IRISH GARDENING 



159 



gradually by placing them thinly in a cold frame : 

 later they should be placed in boxes, labelled 

 and stored for the winter. Lobelia Cardinalis 

 may be packed closely in boxes. 



Old stools of Pelargoniums may be cut back 

 and packed in boxes or potted on in case cuttings, 

 may be scarce, and they themselves make fine 

 plants for the centre of the beds next year. 



Sweet Peas.- — If it is intended to make a 

 sowing of Sweet Peas this autumn the work 

 should be done without further delay ; guard 

 against mice by setting traps along the rows. 



As soon as the spring bedding is completed, 

 attention should be given to herbaceous borders 

 and any requiring replanting should be done as 

 soon as weather and time permits, of course a lot 

 depends on the class of stuff ; the borders may 

 still be gay with P. Asters and Chrysanthemums, 

 when, of course, you will leave them till later. 

 Where Daffodils and Narcissus have been for a 

 number of years in the same place, they should 

 be lifted and replanted thinly in good fresh soil. 



Southern and Western Counties 



By Ernest Beckett, Gardener to Lord 

 Barrymore, Fota. 



The Kitchen Garden. 



The principal work connected with this depart- 

 ment will be the completion of the storage of root 

 crops and the removal from quarters of winter 

 greens of all decaying leaves and rubbish, and, on 

 favourable occasions, the destruction of weeds 

 and promotion of growth by the loosening of the 

 soil. Remove old rows of Peas and Beans that 

 are past bearing, and if the supports are worth 

 saving bundle them up and store for another 

 season. If the soil is at all loose where the spring 

 Cabbage plants are set out, carefully firm around 

 them when the soil is dry, as this plant requires a 

 firm soil to encourage a sturdy, hardy growth to 

 stand the winter. All decaying vegetable refuse 

 placed in reserve for mixing with manure should 

 be turned when the opportunity occurs, and the 

 outside turned into the middle. 



Potatoes. — Examine the tubers that have 

 been set apart for seed and keep them in a dry, 

 cool, airy position. I have heard of more than 

 one instance where they were left out to green and 

 ripen during the excessive wet and sunless 

 August,- of the majority of them rotting. Set 



them up in trays, especially those that ar e 

 intended for earliest supplies, under glass, with 

 the rose end upwards. Now is the time, if any- 

 one cares to adopt the practice of obtaining new 

 Potatoes Christmas twelvemonths, to put aside , 

 in a cool, airy place in a subdued light, the 

 largest tubers of a maincrop variety, and in the 

 moantime remove all signs of growth, and in a 

 twelvemonth's tinie lightly cover with leaf- 

 mould, and new tubers will be formed on the old 

 ones, and as they become large enough removed 

 to allow the smaller ones to mature. 



Leeks. — Keep the plot clean and assist growth 

 by giving a good dressing of wood-ashes or soot 

 or a watering with diluted sewage water. 



Celery. — Continue to earth-up the latest 

 batches, choosing the afternoon of a fine day when 

 the foliage is perfectly dry, having first removed 

 all useless leaves and side shoots. A dusting of 

 lime then before adding the soil will do much to 

 prevent disfigurement to the stalks from slugs, 

 centipedes and other pests. Should a watering 

 be considered necessary, apply the day previous 

 and give a final stimulant. 



Rhubarb. — If forced Rhubarb is required for 

 Christmas, lift a few crowns of an early variety 

 and leave exposed on the ground for a week or 

 two before placing inside. 



Seakale. — If proper facilities are to hand for 

 forcing, the same remarks apply as to Rhubarb. 

 Select the strongest of the crowns and force in 

 total darkness. 



Chicory. — Where winter salads are in demand 

 this is an easily forced plant. 



Endive. — Lift and plant closely together in a 

 cold frame and give abundance of air ; whenever 

 possible remove the lights entirely and keep the 

 plants free from damp. The same remarks apply 

 to Lettuce. 



Peas and Broad Beans. — Where autumn 

 sowing is practised these will be got in during the 

 month. Owing to the depredations of pheasants 

 and rats it is impossible in my own instance. 



The Hardy Fruit Garden. 



There is a great deal of work that may be 

 accomplished now in this department, and the 

 sooner the work of planting and root-pruning can 

 be put into practice the better chance will the 

 trees have of foi'ming new rootlets whilst the soil 

 is fairlv warm and getting established before 



