IRISH GAHI3EKING 



^3 



iiiems. In view of the gi-fa; oconoiiiic iiuportance 

 of the Potato in this counny, allotment holders 

 and Others should be on the look out for suspicious 

 traces when handling the tubers before planting, 

 and also for the oauliHown -like growths during 

 the resultant growth of the i rop. 



.Ikrusalkm AnTicHOKEs. — This crop is not grown 

 to anything like the same <'xtent on allotments 

 as formerly prevailed. Gmwing almost in any 

 position, its robustness invited neglect, with the 

 result of a rapid deterioration in the size of the 

 tubers. Tubers may now be planted, and, if given 

 a good soil, will repay whore the crop is appre- 

 ciated. 



Sh.vllots may lie planted at any time, and the 

 crop is influenced a gootl ileal it a fair amount 

 of manure is ai)plied to the soil before planting. 

 The bulbs should be pressed into the soil in drilLs 

 one foot apart and nine ini-hes between the bulbs. 

 Potato Onions require sinnlar treatment, excejit 

 that a little more room for giowth may be given. 

 The prinuiry cost of the bulli.s is heavy compared 

 witli the resvilts, and this, eonibined with disease, 

 has made then) less popular on allotments. 



Onions.— There are few crops which prove 

 more lenunierative than Onions when well grown. 

 It appears, however, almost impossible to get good 

 crops on old plots, unless special measures are 

 taken against the fly. Moreover, e.xcellent im- 

 ported Onions are availaljh' at cheap rates. How- 

 ever, excellent results can lie obtained by sowing 

 the seeds thinly in boxes of rich soil early in Feli- 

 ruary, if a little heat is available. These seed- 

 lings should be ready for jilanting in the open 

 ground in April. Sowing in the open ground 

 should take place as early in March as it is pos- 

 sible to obtain the soil in a suitable condition. 

 When the time for sowing arrives, the drills 

 cannot be too shallow, provided the soil is fine 

 enough to cover the seeds. If the drills are one 

 foot apart and the seed sown sparingly, very little 

 thinning will be necessary to obtain Onioins for 

 ordinary use. 



Parsnips. — It is not generally realised there 

 are tw^o kinds of Parsnips which differ sufficiently 

 to make a selection of one or other profitalile. 

 The Student type has a long ro«t, and is more 

 suitable on rich, sandy soils. The Hollow Crown, 

 as its name applies, is more concave at the 

 crown, and the root is thicker at the top, and can 

 be selected for the more shallow soils. It may 

 be said old seed is very unreliable. The crop will 

 grow well on old Celery trenches without the 

 addition of more manure. A little superphosphate 

 is beneficial if worked in the soil before sowing. 

 From the middle of February the seed can be 

 sown in rows eighteen inches apart, and as the 

 plants will ultimately stand about eight inches 

 apart the seeds can be sown accordingly. 



Rhubarb.— The growth of Rhubarb may be 

 hastened considerably by placing old barrels over 

 the roots as soon as they slmw signs of commenc- 

 ing to grow. A further help is obtained by cover- 

 ing the barrels with strawy litter or leaves. The 

 present is also a suitable time for making new 

 plantations. As Rhubarb will occupy the ground 

 for several years, the land ought to be heavily 

 manured before planting. The roots may be 

 planted in rows, allowing three feet between the 

 crowns. 



Peas.— It is more or less of a speculation to sow 

 this crop so early on allotments. However, less 

 risk is attended by sowing other sorts than the 

 Marrowfat varieties, if the soil is in a suitable 

 condition and the position is not exposed. With 



very early sowing, the seeds may lie sown more 

 thickly than usual. 



Herbs. — These lieds become worn out if not re- 

 planted, or in the ease of Mint often full of 

 perennial weeds. When making a fresh bed tor 

 Mint, a cool, damp situation suits it lielter than 

 a dry, sandy soil. When making beds for Herbs, 

 dig the soil deeply, and give a liberal quantity 

 of manure. If the soil is heavy, such substances 

 as road-scrapings and decayed leaves are useful 

 forked in the surface. 



Broad Beans. — This crop may be sown in quan- 

 tity from now onwards, provided the soil is suit- 

 able. The sowing is done in various ways — in 

 single drills, beds, or even among varieties of 

 Potatoes which have dwarf tops. 



Flower Border. — The perennial flowers give 

 general satisfaction for this boarder, and many of 

 them, such as Michaelmas Daisies, are easily in- 

 creased by division. The healthy, strong portions 

 from the outside of the old roots should be 

 selected for transjjhinting. The floWer border is 

 often unsatisfactory owing to lack of manure; 

 therefore, before transplanting, dig the ground 

 well and apply manure. Even if no transplanting 

 is done, the border should have a dressing of 

 manure forked into it. Where there is suitable 

 accommodation. Antirrhinums are easily raised 

 from seeds sown in February. The seeds germi- 

 nate more quickly in a greenhouse supplied with 

 heat. There are tliree strains used in bedding — 

 tall, intermediate, and dwarf. For general pur- 

 poses the intermediate is very useful. The plants 

 soon flower after planting out, and continue to 

 do so until destroyed with frost. 



G. H. Oliver. 



J0000030CO, 



JoOOOooooo. 



The Month's Work 



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By Mr. W. H. Lee, Gardener to Viscount Powers- 

 court. K.P., F.nniskerry, Co. Wicklow. 



Work under Glass. 



(•NTINUE to attend to Peach 

 Trees in the early houses as 

 advised for last month, and 

 take every advantage of ad- 

 mitting fresh air at every 

 favourable opportunity; and 

 a chink should be kept on 

 tlie ventilators continuously 

 till the petals drop and the 

 fruits show signs of setting. 

 Immediately afterwards, a 

 gentle dewing of the trees 

 with tepid water will do 

 good and assist the embryo 

 fruit to swell. Damping 

 down tlie house in early 

 morning, and sprinkling the borders and path- 

 ways will be very beneficial. Keep a keen watch 

 for signs of green fly, and check with tobacco 

 powder; a precaution which, if taken in time, will 

 soon clear away the pest. 

 Vines will now be forward enough to have their 



