28 



IRISH GARDENING. 



potash in some form, or another, such as seaweed, 

 when obtainable, wood ashes or kainit, sulphate 

 of potash, &c., in pre-war days. Such substances 

 also as lime, nitrate of soda, and salt, which by 

 their action help to liberate potash in soils where 

 it already exists, aie also valuable for such crops : 

 of the two latter substances only 2 ozs. to the 

 square yard should be applied. Before sowing- 

 the seeds, prepare drills about IH inches apart 

 and about an inch deep, running the rows north 

 and south, then sow the seeds thinly, choosing a 

 calm day for the oijeration, and covering over the 

 seeds immediately after sowing. When seeds are 

 sown thickly they become drawn and weak, are 

 very subject to disease and insect attacks, and 

 seldom make really healthy plants. Peas and 

 broad beans should also be sown ; for these the 

 soil should be well drained and contain a fair 

 proportion of lime. Where the soil is sandy, 

 manure is best applied in trenches, placing 

 quantities of vegetable refuse at about 12 inches 

 deep, a layer of horse or cow manure about 

 4 inches deep on top of it. then working in at the 

 surface a dressing of basic slag, wood ashes and 

 lime in equal proportions at the i^ate of 8 ozs. per 

 square yard. Tall crops, such as these, are better 

 spaced at some distance from each other, with 

 such crops as early turnips, parsnips, &c., in beds 

 between the rows. Before sowing the seeds it will 

 be better to soak them first in linseed oil aud then 

 roll them in red lead. This will usually tend to 

 keep the birds and mice froni eating them. Wlien 

 sowing the seeds they should be sown thinly — 

 for peas three rows of seeds in each 

 trench at 2 inches apart and 1 ^ inches deep in the 

 soil, might be sown, and for broad beans two rows 

 of seeds at the same depth, but (5 inches apart. 



Seeds of Cauliflowers, Brussels Sprouts, Savoy 

 Cabbages and Red Cabbages should be sown on a 

 well-prepared seed bed containing lime in abund- 

 ance. The plants from this sowing should provide 

 large crops of green vegetables. If a frame or 

 greenhouse is available, in which heat can be 

 generated either by means of a hot bed or by 

 boilers, &c., seeds might be sown in boxes — with 

 sandy, loamy, soil — of Onions, Leeks, Celery, 

 Lettuce, Cauliflowers and Brussels Sprouts, to 

 furnish early supplies. 



Planting. — Continue to plant out Cabbages 

 from the seed beds, also Potato Onions, Shallots 

 and Onion-sets (undeveloped onions), on ground 

 which has been well manured. For the Onion 

 crops the ground should also receive an applica- 

 tion of wood ashes or seaweed ; the bulbs should 

 only be just covered with the soil and they should 

 on no account be planted deeply. 



Fruit. — Loganberries are a valuable crop in 

 small gardens ; choose a moist and well-manured 

 spot for planting them in, and when planting 

 them cut most of the shoots down to within 

 three inches of the ground level. W. H. J. 



The Genus Juniperus and its Com- 

 mercial Importance* 



The genus Juniperus includes many species of 

 trees and shrubs widely distributed in the 

 northern hemisphere and occurring south of the 

 Equator in the mountains of Eastern Tropical 

 Africa. They are found throughout Europe, in 

 Asia Minor, Asia from the Himalayas northwards 

 almost to the limit of shrub life, North America, 



tlie West Indies, Northern Africa, East Africa, the 

 ('anary Islands and the Azores. They are often 

 of slow growth, and it is doubtful whether any 

 species planted under forest conditions in the 

 British Isles would prove a financial success. In 

 many instances the wood is red or yellow in 

 colour and fragrant. It is sometimes used for 

 l)uilding purposes and for cabinets, but its most 

 important use is for the casings of lead pencils, 

 no other kind of wood having been found so 

 suitable for this purpose as the better grades of 

 juniper. When too small or knotty for other 

 uses, it forms very .serviceable fences. Oil, used 

 for perfumery, &c., is obtained from the wood by 

 distillation and may be also procured from the 

 leaves and fi^uits of certain species. Medicinal 

 properties of a diuretic chai'acter are possessed 

 by the junipers. The following species are of 

 economic impoi'tance : — 



J. barbadensis Linn. (Barbados Cedar, Southern 

 Red Cedar). — It is found in the West Indies and in 

 the Southern United States, where it often grows 

 in swamps near coastal rivers, and under the best 

 conditions attains a height of 50 ft. with a girth 

 of 6 ft., its average size being 30 ft. The wood 

 is popular for pencil making. 



J. bernrudiana Linn. (Bermuda Cedar, Bermuda 

 Red Cedar). — It is found in Bermuda, w4iere it 

 grows under a variety of conditions, both in 

 V)rackish swamps and on limestone hills. Average- 

 sized trees are 4:0-.50 ft. high. The wood is valu- 

 able for ship building and for furniture. 



J. calif ornica Carr. (White Cedar, Sweet berried 

 Cedar, Californian Juniper). — A bu.sh or sn^all 

 tree found wild in California, Arizona, &c. The 

 wood is used for fence posts. 



J. cedrus Webb, and Berth (Canary Islands 

 Juniper, Canary Island;^ Cedar, Sabina Tree). — It 

 is native of the Canary Islands, wliere it ascends 

 the niountains to a height of 7,000-9,000 ft., 

 sometimes attaining a large size. l)r. G. V. Perez, 

 of Teneriffe, considers it might be planted with 

 advantage under forest conditions for its timber. 



J. chinensis Linn. (Chinese Juniper). — It is 

 quite hardy in the British Isles, and is largely 

 grown as a decorative tree or bush. The wood is 

 durable and useful for many purposes, but is not 

 obtainable in quantity and is of no importance 

 in the tinrber market. 



J. comnrunis Linn. (Common Juniper, (Ground 

 Cedar). — Widely distributed through Europe, 

 Northern Asia and North America. In some 

 Continential countries it attains a height of 30-40 

 ft. The wood is used for fencing, for milk pails 

 and other domestic articles, and for walking- 

 sticks. The oil is used for medicinal and for 

 flavouring purposes. The fruits have been of 

 commercial importance (for use in the distilleries) 

 for a long period. 



" J. drupacea liabil. (Drupe-fruited Juniper, 

 Syrian .luniper). — Native of Asia .Minor and 

 Syria, where it often grows (iO ft. high. Although 

 the timber is reputed to be ol good ([uality, the 

 consumption is apparently quite local. 



J. excelsa Bieb (Grecian Juniper). — Widely 

 distributed from the Balkans through South-east 

 Europe to Asia Minor and Syria. In Asia Minor 

 attains themaxinmm size : 70-100 ft. in heightand 

 4 ft. in diameter of the trunk. The timber is 

 reputed to be of good quality and has been recom- 

 mended for railway sleepers. 



J. formosana Hayata (Prickly Cypress). — A 

 species spread over a considerable area in China 



