176 



IRISH GARDENING 



Z 



with a saw close to the main stem or arm, let 

 them be cut close. Trim the face of all saw-cuts 

 with a sharp knife, and afterwards dress with tar. 



Raspberries. — This is a good time to make 

 new plantations. There is no fruit crox) which 

 responds more profitably to deep cultivation and 

 liberal api)lications of farm-yard manure. Raise 

 all suckers which may have been left between 

 fruiting canes to increase stock, and either ])lant 

 them permanently or in nursery lines. Well 

 niatured canes should now lie thinned and 

 shortened to various lengths, and either arched 

 or tied to stakes or trellis. Plantations in low- 

 lying or damp jiositions sliould not have the 

 canes shortened till all danger of long spells of 

 hard frost is past. 



Gooseberries and Currants. — Secure strong, 

 well-ripened shoots from 15 to 18 inches in length 

 of sorts that it is desired to increase ; tie them in 

 bundles, label, and heel them in in some damp 

 shady place until they can be dressed on .some 

 wet day. Gooseberries and red and white 

 ciirrants* should have the buds removed from the 

 base of the cutting, leaving five or six buds at 

 the top. Black currants should not be so dis- 

 budded, as the Imsh should be formed of branches 

 rising from the ground and form a clump or stool. 



Vegetable Garden. 



By Arthur Horton. Gardener to Colonel Claude 

 Cane, St. Wolstan's, Celbridge. 



Asparagus. — Early in the month the ])ermanent 

 beds of asi»aragus will require attention ; the 

 foliage by then, being well ripened, should be cut 

 over close to the ground : this is best accom- 

 ])lished witli a pair of hedge shears. When all 

 weeds have been removed by hand-weeding a 

 top-dressing of about three inches of half-decayed 

 farmyard manure should be ai)]ilied ; then take 

 svifficient soil out of the alleys to cover the 

 manure : by so doing the beds look tidy, and are 

 not such a temptation to birds as is the case when 

 the niamire is left uncovered. 



Artichokes. — All decayed foliage and flower 

 stems should now be removed froni Globe arti- 

 chokes, and a good covering of coal ashes ytlaced 

 around the crowns : during severe weather it is 

 advisable to protect the ])lants with long .stable 

 litter, as they are very liable to be damaged by 

 frost. About the end of the month Jerusalem 

 artichokes should be lifted, and the largest and best 

 tubers stored in ashes or sand in the root shed ; the 

 niedium-sized tubers will be suitable for rejilant- 

 ing, and oiight to be set aside for that purpose. 



Broccoli. — The early ])art of this summer was 

 anything but favourable to the growth of any of 

 the Brassicas, but the past three months has 

 made uji to a great extent for failures in the earlier 

 ])art of the season, as in mo.st gardens winter and 

 sjjring vegetables are promising exceptionally 

 well, especially broccoli. During severe winters 

 large quantities of this iiseful vegetable are lost 

 which might be saved if the precaution was taken 

 to heel them over about the end of November. 

 The process is simple, but must be carried out 

 carefully, or more harm than good Avill be the 

 result. Commence by taking out a, trench, a good 

 spading in depth on the north side, and im- 

 mediately behind the fir.st line of jilants, ease u\) 



the roots carefully and lay the i)lants with the 

 heads to the north, and cover u]) the stems to 

 the neck with soil taken out of the next trench ; 

 if done ])roperly they will come through a very 

 severe winter with little damage. 



Cabbacje. — Si)ring cabbage will be greatly 

 benefited by occasional deep hoeings, or what is 

 even better a good cultivator. All blanks should 

 be made up before the season is too far advanced. 

 About the end of the month it will be an advan- 

 tage to earth up the ]jlants, thereby leaving them 

 less liable to damage by frost and winds. 



Forcing. — In most gardens, large or small, 

 forcing is carried out to a greater or less extent, 

 and the ])resent is the most suitable for 

 making a beginning. Where suitable houses or 

 pits are available a continuous supply of choice 

 vegetables can be kept up with considerably less 

 trouble than in others not so favourably situated ; 

 in any case, whether the accommodation is good 

 or not, forcing being unnatural and, of course, out 

 of season, a considerable amount of skill and 

 attention is necessary with some .subjects. 

 Asparagus, rhubarb, and seakale are exceptions ; 

 all force readily and with little difificulty. The 

 most iniportant factor in successful forcing is to 

 maintain a steady and humid atmosphere, as a 

 high and dry tem])erature is not only detrimental 

 to most vegetable growth, but a sure way of 

 breeding insect pests. 



Asparagus can be forced either in i)its or 

 frames placed on hotbeds ; the latter way is 

 ])robably the best. About 3 inches of .soil should 

 be put on the to]) of the bed ; place the roots 

 fairly close together, and cover with about 

 4 inches of soil that has i)assed through a half-inch 

 sieve ; give a good soaking of water to settle the 

 soil about the roots : syringe the beds twice daily 

 in good weather, and keep on a little air day and 

 night. 



Rhubarb. — Provided well-ripened crowns are 

 available, few subjects are easier forced than 

 rhubarb. For early work it is best to lift the 

 crowns a week or two before they are requii-ed. 

 leaving them on the surface ex]»osed to the 

 ^veather, thereby hastening the rii)ening ])rocess. 

 A mushroom house, or under the staging of 

 forcing pits or greenhouse, are equally suitable 

 for the first batch, ]trovided the roots are covered 

 with leaf soil or .siient mushrooni dung, andke]it 

 fairly moist. 



Seakat-e.^ — Various methods are practised for 

 forcing seakale, and without doubt the best 

 results are obtained by forcing the ]>ermanent 

 beds. But for early work the crowns must be 

 lifted and brought forward inside. When lifting 

 the side roots should be trin^med off and the 

 .strongest cut in lengths of about six inches, and 

 stored in sand or fine soil for the winter, where 

 they will form eyes and be ready for itlanting out 

 the following A])ril. Little difflculty will be found 

 in producing good heads if a suitable temperature 

 can be found, which is about 55° ; light and cold 

 air must be excluded. 



Peas and Broad Beans. — The ])resent month 

 is a suitable time for sowing beans and peas 

 out.side, and should be made on a warni and 

 sheltered border : if accommodation can be found 

 for raising tliem in boxes in spring, it is certainly 

 the better and .safest ]>lan, as there is no risk of 

 loss by rats, mice, slugs, &c., as is often the case 

 by sowing outside in the autumn. 



