94 



IRISH GARDENING. 



The Month's Work. 



Midland and Northern Counties. 



By W. G. Neave, Gartlener to Lady O'Neill, 

 Shane's Castle, Antrim. 



Kitchen' Gahden. 



The month of ]May so far has been all that could 

 be desired, in fact some of the days have been 

 like midsummer, the sun has been so hot. The 

 work in this department lias been going on apace, 

 and work that was so much in arrear has been 

 well advanced. Before proceeding Avith the 

 work I should Uke to say that some people who 

 are cultivating vegetables for the first time 

 instead of flowers will find it is nuxch more 

 difficult to grow vegetables than it is to grow 

 flowers : they require attention all the time, and 

 much more generous treatment. Seedlings are 

 coming up a fine hit, all they want is to keep the 

 scuffle going between the rows. Brassicas that 

 have come up thickly in the seed-bed are better 

 to have a lot of them pricked out into a nursery 

 bed : for the final planting they will be far and 

 away the best plants, and will repay the extra 

 labour. Thinning will have to be done with the 

 Parsnips. Turnips, Beetroots, Carrots, Onions, 

 &c. : thin on a moist day if possible. 



Onion Maggot and Carrot Fly in some gardens 

 and in some seasons are very troublesome, in fact 

 fatal sometimes. Spi"ay lightly a heap of fine 

 sand with paraffin, and dust it vip each side of 

 the lines in both cases. (Vaporite is also a good 

 preventive.) They prevent the parent fly from 

 laying her eggs. If the plants are attacked pull 

 up and burn them, repeat the process of dusting, 

 and firm the remaining platits with your foot as 

 close as you can safely ti'cad. 



Celery. — Take advantage of the first dull day 

 when your plants are ready to get them planted, 

 out ; see that the trenches are well pi"epared,. 

 A liberal dressing of cow manure in the bottom 

 and 2 or 3 inches of the best f)f y-our soil on top, 

 a dressing of salt before planting I find beneficial. 

 If y^ou are planting double roAvs, which I think is 

 most economical, plant 1 foot apart in 2 feet 

 trenches, and 3 feet between the trenches will 

 give ample soil for-earthing up : after planting 

 give them a thorough watering. Celery requii'es 

 plenty of moisture all the time. 



Cauliflowers. — Continue to plant out Cauli- 

 flowers for late siiiJ plies, making each plant 

 thoroughly firm in the soil. Cauliflowers already 

 planted should be examined and any blanks made 

 good. As Cabbage plants from spring so\\ing 

 become fit plant out in rows 2 feet apart, or less, 

 according to variety. Later on in the month 

 Broccoli for winter and. spring use will require to 

 be planted out into permanent quarters. In 

 planting Br K'<:oli make the ground firm, as they 

 will grow sturdier and better able to stand the 

 winter. The last batc-h of Brussels Sprouts should 

 also be planted this month (overcrowding any of 

 the late Brassicas shoidd. be avoided). 



Stake Peas and Climbing Beans, as they reciuire 

 attention in that way. A sowing of late Peas 

 may be made the first week in June. Autocrat 

 or The Gladstone are both good ; later on in the 



montli a small SL>wing of some early sort may 

 be made as a catch-crop. At regular intervals 

 ]nake further sowings of Turnips, Spinach, 

 Lettvxce, Endive, Radish, and French Beans. 

 Select a north aspect for Turnips and Lettuce 

 this month, they keep much longer fit for use. 



A.sPARAGUs. — By the latter end of the month 

 cutting of all shoots should cease, taking cai'e to 

 leave growths as far as possible all over the bed : 

 give the beds their final dressing of salt, and if 

 possible a good drenching of liquid naanure in 

 exposed piaces ; the strongest growths should be 

 supported. 



Vegetable ^Marrows. — Plants growing in 

 frames or under tenxporary shelters may now be 

 exposed, ; carefully thin the shoots, removing any 

 use'ess growths, and keep both the roots and 

 leaves well supplied with Avater ; successional 

 plants should, be planted now in well-prepared 

 beds, choosing, a sheltared. simny position. 



Potatoes will require attention in the way of 

 forking between and moxild.ing up. 



Tomatoes which are grown outside (there is 

 always the chance that they might do on a sunny 

 wall or trellis) will want all the side shoots rubbed 

 out when cj^uite yovuig. keeping each plant to one 

 stauL only : a light mid'-h of well-decayed manui'e 

 will help them, and they will not require so much 

 water. Tomatoes reqxiire very careful watering. 



Fruit Garden. 



Frvi't trees on the whole are looking well this 

 year. Gooseberries and Currants look extra well. 

 Apples, Pears and Cherries had abundance of 

 blossoms : Plums seeux a bit scanty as regards 

 bloom. This month so far has been most favour- 

 able for setting. As soon as the Cherries begin t » 

 colour they should be carefully gone over and 

 pinched, and any young shoots laid in, then net 

 them at once, or the birds will soon make them 

 scarce. 



Strawberries will be swelling : they should 

 have a final soakm.g of Avater before the nets are 

 pla'-ed over them. 



Peaches on AA'alls aviII require daily syringing : 

 pinch oft" superfluous groAA-th, and tie in remaining 

 groAvth AAith rattia : iiick off any ciu-led leaA'es. 

 For most fruit trees July Avill be time enough for 

 ])rinciple stopping. Tie up leaders of Cordons as 

 they groAA' : AA'here greenfly is prevalent syringe 

 AA'itli Quassia Extract. 



Young trees AA'hich were planted in the autumn 

 should not suffer for want of water. The surface 

 soil in all fruit borders should be kept stirred 

 Avith the scuffle or Buco cultiA^ator. If Aveather 

 is dry, all friut trees AA'ill require liquid nuwiure 

 (if aA'ailable) as soon as the fruit is set. 



Flower Garden. 



Spring bedding is very late this year. The 

 WallfloAvers and Myosotis are just at their best 

 noAv (18th), so that Avill mean June planting. 

 Tlie ncAV occupants of the floAver beds Avill require 

 careful nursing to >,tart them. If the Aveather is 

 at all dry give them plenty of Avater and stir the 

 surface soil between the "plant, pinch off first 

 fioAvers and they Avill so<jn fill their allotted spaces. 

 Maintain a neat tidy appearance by keeping grass 

 moAA-n, edges clipped, and waplks scuffled and 

 raked. 



Stake SAveet Peas, also Dahli?s, as soon as 



