IRISH GARDENING 



63 



Pentstemons and Chrysanthemums may be 

 planted before the end of the month if the 

 weather isj favourable. Give the former Id 

 inches between the plants and the latter 1 i feet 

 to 2 feet. The early flowering Chrysanthenmms 

 are good subjects for massing in large beds on the 

 lawn, or in front of shrubberies; patches of them 

 in the mixed borders are also very effective. They 

 are very accommodating ; ])lanted in soil that 

 adheres to the root< ihry may be lifted at any 

 season, even when in bud. For this reason a 

 number should be planted on a reserve boi'der : 

 they can then be utilised for lllling spaces in 

 borders that are cleared of NigeJla, Candytuft 

 and other annuals. A few reliable varieties are 

 Japanese : — Cranford Pink, Marie Masse, White 

 Marie Masse, Crimson Marie Masse, Elstob 

 Yellow, Goacher's Crimr^on, Bronze Cioacher'- 

 Roi des Blancs, Perle Chatilliouaise. Pompons ; — 

 Flora Little Bob, Mrs. E. Stacey, Piercy's 

 Seedling. 



Calceolarias. — The points should be pinched 

 out of these. When breaking again freely plant 

 them in skeleton frames, 6 inches apart, in good 

 soil. They succeed better when planted in their 

 summer quarters early : they get establislied then 

 before hot weather comes in and are less liable 

 to die off in midsummer — a nasty habit they have 

 sometimes. 



Sweet Peas, both autumn and spring sown, 

 should be planted this month. Stake as soon as 

 planted, the protection afforded thereby may be 

 very welcome. Dust a little soot over and 

 around the plants twice a week and look out for 

 slugs. 



Violets. — The outdoor ]»lants have produced 

 flowers in plenty during Marih, and are now 

 growing freely. If cuttings were rooted in the 

 autumn, plant them out now. If division of the 

 old plants is relied on for stock, wait till a good 

 quantity of side growths can be taken oft" with 

 roots attached. Choose a dull, calm day, and 

 keep the plants in a pail containing a puddle of 

 BoU and water while planting jtroceeds. Where 

 the natural soil is hot and dry, jjlenty of rotten 

 cow manure nuist be worked into it, and a 

 ])osition i)artially shaded from the sun chosen. 

 Red spider is the chief enemy of Violets, and a 

 cool moist root run and frequent syringings are 

 the best preventatives. The double varietietr 

 need a distance of 9 inches apart, and the singles 

 15 inches. The best varieties are — single. La 

 France and Princess of Wales ; double — Marie 

 Louise, Lady Hume Campbell and Neapolitan. 



The Frame Yard. — Franu; space will be 

 greatly taxed this mouth. Alt except the most 

 tender subjects should be in cold frames by the 

 end of the month. Harden ])lants carefully. A 

 severe check is not soon got over. Keej) the 

 lights closed for a few days, and sluided froiu the 

 strongest sunshine if the occupants have been in 

 a shaded jfosition ])re\aously. Later, ventilate 

 freely, removing the lights entirely on good days. 

 Keep mats in readiness in case of frost ;»t night. 

 When water is needed apply it in the morning. 



The Fruit Garden. 



By Peter Brock, Horticultural Instructor 

 for Co. Fermanagh. 



The weather during February and the first half of 

 March has been so wet and stormy that very 

 little could be done in fruit plantations. Those 

 who missed getting winter spraying done in 



January have not seen naany days since when 

 tills work could be done satisfactorily. Some have 

 the spraying material, but they are afflicted.with 

 procrastination that keeps^them dragging behind 

 with all work and in all sorts of seasons. 



Grafting vvill now recjuire attention as directed 

 in last month's Iiasii Gakdexinh. When the 

 weather is dry attend to hoeing fruit tree borders 

 and plaiitations. It is false economy to let this 

 work fall into arrears. Keeping a clean, loose 

 surface round fruit trees and bushes of all kinds 

 during the growing season conserves moisture 

 and stimulates root action. On heavy land or 

 where the surface is hard or crusted from the 

 effects of heavy rain the " Buco " cultivator is 

 the most useful implement for surface cultivation, 

 forming a nuilch of loose soil that will dry 

 quickly, and may afterwards be more economi- 

 cally kept in good condition with the hoc;. 



Apple trees in fidl bearing condition and with a 

 promise of abundant blossom will — especially if 

 potassic superphosphate or similar artilicial 

 manure has recently been ai)plied — derive great 

 benelit from a timely application of nitrate of 

 soda, which stimulates and assists them over the 

 flowering period. The first dressing may be given 

 when the buds are opening, and ajiplied at the 

 rate of half to three-quarter pound i)er twenty 

 sqviare yards. To ensure even distribution, the 

 soda should be mixed Avith about four times its 

 bulk of finely-sifted soil or ashes. Trees respond 

 most quickly to this stimulant in showery weather. 

 It is, however, not advisable to wait for showers ; 

 if the weather be dry the surface nuiy afterwards 

 be hoed, or the " Buco " cultivator nuiy be used to 

 good advantage to loosen the surface. A second 

 application may be given as the trees are about to 

 unfold their blossom. Any weakly pear, plum, 

 or other fruit tree or bush should not be over- 

 looked. 



Spraying for Scab and CATEiuMLLARti. — The 

 best time to cope with these pesis is when the 

 trees are coming into leaf — i.e., when the leaves 

 are well oi)ened, aiul before the bl()ssom opens — 

 then, immediately after the blossom drops, a 

 third and even a fourth spraying may be reciuired 

 at intervals of fourteen to twenty days after the 

 second si)raying. according as the season nuiy be 

 favourable or otherwise for the develop nu-nt of 

 scab. The spray should be a])plied in a very 

 fine cloud-like mist from a small iioz/Je. and 

 under a ])ressure of aboiif UIO llis. to the s<|uar»; 

 inch. Keep swinging llu- no/,/,le, dii'ectiug the 

 spi-ay so that 1 he whole of the tree may be evenly 

 dewed without, drenching or causing drip from 

 any ])ari. Sjnayers with j)ressure gauges are 

 essential in maintaining a imiform high i>ressure. 

 The "Holder" type of knapsack sprayer, with 

 pressure gauge, ancl made of virex-brass alloy, lor 

 linu'-sulphm-, is the best of the kuai)sa(k type I 

 have nu't with for applying a, very line mist. 

 With this sitrjiyer the operator has bolh hands 

 at liberty to direct the spray from an extension 

 tube or jauce to a, greater height than could l)e 

 done with one hand. Hi'ci'ut experieiu-e has 

 shown that arseiuite of lead when combined with 

 lime-sul]>hur acts elTectively in destroying cater- 

 ])illars, while it also increases the f\ingicidal 

 eft'ect of the linu>-sulphiu- and less<Mis its scorching 

 action on the foliage. lOven where caterpillars 

 are not in evidence it jiays to add arseiuite ot lead 

 to lime-suli)luu' for its fungicidal effects alone. 

 I have found one gallon of commercial lime- 

 sulphiu- and 2 Ihs. arsenate of lead to fifty gallons 

 of water a safe and effective fungicide in con- 



