IRISH GARDENING. 



63 



luoriiiiiy of the 9tli the remains of a snowstorm, 

 have all tended to keep the soil in a sodden 

 condition, and, with the exception of the planting 

 of a few early Potatoes, little has been done. 

 Still in our variable climate a change is soon 

 effected, and at the first opportunity loosen the 

 sui'face to facilitate drying and to provide a good 

 seed bed. 



Early Potatoes. — Those growing in frames 

 must not be coddled too much or weak growtli 

 will result, therefore air freely on all possible 

 occasions ; increased ventilation may be afforded 

 by blocking the lights iip sideways. On mild 

 days the lights may be removed entirely, but this 

 must be a matter of judgment. When the stalks 

 require supporting instead of moidding up, as 

 practised out of doors, soil of a fairly light nature, 

 or even leaf-mould, should be placed around the 

 plants, and if the soil iti the frames is at all dry 

 water well before adding the new compost. 

 P]specially round the edges of the frames the soil 

 is apt to get very dry, and a thorough soaking 

 should be given when the day is mild, and a 

 sprinkling of an approved fertilizer washed in. 

 Protection must be afforded from frosts, and 

 especially when the growth is nearing the glass, 

 as then the slightest touch on the glass will cause 

 damage and disfiguration. Those growing out of 

 doors should be hoed through as soon as their 

 whereabouts are discerned. This not only pro- 

 motes a good growth, but also keeps down weeds 

 and brings the soil into fine order for moulding 

 up later on. Earthing should not be hurried, as 

 it only tends to force the growth, but if a frost is 

 suspected a little soil may be drawn up to the 

 plants to shade them from the slanting sun's rays, 

 which cause the damage, such shade is aft"orcled 

 by an occasional row of staked peas, or in the 

 case of a small area the growth, if frosted, may be 

 syringed with the coldest water obtainable, or 

 the frost lightly brushed off the leaves. 



Runner Beans. ^ — Why the dwarf French 

 Beans should be more greatly appreciated in this 

 neighbourhood I am at a loss to understand, 

 becavise for cropping and flavoxir, in my opinion, 

 the former is easily first. During the present 

 month seed may be sown in boxes or four inch 

 pots and raised quite coolly for planting out next 

 month. This is preferable to sowing out of doors, 

 as having good strong plants for putting out 

 ensures an earlier crop and reduces losses to a 

 minimum, and is in reality very little more 

 trouble. In the meantime, if not already done, 

 prepare the site for planting by taking out a 

 trench at least a foot wide and the same in depth, 

 and well break up the bottom, then add a liberal 

 quantity of well-decayed farmyard manure and 

 return most of the soil on top, leaving a slight 

 depression, wliich will enable copious supplies of 

 water to be more easily soaked mp, if necessary, 

 later on. 



Dwarf Beans. — For the earliest batch out of 

 doors, select a sheltered spot, and on well worked 

 and enriched ground draw wide drills, at least two 

 feet apart, and sow a double line six inches apart, 

 or the seeds may be dibbled into the ground two 

 inches deep. From the middle to the end of the 

 month, according to locality, will be soon enough. 



Carrots — This is probably one of the most 

 ireacherotis crops to grow as far as the main- 



crop is concerned, and to see the plants wilt from 

 the ravages of the carrot fly when thev look most 

 promising is most disheartening, and in localities 

 where this is the case reliance has to be made on 

 suixesdonal sowings of tjie stump-rooted varieties 

 which, singularly, are usually immune. I was 

 once told, and with I believe a great amount of 

 truth, that the later the sowing of the maincrcp 

 can be deferred the better and the greater the 

 chances of success. 1 think the early part of 

 3Iay as good as any. 



Celery. — Sow seed for the manic rop and late 

 supplies, and encourage a free growth at all stages. 



Onions. — The spring sown plants under glass 

 usually require planting this month. Break 

 down the surface and consolidate as advised last 

 month for the autumn sown ones. Plant in lines 

 fifteen inches apart and from three to six inches 

 between each. The greater the distance the larger 

 will be the resulting bulb. Before planting, 

 thoroughly harden off, and leave the boxes of 

 plants on the ground they are to occupy for a 

 few nights to ensure theni being so. 



Asparagus.— Towards the end of the month 

 the beds will commence to give their annual 

 return, and a dressing of salt will prove beneficial, 

 as will also a light sprinkling of nitrate of soda 

 but the latter should be applied only when the 

 weather is warm, as it lowers the temperature of 

 the soil. Seed may be sown this month, and the 

 method of sowing in pots is a good one, as prac- 

 tised at Aldenham. Sow two or three seeds in 

 three inch pots and raise in a cold frame, and thin 

 out to one plant. During their season of growth 

 encourage the young plants by careful attention 

 to watering, 6^c. At the close of growth and on 

 the approach of winter plunge in coal ashes, and 

 the following April good plants are available for 

 planting in beds. 



Vegetable 3Iarrows.— If the young plants 

 can have the protection of a portable frame or 

 hand light, sow a few seeds at once and raise in, a 

 warm house. Frames now containing early 

 Potatoes may be planted with Marrow as soon as 

 the young Potatoes are dug, and when all danger 

 of frost is past the frame may be removed entirely. 



Peas. — When staking, allow a little extra 

 length in the supports, as, for instance, a variety 

 scheduled to grow three feet and a half will pro- 

 bably grow nearly five feet. If the sticks are 

 sufficiently long thrust them well into the ground 

 on the slant, as this will economise, and before 

 staking, especially if the plants are fairly long, 

 draw a little soil on either side to theiii. For 

 appearance sake the tops of the rows may be cut 

 off" wth a pair of shears and the twiggy pieces 

 stuck in the bottom for early support. Sow 

 second early and maincrop varieties for succes- 

 sion. 



Lettuce. ^ — Sow little and often for fucce.-- 

 sional plantings, and plant out seedlings raised in 

 heat, and since thoroughly hardened off. Hoe 

 freely between the plants that have stood the 

 winter and, if necessary, hasten growth with a 

 little nitrate of soda. Protect seedling plants 

 from slugs by dusting with soot or lime. 



Turnips — Make further sowings of Turnip-' 

 and attend to the thinning of earliest sown : on 



