!42 



IRISH GARDENING 



The Month^s Work. 



The Flower Garden. 



By Wm. G. Wadgk, Ciaideuur to J^ady O'Niull, 

 Shane's Castle, Antrim. 



The work in this department depends much on 

 the weather this month. We are usually visited 

 with strong winds about this time, and, as some 

 trees have beg-im to cast their leaves, a good deal 

 of tidying up will be called for. Make Dahlias 

 and all tall-growing plants secure against storms. 

 Endeavour to kee]) the flower beds bright for a 

 few weeks longer by removing all flowers and 

 leaves as they wither,, and by Iceeping the sur- 

 roundings neat. We may get frost tliis month. 

 Sometinies there is a few degi'ees, just sulUlcient 

 to blacken Begonias and Ileliotrope, without 

 disfiguring Geraniums and other things. If 

 some beds are ]>lanted with the former subjects, 

 it is advisable to cover them when the tem])era- 

 ture falls low in the evening, as one or two beds 

 blackened spoils the effect of the whole ; besides, 

 it often lia])pens after one such frost we get quite 

 a long spell of mild, bright weather. Get off all 

 the cuttings necessary without delay, so that 

 when a wholesale clearance of the beds is called 

 for it may be expeditiously carried out. If 

 Annuals are wanted to flower early next season, 

 sow seeds now. 



Continue propagating Violas, Pansies, Calceo- 

 larias, Antirrhinums, Penstemons, Veronicas. 

 Andersonii variegata nxay all be rooted in cold 

 frames and left there all winter. Select cuttings 

 from young sa]>i)y growths, rejecting hard woocly 

 pieces. Keep the frame damp and siiaded and 

 fairly close till rooting takes place ; then inure 

 the young plants to air and sunshine, and venti- 

 late freely at all favourable times during the 

 winter. Other subjects, &uch as Alternanthera, 

 Iresine, Salvias, Coleus, Heliotrope, Verbena, 

 and Mesembryanthemum require a frame or 

 house with a gentle heat. This class of plants is 

 readily increased in spring, so it is not necessary 

 to keep a big stock. I prefer i)ots to boxes for 

 cuttings of this latter class of plants. 



Carnations. — These layered in July are well 

 rooted. They should now be severed from the 

 old plants and lifted. Planting direct into their 

 flowering quarters gives least trouble and best 

 results if the soil is well drained. If experience 

 has shown that the local soil and climate is un- 

 favourable for wintering in the beds, either pot 

 them in three-inch pots and ])lace in a cold frame, 

 or prepare a raised bed of soil, adding a liberal 

 quantity of sand and some linxe rubbish fronx an 

 old Inxilding, and plant the layers close together 

 in this. They may remain here till s])ring, and 

 then be planted in other beds in the usual way. 

 In either case it is wise to pot up a few plants to 

 replace any casualties. 



PLANT.S IN Tubs. — If some light, protective 

 material can be kept in readiness to place at night 

 over Myrtles, Agaves, Bays, &c., they may re- 

 main outside during September, otherwise they 

 nxust be housed. Freely ventilate the house 

 after they are taken in. Any sjjecimen plants 

 used in the bedding that it is thought desirable 

 to keep over for another season will need the same 

 protection. 



Vioi.KTS. — Kee]) the runners c^ut oR' and the 

 ])lants watered wheix necessary with manure 

 water. Towards the end of the nxonth transfer 

 the plants to wiixter quarters. Do not plant too 

 high in the frame. lj(^t there be a ftnv inches 

 between the foliage and the glass. They can be 

 planted fairly clojie together, as the ])lants will 

 not increase nxuch in size after moving them. 

 Water through a coarse rose to settle the soil. 

 Shade for a few days during the; brightest hours, 

 then give all the air and light ]>ossible. Never 

 shut the lights down close except during 

 severe weather. When further watering is neces- 

 sary, let it be done early in the day. 



Bulbs. — If the Indbs of Narcissus forced last 

 si)ring, or any lifted from borders, were dried off, 

 they will do well for planting in the grass. Scatter 

 the bulbs broadcast, and plant them where they 

 fall. This nxethod will result in a natural appear- 

 ance at flowering time. If a supply of bulbs is 

 to be bought, order thenx fortliwith, and the 

 earlier they are placed in the soil after delivery 

 the better. 



The Season. — The summer of 1911 must be 

 written down as not favourable from the flower 

 garden point of view. The drought and harsh 

 wind which prevailed during planting time and 

 alter was against the plants nxaking an early 

 start into growth. A])i'il was such a dry month 

 that the sub-soil had got dry, and the few showers 

 that fell in .June and .July were not sufficient to 

 reach the roots of the plants. Where an adequate 

 water supply has been available, doubtless good 

 growth has resulted, as there has been no lack of 

 bright sunshine. Flowering shrubs have flowered 

 freely, partly consequent on the wood being well 

 ripened last autumn. Phlox quickly ])assed out 

 of flower. Anenxone jai)onica and Lobelia car- 

 dinalis are dwarfer than usual. C-hrysanthe- 

 mums do not grow nor flower so freely during a 

 drought as they do in a more showery season. 



The Fruit Garden. 



for 



By Peter Brock, Horticultural Instructor 

 Co. Fermanagh. 



The thunderstornx on the 14th inst. brought a 

 nxuch-needed drenching rain, which lasted for 

 sevei'al hours .and has refreshed and improved the 

 condition of all kinds of fruit trees and bushes. 



The marketing of such fruits as require to be 

 disposed of dii'ect from the tree must, as they 

 become flt, get first attention. Choice fruit 

 should be very carefully handled so as to avoid 

 bruising, which quickly shows in black spots or 

 streaks and reduces its market value. First- 

 class dessert ai)ples, like Lady Sudeley, when 

 carefvilly graded and neatly packed in attractive 

 ])ackages, command good ])rices. Early autumn 

 l)ears and plums Jit for dessert pay well for a 

 little extra care iix grading and packing in neat 

 packages. Early cooking ap])les, svu-h as Early 

 V'ictoria, should b(^ cleared off early this month, 

 then flrst •i)ickirxgs of the largest fruits of (Jrenadier 

 will also be in demarxd. 



The Fruit Boom. — There is nothing juore 

 detrimental to the flavour and keeping of fruit 

 than stoi"ing it on foid, nuisty shelves Jjeariixg 

 traces of former occu])ants having decayed. 

 Linxe-washing the walls and thoroughly scrubbing 

 the stages or racks with warm water aixd soap, 

 afterwards rinsing with clean water and exposing 



