and thin the seedlings to 6 or Sin. apart. ■ PRIZE COMPETITION FOR ALLOT- MENT HOLDERS. Every week two prizes are offered for the best allotment hint or recipe. The prizes consist of useful gardening books. All en- tries for this competition must be addressed KSpadeworker," care of Editor of thiii paper. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. K. R.—The failure of the radishes is due partly to lack of rich soil, and prob- ably partly to a poor strain of seed. Radishes must be grown quickly if they an to bo satisfactory, and rich soil Î8 neces- sary to ensure this. You should obtain a good variety of globe-rooted radisty W. S. E.—It is not altogether too laU; to sow onion seed out of doors, though OR cannot expect large bulbs. If your soil is not ready it would pay you best to buy plants and put them out within the next fortnight. Novioe.-You may sow lettuce seed anr time now,. providing the soil is dry enough to be brought down to a fine tilth with fork and rake. Choose one of the cabbage varie- ties, such as Hercules. This will be ready sooner than a oos or tall sort. Mantre the soil if possible and sow a little seed at in- tervals of a fortnight. "Spadeworker" is open to give practical tdvice, free of charge, to reader* of this paper. Replies will be sent by "t if a 8tamped add envelope ia MMJeBed. Address your inquiries to Spad..orw," care of Editor.

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