38 



IRISH GARDENING. 



Suburban and Allotment 

 Gardens* 



This month is the luonth of the year for gardening 

 work, and work which is neglected now cannot be 

 afterwards overtaken. 



Seed Sowing and Planting. — Wlien sowing 

 seeds, sow thinly in rows ; an overcrowded seed 

 bed results in stunted plants which will not give 

 a first class crop ; also sow to the right depth. 

 When seeds are sown too deeply they do not 

 obtain sufficient air, consequently they beconae 



The seeds that ought to be sown now are peas, a 

 dwarf variety, such as American Wonder; Little 

 ^hirvel or Rowan's Daisy will do where stakes 

 are difficult to obtain. A flat trench about two to 

 three incbes deep and 12 inches wide should be 

 taken out (the ground having been well prepared 

 and manured beforehand) ; the seeds should then 

 be dropped carefully at intervals of about three 

 inches ; tliree rows can be placed at this distance 

 in the one trench ; the soil should then be care- 

 fully covered in. Where birds are troublesome it 

 will pay to soak the seeds in linseed oil or paraffin 

 for about 1 .") minutes, and then sbake red lead over 

 them. Both birds and mice are usually kept at 



The following quantity of Vegetable Seeds, &c., will be sufficient for the requirements 



of most garden plots. 



From the Deijartment's Special Leaflet, Treatnuvf of Allotmeiiia for the Clrowing of Vegetables. 



suffocated, while in other cases it is impossible 

 for the thin stems to push throvigh quantities of 

 soil. For small seeds, such as onions, ijarsnips, 

 beet, &c., from half an incli to three-qviarters of an 

 inch deep will do very well, but for larger seeds, 

 such as peas and beans, from 1 inch to two 

 inches deep would be better. On very heavy or 

 clayed soils the seeds should be sown more 

 thinly than on light or sandy soils. The rows 

 shoiild always be sufficiently far apart to allow 

 of full development to individual plants — carrots 

 and onions require from 12 to 15 inches, parsnips 

 and turnips from 15 to 18 inches, and cabbages 

 ;\nd cauliflowers, &c., from IS to 24 inches. 



bay by this treatment. From the middle of the 

 month onwards sow a few early turniiJS, such as 

 early Model White or early Milan (rows 15 inches 

 apart, seeds half an inch deep) ; sow also parsnips, 

 choosing a calm day, as these " seeds " are ex- 

 tremely liable to blow away ; make rows 15 to 

 18 inches apart, seeds sown thinly, or sow three 

 seeds in little lumps at intervals of eight inches 

 along the row ; a few radish and lettuce seeds 

 can be sown between the rows for early use. For 

 various crops a seed bed should be prepared, 

 breaking up the .soil finely, adding, when obtain- 

 able, a little leafy material and lime to the 

 surface soil. Then rake the soil level and sow 



