IRISH GARDENING 



127 



a single variety. They will produce a large 

 number of spikes and flower earlier in this way. 

 Some clumps in a border of the kitchen garden 

 here, planted three or five plants together, are 

 carrying upwards of fifty spikes. 



Cuttings of shrubs may be inserted this month, 

 choosing short, well-ripened shoots of this year's 

 growth that can be pulled off with a heel. Any 

 Violas that have been flowering since spring and 

 have become very elongated should be cut back. 

 They will soon break again, and the resulting 

 growths will furnish ideal cuttings for inserting 

 later. 



Dahlias. — Secure these to the stakes by 

 additional ties as the growths extend, and renaove 

 many of the shoots. Earwigs are very destruc- 

 tive on these plants and Chrysanthemums. 

 Take steps to trap them, either by placing 

 inverted flower pots, with a little hay in the bot- 

 tom, on the top of the stakes, or some sections of 

 broad bean stems placed amongst the leaves of the 

 plants. The insects will hide in these during the 

 daytime, and can be blown or shaken out into water. 

 Chrysanthemums. — The early border varieties 

 are showing bud, on some there has been flower 

 since June. They do best in a showery summer : 

 the welcome rains in July will help thena cover 

 the ground. Those varieties that are best 

 disbudded must be attended to in this respect. 

 The smaller flowering varieties, and those with the 

 buds arranged more loosely, may be left to 

 flower in natural sprays. Now is the time a little 

 feeding will be very beneficial. 



Gladiolus. — A good watering with liquid 

 manure should be given these before the buds 

 begin to unfold. A little support is needed. 

 A long stake is not necessary, if it reaches to the 

 bottom flower buds that will do. Keep the 

 grovmd hoed. 



LiLiUM CANDIDUM (The Madonna Lily). — Clumps 

 of these may often be seen thriving in cottage 

 gardens, and soinetinies in larger gardens they 

 are a failure. They resent being disturbed. 

 If they are growing a.nd flowering well by no 

 means move them, but if they are deteriorating, 

 or froni any reason it is necessary to transplant 

 them, this is the best nionth for the operation, as 

 soon as the flower stems have died down. Do not 

 keep them out of the soil any length of time. A 

 suitable distance for planting is 6 inches apart, and 

 rather less in depth. They are less liable to 

 disease if in a sunny position and well-drained 

 soil. If the soil is heavy and retentive, make it 

 more suitable by the addition of some material 

 that will keep it open, such as lime and brick 

 rubbish, (;harcoal and sand. 



Hedges. — Ornamental hedges of yew or other 

 plants, if cut this month, will inake just sufficient 

 new growth to cover that very hard, stiff a])]K^ar- 

 ance they take on after clii)))ing, and not enough but 

 that the outline will be preserved during the winter. 

 Herbaceous Borders. — The chief work on the 

 border? will be the removal of dead and withered 

 foliage and flower stems ; the giving of further 

 ties to such plants as need it , hoeing and wat taing. 

 Remove the flower .spikes frona l)«'l])hiiiiunis. 

 leaving al)out 2 feiit of stem standing. By 

 shortening back any ])lants that have pas.scd out 

 of flower their neighbours will have more room 

 to develop. Should there be any bare ])atches 

 where bulbs or annuals have died down, now is 

 the time the Chrysanthemums, ])lanted in reserve 

 as advised in a i)revious calendar, come in useful. 



The Fruit Garden. 



By Peter Brock, Horticultural Instructor 

 for Co. Fermanagh. 



The heavy showers of rain during the past week 

 has improved the growing condition of young 

 trees, but it has not been sufficient to reach the 

 deeper roots of old trees. All kinds of fruit trees 

 and plants would benefit from more moisture at 

 the roots. The dry weather ai)pears to have kept 

 apple scab in check, as trees that were badly 

 affected on fruit and leaves at this date last year, 

 although not free from traces of spot on fruit and 

 foliage, are much less affected this year. Trees 

 that have been three times si)rayed with lime- 

 stilphur-arsenate of lead are very free from any 

 traces of spot or scab. 



Weeds are always ready to make headway, and 

 it is in such a season as this that a little extra 

 attention is required in kee])ing a clean, loose 

 surface, by frequent stirring with the hoe. 



Summer Pruning. — Trees, especially young 

 trees, derive mvich benefit from a careful thinning 

 of shoots that may be overcrowding and not 

 required to form a ])ermanent part of the tree. 

 The best time to begin a pai-tial or summer 

 prvming is when the shoots show a firmness 

 indicating that growth is a]>proaching completion; 

 those which have been grown for the pur])ose of 

 maintaining root action, and are now causing 

 overcrowding in the tree, may be shortened to 

 within four or five inches of the base. It is safer 

 to err on the side of beginning sumnier pruning a 

 week late, rather than begin a week too early, as a 

 heavy fall of rain may cause a stronger flow of sap 

 and cause the buds that were intended to be 

 dormant to stai-t into a late succulent growth. 



Kaspberries. — Immediately the cro]) is 

 gathered cut out the old fruiting canes. Select 

 the best of the young canes for next year's crop, 

 and secvire them against breakage by wind and so 

 that they may be evenly and fully exi)osed to the 

 influence of sun and air. Timely attention to this 

 work will be amply re])aid by the im])roved 

 condition of the canes for next year's crop. Hoe 

 and thoroughly free thenx from weeds. Remove 

 all useless suckers from the base of the canes 

 selected to remain by pulling them oft" with a 

 sharp jerk. If suckers are ])lentiful and required 

 for new i)lantations, select the best some distance 

 from the oil plin.s and allow them to remain 

 till they ripen. Towards the end of October or 

 early in November they may be lifted and ])lanted 

 in ])ermanent quarters or in nur.sery lines till 

 required. 



Sthawberries. — The forming of new planta- 

 tions should be attended to as early this mouth as 

 it is possible to get tlu^ ])lants and the land to be 

 planted in suitable condition for planting, as 

 directed last month. Any arrears of cleaning old 

 plantations should be attended to without 

 delay. 



Marketing. — In early districts such apples as 

 (iladstone. Beauty of Bath, and Irish Peach will 

 be fit for use towards t lu; cud of this month. These 

 varieties should be jiulled and used as soon as the 

 |ii])s turn brown, as if left too long ov the tree or 

 stoied they turn nu'aly and lose their flavour. 

 When well grown properly graded and packed the 

 above sorts comnuxnd remunerative prices. 

 Cooking sorts, such as Grosvenor and Early 

 Victoria, will also be coming lit for use. These 



