IRISH GARDENING. 



45 



June, and the younj? ])lants afforded similar 

 treatment to that advised for lettuces, except 

 that more room must be given them — about 

 15 inches between the plants will be a suitable 

 distance. When fvdly grown, a few at a time 

 should be blanched by tying up the outside 

 leaves over the heart, and drawing up soil to 

 them. A covering of dry leaves will assist this 

 process, and will also serve as a protection from 

 frost. Seed should be sown again in July . to 

 provide a later siipply. Another method of 

 blanching endive is by lifting a few plants care- 

 fully with a good ball of .soil, and packing them 

 carefully into a box about a foot deep, afterwards 

 placing them in a dark shed or cellar. Endive 

 may be successfully grown on ground just 

 cleared of early potatoes, or as I invariably do 

 here, between the rows of a newly planted 

 strawberry bed. 



There are, of course, many other plants grown 

 for salading, but those described above will be 

 found to meet the requirements of most people, 

 and can be relied on to provide an agreeable and 

 various supply. 



The Month's Work. 



Midland and Northern Counties. 



By W. G. Neave, Clardtner to Lady O'Neill, 

 Shane's Castle, Antrim. 



Kitchen Garden. 



The frost has been so severe the whole of the 

 month of February that work outside in the 

 gardens has been nearly at a standstill, so that 

 this month will be an extra busy one trying to 

 make up for lost time. I would ask the reader 

 to look up last month's notes and make good 

 any arrears. 



Potatoes which have been planted in pits and 

 pots in January will now require earthing-up or 

 topdressing; give the soil occasional soakings of 

 water. 



This month we will surely get in a good supply 

 of early potatoes on a well sheltered border. 

 May Queen is one of the best for extra early ; 

 follow with Sir John Llewellyn or Early Puritan, 

 Colleen and British Queen. 



The sets should be planted in rows 2 feet apart 

 allowing 1 foot between each tuber in the row, 

 covering them with 4 inches of the finest soil. 

 If tubers are well sprouted take care not to injure 

 the young shoots in the process of planting. 

 Sprouted tubers will be a fortnight ahead of 

 tiibei's not sprouted, and do not require so early 

 planting, which is a great help especially in wet 

 districts and heavy sods. 



Look over tubers set up in boxes and remove 

 all unnecessary shoots. 



Onions.- — Autumn-sown plants should be trans- 

 planted into deeply dug, well enriched, soil ; a 

 row between the rows of young strawberries not 

 expected to fruit this year is a good place to plant 

 if ground is a consideration, and it ought to be 

 this year. Plants raised in heat should now be 

 ready for pricking into boxes of fine soil consisting 

 of rich loam and decayed cow manure, with a good 



sprinkling of an old mushroom bed. After being 

 sifted and mixed the compost shovdd be pressed 

 into boxes ; care must be taken with the plants 

 at this stage, as they are easily injured. After 

 transplanting, the house or pit should be kept 

 closed for a few days until the plants get a fre.sh 

 hold, and water must be given sparingly at first, 

 but the plants should be syringed daily. 



The main sowing of onions outside shoidd be 

 made this month if we can get the ground dry : 

 but it is a mistake to try and prepare the ground 

 unless we can get it to crumble, as an onion bed 

 requires to be well firmed, and to try to firm 

 when at all wet only cakes the bed, and the poor 

 seedling has a struggle to get through the crust, 

 and what is worse, no air gets through: in fact the 

 crop would only be a failure. So get the ground 

 dry, give it a good dusting of lime, soot and wood- 

 ashes, fork the whole bed lightly over, then allow 

 it time to dry again, then tiamp it well, or run 

 a light roller over it, then rake and re-rake until 

 you get a good fine surface ; draw the drills 

 shallow, 13 inches apart, sow thinly and cover 

 lightly, tramp again and draw the back of the 

 rake lightly over the whole bed, dress up the sides 

 of the bed and rake alleys. 



Peas.^ — Young plants raised under glass air 

 freely for some time in order to harden them 

 thoroughly before planting out ; shelter from the 

 wind must be provided as soon as the plants are 

 put out, or the crop may be spoiled. A number 

 of small branches placed up each side of the row- 

 will help. A (-owing also should be made out.side 

 on an early border. Take out a trench for all 

 peas IS inches deep and put in a layer of manure 

 and a layer of soil alternately till filled. The first 

 sowing of peas out.side I always cover with 

 old dry potting soil. 



Broad Beans. — A good fvdl sowing of these 

 should be made. Sow in double rows, allowing 

 a .space of 3 to 4 feet between each set of rows. 

 The earlier sowing of French Beans in pots 

 will now be growing apace, they will reqiure a 

 )iice topdressing of loamy soil and the jjlants 

 supported by placing small twigs round the edge 

 of pots ; continue to make further sowing in pots 

 at regular intervals. 



Leeks. — Sow a full crop in good rich soil in 

 rows 1 foot apart. 



Brassicas. — Full sowings of Broccoli, Brussels 

 Sprouts and Cabbages may be made. Smaller 

 sowings of Cauliflowers, Kales and Savoys should 

 be made at the same time. After the seeds are 

 sown either in beds, broadcast or in drills, it is a 

 good plan to give the beds a dusting of lime and 

 soot, it helps to keep off slugs, &c., and benefits 

 the .seedlings. Cover the beds with nets supported 

 by a frame work as soon as the sowing is com- 

 pleted to protect the young seedlings from the 

 mischievous birds — they are specially fond of 

 young turnips. A sowing of Early Milan 

 should be made on an early border ; also 

 a sowing of Cos and Cabbage Lettuce and a pinch 

 of Kadish every ten days. 



Cut and prepare pea rods, also cut loam sods 

 and build in a square stack in frame ground; turn 

 over fresh manure, mixing it well with leaves; 

 turn compo heap, mixing it well with lime. 



Transplant Cauliflcwers that have been win- 

 tered in frames. 



Thin Carrots in frame, and if frames are avail- 

 able put in another sowing. 



Pot oft' Tomatoes in the house they are growing 



