IRISH GARDENING. 



11 



The Month^s Work. 



Midland and Northern Counties. 



By W. G. Xeave, Gar<lenei- to Lady O'Neill, 

 Shane's Castle, Antrim. 



Kitchen- Garden. 



Since writing my last ralendar the weather has 

 been serious. A snowstorm on the 11th of April 

 is something uncommon, proceeded by 14 to 10 

 degrees of frost, then followed by rain. Perhaps 

 the cloud, has its silver lining after all, and the 

 month of May will excel in bright, warm sunshine. 

 The work in ge-iieral out of doors lias been at a 

 standstill, so that every effort will have to be 

 made to make good, for the late and extraordinary 

 bad winter and spring. Study last month's 

 calendar for work in arrear. 



Seed Sowing. — Both French and Runner 

 Beans may be sown this month. If seeds have 

 been sown inside, the plants may be planted out 

 towards the end of the month. For Runner 

 Beans either before sowing or planting it is better 

 to take out a trench 2 feet wide and 2 feet deeia, 

 and treat liberally with rotten manure, fill up the 

 trench with manure and soil to within \ inches 

 of the surface, sow seeds 5 inches apart, and if all 

 appear, thin out every otlier one ; cover the seeds 

 with 2 inches of soil, afterwards, when plants are 

 about 6 inches high, and when the opei'ation of 

 staking is finished, fill in the soil level. Beet- 

 root. — Towards the latter end of the motitli make 

 the main sowing of Beet. If this ci'op is sown 

 too early the roots will grow too coai'se (nice 

 ]uedium-sized roots are the best for the table). 

 It is not necessary to manure heavily or at all if 

 the ground has been cropped in rotation and 

 manured well in previous years ; sow in drills 

 15 inches apart, dropping a few seeds about every 

 6 inches. Continue sowing Peas for July, August 

 and September crops ; make another sowing of 

 Broad Beans in a shady part of the garden ; a 

 small sowing of Broccoli, Borecole, and Savoy 

 Cabbage, as often tlie later sown plants will stand 

 the winter better than the earlier sown batch, 

 and at i-egular intervals sow Spinach, Lettuce, 

 Radish and Turnips. 



Most of tiie early raised vegetables, such as 

 Brussels Sprouts, Cauliflowers, Cabbage, Onions 

 and Leeks, should, be well hardened off and 

 planted out, if the weather is suitable ; cold, 

 harsh, dry winds is very bad on such plants for 

 the first few days. For Brussels Sprouts make 

 the bed moderately firm, as it induces stocky 

 growth, and they will sprout sooner ; plant 2 feet 

 apart each way. 



Celery. — Prej)are frame by putting a good 

 layer of rotten cow manure in bottom, and cover 

 with 3 inches of nice fine soil ; prick out seedlings, 

 put on lights, and shade for a few days from 

 bright sunshine. When i^lanting out they wiU 

 lift with a good ball of rotten manure adhering 

 to each plant, so that they will receive no check. 



Early Peas will require staking nicely : do not 

 delay this operation : as soon as the plants are 

 2 inches high stake them thinly, putting small 

 twigs at the bottom for the tendrils to catch on 

 first. Keep the scuffle going between the rows of 



seedlings as soon as you can see the lines from 

 end to end ; tidy and scuffle walks and alleys, 

 and prepare plots for plantations of Broccoli and 

 late greens. 



Garden Pests will be troublesome this month; 

 everything is young, tender and sweet, and suffers 

 from the ravages of slugs, snails, &c. Give all 

 crops a good dusting of soot and lime. A 

 methodical poisoning of rats and mice will save 

 lots of trouble in tlie garden. 



Early Potatoes will rec^uire forking between 

 the rows and moulding up. 



Fruit Garden. 



All blossoms are very late this year, and a good 

 thing too for the fruit prospect. Flower bucts on 

 the Pears are swelling and an odd flower is 

 appearing on south walls. Plums are not showing 

 much yet (18th April). As far as flower buds are 

 concerned there is every prospect of a good fruit 

 year if the weather plays us no more tricks. Out- 

 door Peaches and Apricots have suffered from 

 the recent snowstorms. As soon as the growth 

 aijpears they should be thinned carefully ; if 

 weather becomes dry keei3 the syringe going on 

 them every evening ; stir round the base of the 

 trees and loosen the crust, they will not suffer so 

 much then if dry weather supervenes. 



Frost. — If there is danger of frost at night, 

 set a fire going at one end of the fruit garden, 

 study where the wind will cai'ry the smoke over 

 the fruit trees best, it has been the means of 

 saving the blossoms from several degrees of frost. 

 If not already done, mulch any fruit trees, 

 especially the newly-planted ones. If weather 

 sets in dry give them a good soaking of water. 



Gooseberries. — A small dressing of Nitrate of 

 Soda will hasten on green Gooseberries, and, if the 

 owner is marketing, will repay him in big prices 

 by being a week earlier in the market than his 

 neighbour who neglects that stimulant. If sawfly 

 is known to exist give the bushes a good dusting 

 of soot and lime when they are damp. Some 

 growers recommend Arsenate of Lead, which is 

 effectual, but is a poison, and should be carefully 

 used and, only when the berries are very small 

 (1 lb. of arsenate of lead to 27 gallons of water). 



Raspberries. — Remove all surplus growths 

 from the base of the stools, leaving only two or 

 three more than will be required for next year's 

 fruiting canes. 



Strawberries.— Keep them free from weeds, 

 and if weather sets in dry give them a good 

 watering with weak liquid. Keep the scuffle 

 going in the Fruit Garden this month, and keep 

 a sharp look out for Aphides, spraying well with 

 a weak insecticide, such as Quassia Chips and Soft 

 Soap or Paraffin Emulsion. 



Floaver Garden. 

 This is a busy month in the Flower Garden, 

 but it also is a very interesting one. As the 

 flower beds have to be planned and got ready for 

 their summer grandeur, the last week in 3Iay or 

 the first week of June is generally considered 

 " bedding out " time, of course, according to 

 weather conditions. Get the beds manured with 

 old hotbed stuff ; dug, if dry; tread firmly and 

 rake level. Where Wallflowers have been growing 

 the beds will reciuire a night's rain, or failing that 

 a good soaking with watering-can or hose before 



