3.6 



IRISH GAKUiiNiNG 



being cutr, The land licint; in guod rnndition Im- 

 planting, draw ont a tiencn north to south, aliuui. 

 tour inches deep in the shape ol a V, and lay the 

 sets along the bottom, sprouts upwards, first 

 tliinning out the sprouts to two or three of 

 tlie strongest. Put baelv the soil, and keep a level 

 surface. As growtli proceeds above the ground 

 draw up the soil around the haulm on each side. 

 Second early sorts should be planted 24 inches 

 between the rows and 12 inches apart m the rows. 

 Main crop varieties oO inches in the rows and 15 

 inches between the sets. Even wider planting will 

 give heavier crops. 



Cabbage. — Two or three kinds should be sown 

 now for a succession to the varieties sown in tlie 

 autumn. The hoe should be run througli growing 

 plantations to encourage growth. Tenderness is 

 the result of quick growth, and a stinnilant sliould 

 be given to growing lieds. A light dressing of 

 nitrate of soda, or salt, forked in lightly has im- 

 mediate effect. Soot also is very beneficial given 

 during showery weather. 



Peas. — Sow now every fortnight the best 

 Marrowfat varieties to keep up a succession, they 

 should have a rich deep soil, w-ith a mixture of 

 lime-rubble iuid wood ashes. It is a good plan to 

 sow fairly thick, and when tlie plants are a 

 couple of inches high transplant the thiekeot to 

 another row, so that the plants will then be about 

 4 inches apart from each other. I find carefully 

 transplanted Peas do much better than otliers. 

 Allow plenty of space lietween the rows. It will 

 l)e foinid a good practice to grow Potatoes and 

 Peas on the same ])lot. Put short twigs to the 

 rows as soon as forward enough and stake early 

 sorts. 



Cauliflower. — Remove the lights from frames 

 where plants are growing from the autumn sowing, 

 and as soon as well liardened plant out on rich 

 firm ground in a sheltered position. Prick out 

 into cold frames or into boxes seedlings from early 

 .sowing. 



Beans. — Sow main crop of Broad Beans in 

 trenches. Wliere frames can be spared make a 

 good sowing of French Beans, as they will give a 

 better return than those sown in pots. 



Broccoli for autumn use should be sown early. 

 April is early enough for winter supplies. 



Spinach. — Sow in quantity now, especially the 

 common variety. PcM'pi'iual Spinach Beet is a most 

 useful vegetable, tlie hot weather does not make 

 it run to seed, and frost does not injure it. 



Turnip and Early Short Horn Carrot should be 

 sown on a warm bolder. Turnip sliould be sown 

 every fortnight now. 



Tomatoes. — The past season was an ideal one 

 for ripening Tomatoes out of doors, and for grow- 

 ing outdoor seed should be sown early this month. 

 Plants that are ready should be potted into small 

 l)0ts and kept in a warm atmosphere. 



Cucumber and Melons. — Plant out on hot-beds 

 those raised early last month, keeping the plants 

 fairly close and lightly shading them a few hours 

 daily. Cover with mats, etc., at nights. 



Brussels Sprouts. — Winter Greens of all kinds. 

 I,eek and Celery sliould lie sown for main crop. 



Salad.— Lettuce and Radish also sow as required. 

 Where birds are troutilesome it will be found 

 necessary to protect the seed beds with fine netting. 



Hardy Fruits. 



Gooseberries. — The pruning of the busshes should 

 not be longer deferred. Two methods of pruning 

 are usually practised, one being similar to Red 



Currants, and another wliich afforils the heaviest 

 crops of fruit consists of tliiuning out the shoots, 

 liut leaving a considerable nunilier of young shoots 

 wliich only have their tips removed, the bushes 

 lieing kcjit open by having tlie old branches re- 

 moved. Cordon Gooseberries should be closely 

 spurred-in to the base buds. 



Raspberry Canes sliould have their points 

 sliorteiied, assuming that the old fruiting canes 

 were removed in the autumn and the young 

 growths tied to stakes or wires. The canes of 

 autumn fruiting varieties should be cut down 

 nearly to the grouBd. NcA-ly planted canes should 

 be cut down within a few inches of the ground 

 the first year, aaid mulched witli half rotten 

 manure. 



Flower Garden and Pleasuee Grounds. 



The planting of shrubs should be brought to a 

 speedy finish, with tlie exception of Conifers and 

 Hollies, which may be planted nc.\t month or 

 later. Ivy on walls should be cliiijjed, and tlie 

 pruning and trimming of shrubs and hedges pro- 

 ceeded with. 



Roses. — The early part of tlie month is a suitable 

 time for Rose i>la.nting, and vacancies should be 

 filled up in the beds. Pruning should be coni- 

 iiienced, except in the north and midlands, where 

 it is perhaps safer to leave to the end of the 

 month. The work should be done in favourable 

 weather, and the cultivator must bear in mind the 

 kind of blooms he wishes to grow. If large exhilii- 

 tion l)looms are desired most varieties should lie 

 pruned back to two buds, and the bushes kept 

 well open. Hard pruning is recommended to in- 

 duce increased vigour into plants tliat do not 

 grow satisfactory, but if carried to the extreme 

 will, with some varieties, have the opposite effect. 

 For garden decoration the shoots should be cut 

 back to four or more buds, cutting out the old and 

 very weak growths, and keeping a shapely bush. 

 The constitution of each variety should tie kept 

 in mind by the primer. Sucli varieties as .T. B. 

 Clark, Hugh Dickson, which make long shoots, 

 .should have tlir points taken off and tlie growths 

 pegged down over the beds. Roses on walls and 

 pillars that have had their worn out old w'ood 

 removed in the autumn will only require the points 

 of their growths removed. After primings have 

 been cleared away, and beds edged if required, 

 topdress with bone meal or superpliosiihate, and 

 carefully fork the beds over. 



^ 



^ 



The Weather in 1921. 



Vrom Itccoidx l.cpt at Tlie lioyal Botanic Canh im, 

 Glasncrin, Dublin. 



Rain or snow fell during the year on 211 days, 

 total 24.91 inches, being 9..j7 inches less than the 

 amount registered in 1920. The wettest month was 

 .Inly with 4.42 inches, and the greatest fall in 24 

 hours was 1.44 inches on 27th July. The driest 

 month was .Tune, when .1.') inch fell on four days. 

 February with .77 inch and April witli .95 inches 

 are unusually low records for tliese months. The 

 warmest day was 9tli .Tuly, 840, the coldest night 

 was 7tli March, 25C>. The highest maximum tem- 

 perature in the sun was 1220 on the 11th, 18th and 

 19th .July. The minimum on the grass fell to 180 

 on 14th .lanuarv and Stli November. 



