;8 



IRISH GARDENING. 



sowing seeds of any of the Cabbage family to ial<e 

 good lime into the seed-bed liefore sowing. 



Potatoes. — In .some districts early varieties are 

 above the ground, and it will be essential to i)ro- 

 tect the tops if frost at night is tlie rule. A good 

 deal can be done by earthing-up with soil if 

 danger is suspected. Tlie whole of the late varie- 

 ties should be planted as soon as possible, if this 

 work was not done last month. 



Bkktdoot. — Maincrop 15eet is usually sown in 

 May. Wood-ashes from the garden fire are useful 

 to rake into the surface soil. For the large kinds 

 the rows may be fifteen inches apart, and the 

 seeds sown in drills about one inch dee)). Tlie 

 rows of the dwarf varieties need not be so far 

 apart as above. 



French Be,\ns. — This crop nuiy now be sown. A 

 convenient method is to sow the seeds in double 

 lines. The plants may later on be thinned out 

 to six inches apart. When more than one row is 

 sown, the rows should l)e two feet apart. It 

 sliould be understood French Beans are veiy 

 tender, and in cold districts the first sowing need 

 not be made until the end of the month. I have 

 formed the conclusion that the seeds of this crop 

 are frequently sown too deep, and that for early 

 sowing it is only necessary to just cover the 

 seeds, the risk of decay being then reduced. 

 Climbing French Beans are most productive, and 

 produce a continuous supply initil late in the 

 autumn. These Beans require nnich the same 

 treatment as that given for dwarf kinds, except, 

 of course, that stakes must be provided. 



Scarlet Runners. — From the middle until the 

 end of the month is a good period to sow this 

 Bean. The ground must, previous to .sowing, have 

 been well prepared and manured. The seeds may 

 be in a double line, about nine inches wide, and 

 the seeds from six to eight inches apart. When 

 the seedlings appear above the grotmd, dust fre- 

 quently with lime or .soot to keep away slugs. 



Vegetable Marrow. — This crop is easily culti- 

 vated. A good sunny position should be chosen, 

 and one where Jhere is shelter, as the large leaves 

 are easily destroyed by cold or rough wind. 

 Marrows were frequently grown on heaps of 

 manure, not that the plant requires large quan- 

 tities of manure, but l)ecause such heajjs provided 

 a suital)le medium for the roots and lilieral suji- 

 plies of moisture. The plants can be grown 

 equally well on the level ground, but a good bed 

 should be made up. If plants have not already 

 been raised, make small hillocks of good soil and 

 .sow the seeds. Long White or Long Green are 

 the most useful sorts to grow. 



Swede Turnips. — Garden Swedes should he sown 

 during this month. If the " dwarf top " garden 

 kind is used, fifteen inches between the rows will 

 be siiffii-ient. It is recommended to sprinkle a 

 little superphosphate of lime in the drills. The 

 seeds shoiUd lie sown very thinly; they soon ger- 

 minate and require thinning-o>it. The seedlings 

 readily transplant during showery weather. 



Thinning and Transplanting. — Turnips are a 

 good example of the necessity for early thinning- 

 out of seedling plants. If this is not done suffi- 

 ciently early, the result is weak and poorly- 

 grown crops. Early White Turnips can be finally 

 thinned to four inches apart, and then each alter- 

 nate plant can be drawn as soon as the roots can 

 be used. Parsnips may be left up to nine inches 

 apart. Small Early Carrots can be thinned-out 

 three or four inches apart. After thinning-out it 

 is beneficial to give the crops a dusting of soot, 

 and then to run a cultivator or Dutch hoe between 

 the rows. Wlienever it is possible, transplanting 



is nnich better when done in showery weather. 

 The soil is then moist, and tlie plants are more 

 easily drawn out without excessive injury to the 

 roots. After being planted they quickly" become 

 established in their new quarters. That' tiresome 

 job also— carrying water— is thus avoided. 



The Flower Garden.— Towards the end of the 

 month Wallflowers may be sown in drills. As 

 .soon as the seedlings are large enough they should 

 be transplanted. If given an open situation and 

 good land, sturdy plants will he formed by 

 autumn. Pansies and Violas are easily propa- 

 gated. Take the young flowerless shoots from the 

 centre of the plants and firmly dibl)le them in 

 sandy soil. Seedlings of annuals should be 

 thinned early. The flowering season is sliortened 

 when the plants are overcrowded, and the flowers 

 are inferior in size and substance. If the weather 

 is dry, give a good watering after thinning. 

 Stocks and Asters raised in greenhouses should 

 be transplanted into shallow boxes. Quantities 

 of these plants, also Lobelia, Geraniums, and 

 similar summer flowering plants will soon appear 

 in the open flower markets. These may l)e planted 

 in the open ground at the end of this month or 

 the beginning of next. 



G. H. Oliver. 



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The Month's Work 



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

 court, K.P., Eiiniskerry, Co. Wicklow. 



INES. — Where early Vines show 

 signs of insect pests they 

 should be thoroughly syringed 

 nr luniigated at once. Red 

 Sjjidcr has not been troidilc- 

 soiue this season, as it some- 

 times is in hot, .sunny 

 weather. But where spider 

 has obtained a hold prompt 

 measures for its destruction 

 must be adopted. If the grapes 

 are showing colour cari^ful 

 fumigating is necessary and 

 not the use of the syringe, as 

 the bloom on the berries is 

 liable to be more or less damaged by liquids. Re- 

 move all cold manure from outside borders, so that 

 they can he warmed by the sun. Every advantage 

 should l)e taken of sun heat to increase the ven- 

 tilation early in the day, closing the houses early. 

 Inside borders will take a great quantity of water 

 aftei- the vines are in full foliage, and liquid manure 

 should be applied at every alternate watering. 

 For late houses the remarks as to thinning, dis- 

 budding, stopping and tying given in ]n-evious 

 months will apply. Examine the borders of suc- 

 eessional houses at least once weekly, and when 

 dry water freely. 



Peaches. — Early varieties when they show signs 

 of ripening should have plenty of air. and in order 

 to have the fruit highly coloured should have the 

 shoots tied in and the fruit fully exposed to the 

 sun, and a free circulation of air when the weather 

 is bright ancl warm. Before they show- signs of 



