174 



IBISH GARDENING 



Liine washes through the suil to the low er hiyers 

 fairly quickly, and should be applied auuually to 

 get the best" possible results. 



Flowers and Fri'it. — (.'ontinue to complete 

 tlie work vecouuneuded in the last issue of iRlsn 

 (liARDENlNG. 



Allotment Observations. 



By J. Hrat.KV. .Superintendent Dublin Cor- 



' poration Land Cultivation Coniiuittee. 

 It will. I am sure, be admitted that close 

 oliservalion of allotments would be required 

 throughout the entire year if a correct estimate 

 of the produce raised was to be given. In many 

 cases it must be admitted that the cultivation 

 methods resorted to left much to be desired as the 

 (Muckest wavs of getting through the work were 

 availed of. " The lazybed was very much in 

 evidence everywhere, but it is believed that the 

 drill will take" its place next year. 



.Many varieties of Potatoes were to be seen 

 growing on a plot, this perhaps on account of 

 " seed " being so scarce during the earlier months 

 of the year. General satisfaction seems to have 

 been given by " Beaixty of Hebron," " British 

 Queen," " Arran Chief." " Leinster Wonder," 

 and " Shamrock " varieties, and in a few instances 

 tlie ((uality and (juantity of the " Up-to-Date" 

 eclipsed the expectations of many growers. 



It is hoped that next year will see much moi-e 

 variety in the vegetables growing on all plots. 

 Beyond Potatoes, Cabbage and Turnips, 85 per 

 cent, of the cultivators did not go. 



The scheme for the winter supply of vegetables 

 should be decided on early in the year, and 

 ground well prepared is essential for good healthy 

 crops. 



Leeks, which are so suitable to substitute 

 Onions, were rarely to be seen this year, as while 

 the cultivation is simple they survive the winter 

 months in the ground, and can be left there until 

 required for use. The fvdl value of Celery has 

 not yet been realised by the average plotholder. 

 The iew who were fortunate enough to grow some 

 this year can testify to th6 simple mode of 

 cultivation and to the high quality of the veget- 

 able itself. As a winter vegetable it is worth its 

 place on all plots. 



The popular Cabbage known as Savoy was, m 

 most cases, sown too early, and it consequently 

 reached maturity too soon. " It is best appreciated 

 when it comes in for use in December. 



Parsnips, too, were not very numerous, 

 though they amply repay the trouble of cultiva- 

 tion. Good deep or double digging is universally 

 recommended with the manure deeply buried in 

 the ground, which should be left thrown up as 

 rough as it will remain when it is thrown off" the 

 spade in autumn. 



Broccoli, or Winter Cauliflower, as they are 

 called, received very little thought from the plot- 

 holder of 1917, considering when the seed has been 

 sown and the plants hned out in July in tlieir per- 

 manent places, keeping the ground free from 

 weeds, and drawing a little soil to the stems of 

 the plants, constitute the entire cidtivation. A 

 good crop may always be looked forward to if 

 seed is sown in time. A variety may be chosen 

 that will come in for use during any month 

 between October and April. 



The Month's Work. 



Midland and Northern Counties. 



By W. G. Neave, Gardener tu Lady O'Neill. 

 Shane's Castle, Antrim. 



Kitchen Gakukn. 



Asparagus. Now that Ihe '' grass" hasripened 

 it may be cut down and burnt, then clean the 

 beds and top-dress with good rich manure, or sea- 

 weed, if possible; failing the latter a dressing of 

 salt will prove of great value for next year's 

 growths. 



Globe Aktichokes. — The crowns of these valu- 

 al)le plants should l)e protected now by putting 

 a layer of ashes over them, later put a layer of 

 dry litter over that, which will be sufficient to 

 protect them from severe frost. 



Ehubarb. — ^Put the first batcli of roots into 

 forcing house to have a dish or two for Xnias 

 time. The same applies to Seakale. After .a few 

 degrees of frost they force uuich better. 



Celery. — Give a final earthing up to latest 

 Itatch, placing the soil up the stems to the fidlest 

 extent. Choose a dry day for the work, and break 

 the soil finely. 



Cauliflower. — Any heads which are ready for 

 use should be cut and placed in a cool room, 

 where they will keep fresh for some days. 



Remarks. — The principal work for this month is 

 the clearing of all vacant plots, manuring and dig- 

 ging same or, if possible, trenching, leaving the 

 surface as rough as ijossible, for the frost to have 

 full play on it. Attention and thought should 

 be given to every plot according as it is dug and 

 manured or trenched. Wliat is it to groir? 

 That should depend on what was in it this year, 

 for instance, the Brassica family, which includes 

 Turnips, should not be allowed to follow each 

 other, if this can at all be avoided. Good crops of 

 onions may be grown in the same plots provided 

 the ground is trenched and liberally treated. Car- 

 rots, Parsnips, and Beetroot should follow crops 

 for which the land Ims been specially well man- 

 ured the previous year so that fresh manure need 

 not be added. Any vegetable will follow Celery, 

 as the treatment of Celery brings the ground into 

 good fettle, but every gardener who studies his 

 work tries, if possible, to give each crop a change 

 of ground every year, so tlxat the garden and the 

 croijs will be benefiting every year from his 

 labour and forethought, and no delay occur at 

 seedtime in getting a plot ready for its new 

 occupant. 



Fruit Garden. 



New plantations of all kinds of bush fruit may 

 now be made, that is, if the soil is in a dry 

 favourable condition. The earlier trees are 

 ordered from the nurseries the l)etter chance you 

 have of getting good stuff. See that the ground is 

 well trenched and manured and allowed to settle 

 liefore planting proceeds, and on no account plant 

 if the ground is wet and would cake when treaded 

 on. Small bush fruits, such as Currants and 

 Gooseberries, shoidd be planted on good. rich, 

 soil, six feet anart each way. Raspberries in hues 



