1+ 



IRISH GARDENING 



Cultivation of the Potato Onion. 



This vegetable ifj loxuid in many Irish gai'dens, 

 but growers do not plant it largely because there 

 is ditticulty in keeping the bulbs through the 

 winter. Very often one finds this crop 

 planted on ridges with a good layer of fresh 

 manure uzider the bulbs, and then the grower 

 wonders why his bulbs will not keep for any 

 length of time. The early decay of the bulbs 

 is due to one or both of the following causes : — 

 Too much fresh manure ap])lied at the time of 

 ])lanting. or the bulbs are harvested and stored 

 before they are thorouglily ripe. like all 

 varieties of onions, this crop delights in a rich 

 deep soil, and to get the best results the ground 

 intended for this crop should be manured and 

 deeply dug in the autumn or early Avinter. If 

 the ground has been inanured for a previous crop 

 about three barrowsful of well decayed manure 

 to every perch of ground will be quite sufficient. 

 It is imiiortant that this croj) should have a long 

 season, and the bulbs should be planted at the end 

 of January or early in February. Many people 

 consider the smaller bulbs are good enough to 

 plant, but this is a mistake ; medium-sized bulbs 

 should be selected for this work. Keep in mind 

 that there is sometliing in the old saying : " The 

 man with the biggest feet grows the best onions," 

 and make the soil firm, particularly if a light. 

 sandy or gravelly nature. The bulbs can be 

 planted on the flat or on a slightly raised bed, 

 and the proper distance is 1 foot between the 

 lines and 9 or 10 inches from plant to plant. 

 Avoid deep planting, and allow the top of the bulb 

 to be on the surface of the soil. A dressing of 

 soot applied when the plants are making good 

 growth will be beneficial to the crop. Run the 

 Dutch hoe through the ground frequently on 'dry 

 days. This oi)eration cannot be done too often, 

 and it not only warms the soil when every degree 

 tells, but hastens growth in the early part of 

 the season. Do not harvest the bulbs before 

 they are thoroughly matured and dry. Any cool 

 place where frost or damp can be excluded will 

 answer for storing the bulbs. In an average 

 summer the bulbs will be fit to lift before the end 

 of July, and the ground can then be forked over 

 and planted with Savoy, Cabbage, winter or 

 spring Broccoli, &c. 



Generally speaking, seedsmen and others have 

 great difficiilty in obtaining a sufficient supply 

 of home-grown bulbs, and I have never yet met 

 any grower who had any trouble in selUng his 

 surplus stock. The prices offered vary from 

 12s. to 18s. jjer cwt., and as an acre of ground 

 under fairly good cultivation will yield from 

 3J to 4 ton of bvilbs, the c\iltivation of this cro]) 

 might with advantage be taken U]) by cottagers 

 and others. ,T. Dearnaley. 



6^^ ^* C^^ 



Phoenix Park. 



Walsh states that the Phoenix Park derives its 

 name by corruption from the native I^^ish name 

 of the manor " Fionn-uisge," which signifies cleai- 

 water, and applies to the chalybeate spring near 

 the Vice-Iiegal Lodge. The word " Fionn- 

 uisge " is properly pronounced " Finniske," and 

 has been corrupted by the English into Phoenix. 

 Lord Chesterfield, when Lord Lieutenant of 

 Ireland, erected the column with the figure of the 

 mythical bird surmounting its capital, which has 

 assisted in perpetuating this absurd misnomei'. 



The Month^s Work. 

 The Flower Garden. 



By Wm. (i. VVAD(iE, (iardener to Lady O'Xeill, 

 Shane's Castle, Antrim. 



(Jenekal. — The work in this department during 

 .January consists chiefly in cleaning and renovat- 

 ing any defects in lawns and walks and in making 

 l)reparations for the coming months. 



Tidiness in the pleasure grovuids is as iin- 

 l)orta,nt now as at any season. The fallen 

 leaves are all now under control, and the outer 

 parts, at least, of shrubberies raked, so that no 

 leaves will be blown from thence by the flrst 

 gale to annoy us. The lawns should have a Ught 

 sweeping with a birch or bamboo broom to 

 scatter any wormcasts, and if the weather and 

 the turf is fairly dry, a rolling afterwards will 

 put on a finishing touch. 



Lawns. — This is a good time to improve 

 lawns. No other part of a garden is treated so 

 meanly. If we consider the constant mowing 

 and sweeping, the taking away of every bit of 

 leaf or grass that would nourish the roots, and 

 how rarely anytliing is returned to it by way of 

 manure, it is not surprising that daisies, plantains 

 and other weeds and coarse grasses take posses- 

 sion. The great objection to topdressing with 

 soil or natural manure is its unsightliness for 

 two months or more. Where this can be over- 

 come, thoroughly decayed manure, wood ashes, 

 road scrapings, and the remains of the rubbish 

 fire, any or all of these mixed together and 

 spread evenly over the grass will have a marked 

 effect. A dressing of Basic Slag may be given 

 as an alternative. Returf any s[)ots made bare 

 by hard wear or under trees, and hollows may be 

 levelled by paring oft" the turf and replacing after 

 adding some fine soil. 



Walks. — Where by constant use of the 

 edging iron walks have been made wider than 

 they were originally intended to be, and than it is 

 desirable they should be, take them in hand now. 

 Level up with soil on one or both sides and lay 

 the desired breadth of turf. Thoj-oughly beat 

 and roll it, afterwards cutting a good straight 

 edge to the Une. Where there are only slight 

 crooks in the verge to be remedied, make a cut 

 with the edging iron about (3 inches away from 

 the edge. Push the turf out further than the 

 straight hne of the verge to allow for trimming 

 the edges, and fill in behind with pieces of turf. 



Summer Bedding;. — It is not too early to think 

 of this. If the plans are made for ]jlanting the 

 beds, we can tell approximately what number of 

 plants of the different subjects we shall require, 

 and begin propagating to make ui) any deficiency. 

 Remember one well grown j^lant furnishes better 

 than two or three ]>oor ones. If there is a 

 scarcity of any variety of Creraniums, and some 

 of the old i)lants were boxed up, place them in 

 heat, and when the shoots are :} inches long root 

 them in light sandy soil, (live autumn struck 

 plants ample ventilation, l)ut very little water. 

 Calceolarias. I'eiitstemons, and \'iolas may have 

 file light removed From them on mild dry days. 

 Kee]) any decaying leaves i)icked off, and loosen 

 the surface soil with a pointed stick. Make sure 

 that Begonia tubers are safe from frost and drip. 

 Swainsonias, Streptosolens, and Marguerites must 

 be i)ottecl into larger pots before the roots get 

 matted together, where they are grown as large 

 specimen plants for the flower beds. 



