126 



IRISH GARDENING. 



didn't grow any yourself, hunt .vip a neighbour 

 from Scothmd, Enghuid, Ireland, or. Wales, and 

 he will likely be able to accommodate you from 

 his surplus. - 



The earliest celery will be .ready for its fiist 

 lulling up by now, but before applying the soil 

 go over each plant carefully and remove all side 

 shoots and short leaves; also any tall-growing 

 weeds, and give a good soaking of water if neces- 

 sary. 



If plenty of manure was given at planting time 

 nothfng further may be needed for early celery, 

 but if thought desirable a dusting of equal quan- 

 tities of bone meal and wood ashes may be given 

 at this time. If water has been given, give the 

 plants time to get thoroughly dry; then com- 

 mence by loosening up the soil on the ridges and 

 pulverise it with the spade so that it will not 

 l)e lumpy tuid will pack tightly round the ])lants. 

 Grasp the first plant with the left hand and with 

 the right draw the soil from the ridge on that side 

 and work it close up to and around the plant, 

 taking care that no soil gets between the leaf 

 stalks; change hands and do the same on the other 

 side, and so on until the whole is completed. Three 

 inches of soil is enough for the first and second 

 lulling of early celery, and the crop will usually 

 be consumed before any more is required. Main 

 crop celery is treated the same way, but requires 

 a third hilling when the plants are covered up to 

 the tips of their leaves. 



I have occupied my allotted space entirely with 

 the vegetable garden, but during a time when 

 good production is oif such vital ■ importance no 

 excuses are necessary. — H. M. E. in the Biitisli 

 Columbia Fruit and Farm Magazine, July, 1917. 



Lilies in July, 



Ai'PARENTLY tliis abnormal year of 1917 suited 

 some of our fine garden Lilies, for at least half a 

 dozen species have already flowered well, and 

 others show signs of being equally good in a short 

 time. 



Most striking of all, perhaps, was that grand 

 and noble species Lilium regale. Over three feet 

 high and bearing large white flowers shading to 

 yellow towards the centre and flushed with brown 

 on the , outside, it was a delightful object when 

 in flower. It is also deliciously scented, and 

 needs no coddling, flourishing in good, rich, well- 

 drained garden soil. Seeds are usually produced 

 fieely and germinate well, reaching the flower- 

 ing stage in about five years 



Jjilium japonicum Krameri, a chaste and 

 beautiful species, has also flowered well this year. 

 Planted two years ago in a peat bed, it failed to 

 flower last season. Having gathered strength, 

 however, it rewarded patience by opening its 

 l)eautiful delicate pink blossoms this year. It is 

 not considered very robust as a rule, but after 

 coming through the late winter and spring there 

 is considerable hope for it. Needless to say, it is 

 protected by being planted among dwarf shrubs 

 of a peat-loving nature. 



L. Humboldtii is an American species of rare 

 beauty, carrying up to twenty or more flowers 

 when flourishing. The flowers are bright golden 

 yellow, heavily marked with maroon or i)urple 

 spots. It likes a cool peaty soil among dwarf 

 shrubs which shade and protect the yoiuig 

 growths in the early stages. 



L. Burbanki is a hybrid raised in America V)y 

 the man whose name it bears. It is a fine, 

 strong-growing Lily, growing freely in peat and 

 reaching a height of five or six feet. In appear- 



ance it is rather like a strong-growing form of 

 L. pardalinum, which is pretty well known in 

 gardens, but there is said to be some variation 

 in the shape and colour of the flowers due to its 

 hybrid origin. In the specimens here the flowers 

 are rich yellow with brown spots. 



L. canadense is another American species doing 

 well this year. It bears very pretty bell-shaped 

 flowers, deep yellow and spotted inside. It 

 reaches a height of three to four feet and 

 flourishes in peat and iialf shade. 



L. testaceum is an old and well-tried favourite 

 in gardens, rejoicing in a stiff, moist soil. 

 Nowhere have I seen it do better than in the stiff, 

 cold soil of the Carse of Gowrie, in Perthshire, 

 where it grew and increased with great rapidity. 

 It is thought to be a hybrid between L. can- 

 didum, the Madonna- Lily and the Scarlet Turk's 

 Cap Lily, L. chalcedonicum. The flowers are of 

 a ))eautiful Nankeen yellow borne on stems five 

 feet higli. It is inirely a loam Lily, and a beauti- 

 ful ornament to the herbaceous border. 



\j. croceum is a well-known and favoiu'ite 

 species, also flourishing in loam and requiring 

 no coddling. It is a glory in the herbaceous 

 Ijorder in July with its branched umbels of 

 orange yellow, flowers. All the Martagon liilies 

 liave flowered well this ye-ciY, but particularly fine 

 has been L. Martagon dalniaticum, with deep 

 glossy purple flowers borne in profusion well 

 above the whorls of leaves. It flourishes in good 

 rich moist loam. 



J. W. B., Glasnevin. 



The Month's Work. 



Midland and Northern Counties. 



By \V. G. Ne.wi;. Gardener to Lady O'Neill. 

 Shane's Castle, Antrim. 



The weather during the first part of July has 

 been warm and very dry, splendid for the 

 destruction of weeds, but crops in general are 

 beginning to suffer, and rain w ould be a blessing — 

 the watering pot has never the same effect, but 

 has always to be resorted to, for the most of 

 vegetables are inoisture-loving jDlants. 



Celery. — Give liberal supplies of water to the 

 roots of Celery plants throughout the growing 

 season in order to get a clean, healthy growth. 

 The eai'liest jDlants should be earthed up as soon 

 as the leaves are of sufficient height, great care 

 must be taken that none of the soil is allowed to 

 fall into the centre of the plants ; neither should 

 it be pressed too tightly, as the centre leaves need 

 room to expand :, also see that the roots are not 

 dry before earthing up. 



Leeks. — Another plantation of Leeks may be 

 made now to pi'ovide supplies next May. Leeks 

 planted early in the season should be watered 

 freely with liquid manure, and have the soil 

 placed around the stems as growth advances. 

 The Leek is a gross feeder, and is unlike most 

 vegetables — the largest specimens have the 

 mildest flavour. 



Cabbage. — Make your chief sowing for spring 

 planting now, say from the first to the third week 

 of this month. My favourite Cabbage fcr this 

 sowing 13 EUam's Early Dwarf. Newly dug 

 potato ground will suit this crop. 



Turnips. — Another sowing of Orange Jellies 



