l62 



IRISH GARDENING. 



PiCEA PUNGENS GLAUCA 



(See page 167). 

 side growths to within two buds of the base of 

 the current year's wood and cut clean out all 

 surplus spurs. When cutting back the leading 

 shoot, always cut just above a wood bud looking 

 outwa.rds, so that the branches will tend to grow 

 upwards and outwards in a gradual slanting 

 position. The surface soil between the trees 

 should, be stirred with a hoe at regular intervals 

 and kept free of weeds. A mulch of farmyard 

 manure laid on in June is beneficial to the trees 

 in so much that it conserves moisture and acts 

 as a stimulant, just at a time when the fruits are 

 commencing to swell. At this stage, if the crop 

 be heavy, thin out all deformed and badly 

 placed fruits. Keep a sharp look out for the 

 caterpillar, which, if left unchecked, will eat 

 and destroy the foliage and very often many of 

 the fruits. When the fruits are swelling lest 

 and the crop is a heavy one, farmyard manure, 

 diluted at the rate of one-third of liqaid to 

 two -thirds of water, should be applied to the 

 roots of the trees several times during the 

 growing season. These applications, not onlv 

 assist the swelling of the fruits, but also have 

 the effect of ensuring good fruit buds for the 

 following year. Trees that are producing wood, 



too robust and vigorous, at the expense of fruit 

 buds, must be dealt with by means of root- 

 l)runing. This operation is best perfornud at 

 the end of October, just as the leaves are 

 beginning to fall. It is advisable to deal with 

 one side of the tree only imtd it is seen if it has 

 brought about the desired effect. With a spade, 

 take out a semi-circle trench, 3 feet from the 

 stem. Then, with a fork work out some of 

 the soil from among the roots. Should a tap- 

 root be found underneath, cut it clean through 

 by means of a spade or hand-saw. Prune off 

 all damaged roots, always bearing in mind to 

 cut downwards. By so doing, fibrous roots arc 

 induced to emit upwards, thereby keeping 

 them near the surface, which is an item of 

 paramount imjiortance to the well-being of the 

 Pear. Fill in the trench with the old soil, 

 treading firmly as the work of filling in proceeds. 

 Shoulel the operateel tree show any tenelency to 

 loosen by the effect of high winds, elrive in a 

 strong stake and tie securely. If the above 

 root-pruning does not bring about the desired 

 result, the other siele cf the tree shoulel be rcot- 

 pruned the following autumn. 



For bush culture the following are a list of 

 the best varieties in their order of ripening : — 

 Clapp's Favourite, William's B. Chretien, 

 Mdme. Treyve, Louise B. de Jersey, B. Superfin, 

 B. Hardy, Fondante D'Automne, Triomphe ele 

 Vienne, Conference, Durondeau, Conscilleur ele 

 la Cceur, Doyenne de Cornice, Glout Morceau, 

 Winter Nelis, and Josephine de Malines. 



Two of the best stcAving pears are Catilla" 

 anel Uvelale's St. Germain. 



Useful Apples for Irish Gardens. 



Within recent veal's much has been acconi- 

 plis'hed in the improvement and extension of 

 fruit growing in Ireland, especially of Apples, 

 by both private and coinniercial growers. 

 Guided by statistics published by the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture for Irelanel, I note that 

 there is an increase of 1,457 acres uneler fruit 

 as compared with the area uneler fruit in 1916. 

 It may reasonably be inferreel that a pre- 

 ])onderance of this increased area has been 

 devoted to apples, this being a pleasing in- 

 dication of the sounelness of advice frecjuently 

 ])ut forward by the Horticultural Press, the 

 Department of Agriculture, &c., for the in- 

 creased production of Apples, though the 

 southern counties, with their superior soil and 

 climatic conelitions, have not shareel in the 

 increase to the extent that might be expected. 

 Considering the unelisputeel high eiualifica- 



