IRISH GARDENING. 



^73 



Suburban and Allotment Gardens. 



November is a good month for stocktaking on 

 the allotment, as also in the svxburban, garden ; 

 of noting these crops which have been super- 

 abundant and of these of which there has not 

 been sufficient to meet the demands. Also as to 

 the scarcity or plenitude during cejtain seaso>is. 

 It has been said that a fool can have a supply of 

 vegetables during ^ Jvily, but that it takes a 

 gardener to obtain full svipplies in January, 

 February and March. Tliis question will need 

 consideration now when drawing up schemes for 

 next year. 



I suggested early in the season that these 

 vegetables which were considered necessary 

 should be grown, and of these, where space is 

 limited, those which are dearest to buy at the 

 shops, and arranging the supplies so that they 

 come in at periods of " market scarcity " rather 

 than when vegetables were extremely cheap. I 

 repeat this now, as I have so often found by ex- 

 perience, that allotment holders and amateurs 

 generally grow too naany mid-summer vegetables 

 in proportion to the mid -winter ones, lu this 

 connection I wovikl like to suggest to Horticultural 

 and Allotment Associations the value of winter 

 shows or competitions, in order to encourage the 

 production of vegetable foods when they are 

 scarce, rather than having classes in the summer 

 shows for varieties or collections of vegetables, 

 in which winter vegetables are often included, and 

 which vegetables having been grown out of 

 season, so to speak, have not the same keeping 

 qualities as those of later development. Writing 

 of competitions reminds me that flowers are 

 often entirely absent from allotment competitions, 

 this is to be deplored. 



In Belfast, where special prizes are offered for 

 the flower borders, some remarkable results are 

 obtained, and the whole scheme of allotments 

 presents a far more beautiful and interesting 

 scheme than where there are no flowers. Apart 

 from this it has also been found that those who 

 win prizes with the flowers grow more vegetables 

 than the average iilotholder, probably because 

 of the fact that a keener interest is aroused, which 

 interest makes itselt felt in every bit of the plot. 



Allotment Extensions. — This is perhaps the 

 best month to start on new schemes of garden 

 plots, as the gi'ound can then be put into order 

 before the big push of spring comes along. It is 

 claimed by the Dublin factors and shopkeepers 

 that an immense quantity of food has been gro\^"n 

 on the allotments this year. The indications at 

 present appear to jsoint out the absolute necessity 

 of producing much more during the new season. 

 That there is a positive danger of food shortage 

 is not realised by many as it might be. ^^'hile this 

 is so it seems a calamity that land should be held 

 up by sports of various kind and through other 

 causes when it might be doing really national 

 service. It should not be necessary at this time 

 to appeal to patriotisni or to point out that such 

 lands as I have i-eferi-ed to are immensely 

 improved by the deep, thorough cviltivation, 

 combined with the heavy manuring and liming 

 which is done by plotholders. (The best thing 

 that could happen to many of these grass plots 

 with their uneven mossy surfaces, is for a group 



of allotments to ))e laid out on them, so that after 

 a few seasons of cultivation they are in a fit sta te 

 to grow the riglit type of grasses upon.) Then 

 agam the health-giving and social values of allot- 

 ments are worth while, even if these were all the 

 benefits to be obtained. 



Soil Operations. — These should be continued, 

 as recommended last month. One operation 

 which is of extreme value — more especially on 

 heavy or sticky soils and in northern districts — is 

 that of ridging, or throwing the soil into long 

 parallel roof-like banks. To do this first of all 

 jnark off the ground into parallel strips about 

 3 feet 6 inches wide, then at one end of the first 

 strip take out a trench about 2 feet Avide and 

 from 12-18 inches deep, depending upon the 

 quality of the subsoil. When this first trench 

 of soil has been taken out, a second trench abovit 

 18 inches wide should be marked off immediately 

 behind it, and on the same strip. The soil of 

 this trench should be lifted out with a digging 

 fork or spade in large lumps and thrown forward 

 into the middle of the first trench in such a way 

 that a ridfjc is gradually formed, having its apex 

 over the middle of the strip and its base extending 

 nearly to the sides of the strip. Proceed in this 

 way trench after trench until the first strip has 

 been ridged, and then complete the ridge over 

 the last trench of the strip with soil from the 

 first trench of the adjoining strip. 



This method of cultivating the soil exjjoses a 

 considerable svaface to the varying atmospheric 

 conditions — to frost and heat, wet and dry, kc. 

 As a consequence in spi'ing it breaks down very 

 easily^ owing to the weathering it has vxndergone, 

 has less soil pests — many being killed by- frost, 

 others devoured by birds ever on the hunt during 

 A\inter for animal food, when other food is 

 scarce- — is better drained, contains a greater 

 supply of air, and warms up more easily. As a 

 consec(uence crops are earlier, healthier, and more 

 luxurious in their growth. 



Manuring. — Heavy soils should, when possible, 

 be manured in winter while ridging or other 

 operations are in progress. The long or littery- 

 manure being placed along with vegetable 

 refuse at the bottom of the trench, and the short 

 nianure near the siu^face, depending upon the 

 kind of crop to be grown. For CaiTots, Parsnips 

 and Beet the manure should not as a general 

 rule be jjlaced nearer than 9 inches to the svu-face. 

 The sandy soils need not be dug as early as the 

 clays, and on these manure is best applied in 

 February or March, unless quantities are avail- 

 able. Leaves of trees and other moisture-holding 

 matter should be incorporated with such soils at 

 every available opportunity. 



Liming. — Many allotments are established on 

 sour soils. Such soils are immensely imjjroved 

 by the addition of lime, which can be obtained 

 in various forms. Generally^ speaking, " quick- 

 lime " gives the best results, more especially on 

 heavy soils. It should be powdered by" exposure 

 to the air, or by sprinkling with water, and then 

 scattered over the soil — after digging has been 

 done — at the rate of 1 hundred- weight to a xV acre 

 plot, or more, where finger and toe disease has 

 manifested itself on Cabbages and Turnips, &c. 

 The lime should be mixed with the surface soil 

 by pointing or raking it over with a digging-fork. 



