10 



IRISH GARDENING. 



are particularly liable also to rot in their pots 

 if the frame is ever shut. The only way I can keep 

 Primulas such as P. Reidii in this damp climate 

 is by resting the lights of the frame upon four 

 bricks, thus allowing a free passage of air night 

 and day. If the pots are plunged up to their 

 rims they do not seem to mind the cold in these 

 circumstances, and Primulas of doubtful hardi- 

 ness, such as P. septemloba and P. Sino-Listeri, 

 have stood 25 degrees of frost without coniing to 

 harm. 



In n^ore favoured localities doubtless many of 

 these Primulas will be quite perennial, but where- 

 ever artificial watering is possible I should 

 recommend planting in the lightest possible soil — 

 leaf-mould and sand. It will require more 

 moisture in summer, but one will be far less 

 likely to lose the plants in the winter. Finally, 

 if you take your courage in both hands and plant 

 out such treasures as P. Reidii. put a few small 

 stones on the surface in a circle three or four 

 inches from the plant and fill up tlie enclosed 

 space with sharp sand, which will help to keep 

 the collar of the plant froni damping ofi. This 

 sand rovmd the neck will be found far more 

 effective than stones; the latter as a rule only 

 conceal slugs and bring them thus nearer the 

 object of their desire, the sand " packs " better 

 round the crown and is not beloved by slugs, who 

 regard sharp sand as a highway to be avoided. 



Forcing Seakale and Asparagus. 



Seakale is a vegetable which is always looked for 

 at the end of autumn and throughout the winter 

 months in all establishments where any pretence 

 of gardening is made, and when quickly grown 

 and of good, substance is very much esteemed. 

 Perhaps of all vegetables it is the most easily 

 forced ; but even it requires some practical 

 experience to keep vip a succession of good kale 

 for several months. It often occurs, perhaps for 

 lack of convenience, that early forcing of this 

 plant is done in the open ground, by pots being 

 placed over the crowns of the plants, and these 

 covered with leaves, dung, &c. As much more 

 heat is required to force this vegetable out of 

 doors at this season than is necessary in spring;, 

 it often hapi^ens when this plan is adopted that 

 the first and second batches are long and spindly 

 and very unsatisfactory. By far the best and 

 most economical plan is to .secure in November, 

 or early in December, a number of cuttings by 

 lifting old plants, and cutting the roots into 

 pieces the thickness of one's thumb, and about 

 five inches in length, the number of cuttings being 

 regulated by the requirements of the establish- 

 nxent. In performing this operation it is advis- 

 able to make a clean cut across the top and a 

 slanting one at the bottom, otherwise it will be a 

 difficult matter to know which is the top of the 

 cutting. These cuttings should be tied in small 

 bundles, and placed upright in a sheltered position 

 out of doors, where they can be covered to a depth 

 of three inches, with old felt for preference, and 

 there be allowed to remain to callus, which will 

 have taken place by the beginning of February. 

 If the weather be fine and the cuttings nicely 

 callused, they should, be dibbled into the ground 

 at a distance of eighteen inches apart each way. 

 As soon as the plants make their appearance 

 above ground, and it can be ascertained whicli 



will make the strongest growth, all the weak ones 

 should be removed. The result will be, by 

 September, as fine a lot of plants for early forcing 

 purposes as could be desired, and as soon as they 

 have cast their leaves they will be ready to 

 commence with. As they are required they should 

 be carefully lifted out of the ground and planted 

 in light soil in a cellar, or, where such convenience 

 cannot be had, they may be planted, seven or 

 eight roots in an 8-inch pot — a similar pot being 

 used to cover them — and be placed in any struc- 

 ture where they can receive the benefit of a little 

 warmth. As soon as the leaves of those in the 

 permanent plot have fallen they should be re- 

 moved, and the crowns covered, with ashes, and 

 when thought necessary, pots may be placed over 

 a portion of them, and covered with leaves or 

 manure, to bring them gradually along. But 

 this should be deferi'ed until the end of January, 

 as far better kale w ill then be secured from them 

 than if covered earlier in the season. 



Asparagus is another highly esteemed and most 

 useful vegetable. Fortunately it belongs to the 

 category of easily forced vegetables, and can be 

 secured in abundance at almost all periods of the 

 year. The important point to remember about 

 the successful forcing of this vegetable is to 

 always have two or three fair sized beds of strong 

 three year old. plants, which have not been forced 

 previously. As soon as the tops are yellow and 

 hard they should be cut off, and the beds cleaned, 

 and at once be well mulched with rotten manure 

 to keep frost from penetrating too deeply into the 

 ground. Preparations may at once be made for 

 forcing this plant where there is sufficient 

 material, convenience and a good batch of plants 

 to keep up a succession until spring. Commence 

 by collecting into a heap long dung and leaves, 

 which must be prepared, by frequent turnings, to 

 form a bed five feet high at the back and four feet 

 at the front — the length to be determined by the 

 size of the frames to be employed. On the top of 

 this must be placed six inches of well decayed 

 manure, on which jDlace a frame. On the top of 

 the manure place a third layer of chopped loam 

 and about six inches of light, rich soil. Lift the 

 plants very carefully, and place them in the frame 

 as closely together as possible, with their roots 

 nicely spread out. Cover them to a depth of about 

 four inches with light, rich soil, and give a good 

 watering to settle all down. The lights should 

 then be placed on and kept covered, for a few days, 

 when air may be given, care being taken to watch 

 the heat as it rises. If it be inclined to become 

 too hot holes may be bored round the sides of the 

 bed to act as safety-valves, and they may be 

 plugged when the heat was diminished. By 

 jjreparing a fresh bed in a similar manner as the 

 previous one becomes exhausted, a succession of 

 crops can be secured until the season for outdoor 

 cutting commences. J. J. Cleary 



Correspondence, 



In your November nuniber there is an interesting 

 note on Dictamnus Albus, formerly white Fraxi- 

 nella. The most interesting cliaracteristic of this 

 plant is not mentioned — viz., that it emits an 

 inflammable gas \\hicli may be lighted on a still, 

 warm evening when the flowers are fully open; 

 it burns without injuring the flowers or leaves, 

 and gives off a pleasing aromatic perfume. 

 Seskin, Carrick-on-Suir. J. Ernest Grubb. 



