44 



IRISH GARDENING. 



of , Ca,nada, is our .second most important hard- 

 wood, and is represented in.('ana(lii by niiu^ or 

 more species scattered from tlie Atlantic lo the 

 Pacific. Only one species however can be con- 

 sidered here. The sugar maple or hard maple 

 (Acer saccharum) produces the most valuable 

 lumber, and, like birch, is used for furniture, 

 vehicle stock and interior house finishing. The 

 sap of this tree is the source of maple syrup and 

 sugar. 



Basswood (Tilia americana) is a valuable wood 

 for cabinet work of all kinds, but being resti'icted 

 in distriljution and in great demand the available 

 supply has almost disappeared. It formed less 

 than one per cent, of the lumber produced in 

 Canadian sawmills in 1914. 



, Elm, represented by three species in Canada, is 

 a valuable vehicle wood. Beech, ash, oak, butter- 

 nut, chestnut, hickory, cherry, black walnut, 

 tulip, black gum, I'cd alder, sycamore and sassa- 

 frass are all valuable woods, and are still sawn 

 into lumber in Canada, but in most cases the 

 supply, which was never large, has dwindled 

 almost to insignificance. 



The popular species, of which there are seven 

 native to Canada, are for the most part considered 

 as " weed trees," but, like paper birch and jack 

 pine, they produce .great quantities of material 

 which will eventually become valuable at least 

 for sonie purpose when their qualities are better 

 appreciated and when the scarcity of the more 

 valuable of better understood woods will make 

 their careful xitilization imperative. — Inter- 

 national Review of the Science and Practice of 

 Agricidtfire, September, 1916. 



Some Easily Grown Salad 

 Plants. 



By T. E. ToM.\LiN, Bessborough, Co. Kilkenny. 



Although salad plants may not possess so nauch 

 nutritive value as some other vegetables, they 

 should not be altogether neglected, as they 

 undoubtedly have many health-giving qualities, 

 and will serve to render naany a simple meal both 

 attractive and appetising. Moreover, most of 

 these plants may be quite successfully grown 

 between the rows of, or as an edging to, the more 

 important crops in the allotment or small garden. 

 The kinds mentioned below are all of easy culti- 

 vation, a^nd are economical of garden space. 



Lettuce. — This is perhaps the most important 

 salad plar;it, so we give it pride of place. Lettuce 

 seed may be sown out of doors from early March 

 to September, and to ensure a constant supply it 

 is best to sow a sniall pinch of .seed at intervals 

 of a fortnight. By doing this there will always 

 be heads fit to cut during the sunimer and 

 autumn, while the last .sowings will provide plants 

 to stand the winter, and will mature during the 

 following April and May. Sow in shallow drills 

 one inch deep. Protect the small seedlings from 

 birds and slugs by frequent dustings with soot 

 immediately they appear above ground. When 

 large enough to handle thin out to six inches 

 apart in the case of cabbage lettuce, and nine 

 inches to one foot for the cos varieties. Plant the 

 thinnings between rows of peas or Brussels 

 sprouts, or on the ridges between celery trenches, 

 and water well when necessary. Each sowing 



will thus provide two separate batches for cutting, 

 as the plants left in the seed drills will mature 

 slightly in advance of those transplanted. To 

 ensure an early crop seed should be sown in small 

 boxes, filled with light soil. These will quickly 

 germinate in a sunny window. When the seedlings 

 appear they shovdd be hardened gradually, by 

 placing out of doors in the day time, and when fit 

 to transplant they can be transported to the 

 allotment, and there planted out singly. A 

 cabbage variety, such as (i olden Ball, is most 

 suitable for this method. A splendid cabbage 

 lettuce for sunxmer .sowing out of doors is Iceberg. 

 There are several good cos varieties, while the 

 variety Little Gem unites the good qualities of 

 both sections, and is, moreover, one of the 

 hardiest lettuces to stand the winter. 



Radish. — Radish seed should be .sown at 

 intei'vals of ten days to keep up a constant supply 

 throughout the summer. A start may be made 

 early in March, choosing a sunny position for the 

 earliest sowings, and having a little dry litter at 

 hand to protect them from frost, if necessary. 

 As the weather becomes warmer a cool shady 

 position will be most suitable, reverting to the 

 warnier .situation again in autumn. Radishes to 

 be good should be grown quirkly, therefore the 

 soil must be rich and fine, and copious waterings 

 given during dry weather. If the seedlings come 

 up too thickly, it is important to thin them out, 

 so that each plant stands clear of its neighbour. 



Mu.STARD AND Cress. — These may be grown in 

 the open from March to October. They prefer 

 a shady situation during the summer, such as 

 that between two rows of peas or beans. It is 

 best to sow a small quantity weekly, as it quickly 

 passes the young and tender stage at which it is 

 ratable. It can also be easily raised in small 

 boxes of fine soil in the house, indeed this is the 

 most satisfactory method of ensuring a regular 

 supply. 



Chives.— The young growths of chives will add 

 a piqviancy to a salad, when the stronger flavour 

 of the onion would perhaps not be acceptable. 

 Half a dozen roots should be planted in an odd 

 corner, and if these are kept cut over regularly 

 during the growing season, they will provide a 

 constant supply of fresh young leaves. The 

 plants increase rapidly, and should be taken up 

 and divided every three years. 



Beet. — ^Beetroot is always appreciated, either 

 in a mixed salad or when simply served alone 

 with a little vinegar; moreover, the growing 

 plant is so ornamental that it may well be 

 ena ployed at a time like this to beautify the front 

 garden, in place of the more orthodox bedding 

 plants. Seed of the long rooted kinds should be 

 sown early in May in drills one foot apart, after- 

 wards thinning out the young plants to nine 

 inches apart in the rows. They should be lifted 

 carefully in autumn, taking care not to damage 

 the roots, otherwise they will " bleed " and lose 

 their rich colour. The roots should be stored in 

 sand for the winter and protected from frost. 

 Seeds of Globe Beet sown in April will provide 

 roots fit for use in July. This variety, however, 

 does not provide such attractive foliage as the 

 long rooted kinds. 



Endive. — Endive takes the place of lettuce as 

 the main ingredient of winter salads. The curled 

 varieties are the most attractive, but for hardiness 

 and general usefulness the broad leaved Batavian 

 is the most suitable kind. Seed may be sown in 



