i6o 



IRISH GARDENING 



expense in carrying out the work. The writer 

 has carried out. the above for several years witli 

 unvarjdng success. 



Lifting and Storing Roots. — if not already 

 accomplished the lifting and storing of potatoes 

 should be comi>leted without delay, provided the 

 weather is favourable. The best method in my 

 opinion is in pits or clamiis if ])rox)erly carried out. 

 The site cliosen should be high and dry, over this 

 place a layer of dry straw, build up the potatoes 

 to a ridge and cover with a good thickness of 

 straw, over which should be placed about six 

 inches of earth. To ])revent heating bunches of 

 straw may be placed through and above the soil 

 every two or three yards along the ridge of the 

 pit, drain pipes with a slate over the top to prevent 

 rain entering will answer the same ])urpose. 



Carrots and Beet may be stored in the same 

 manner, but it is advisable to always have a few 

 in the root shed for present use, wlaich shovild be 

 covered with tine ashes or sand, being more con- 

 venient to get at, especially during severe 

 weather. 



Parsnips are best if left in the ground and 

 lifted as required, but it is a good policy to have 

 a few under cover in case a long spell of frost 

 sets in. 



Onions when thoroughly ripe should be tied 

 up in bunches or ropes, afterwards hanging them 

 up in a cool shed, where they will keep better 

 than if stored on shelves. 



Spring Cabbage. — As advised in last month's 

 notes, October is the best time for making the 

 main planting of spring cabbage, being less liable 

 to bolt than if X)lanted last month. After the 

 quantity required is planted it is a good plan 

 to prick out a good few about 6 inches a])art, 

 these come in useful for making up blanks later on. 



Plants op Endive and Lettuce should be 

 lifted with good balls of earth and jjlanted in 

 frames. If frames can be spared, a good sowing 

 of the latter should be made during this month. 

 One of the best varieties I know for this purpose 

 is Drummond's Hardy Winter. 



As soon as young cauliflower plants are large 

 enough to handle they should be pricked ovit into 

 frames about 4 inches apart, I'emove the sashes 

 on all favourable occasions. Some means should 

 be taken to protect parsley for winter use either 

 by lifting and planting in franxes, or by placing 

 frames over the beds. The earthing-up of celery 

 and leeks should be completed without delay, 

 choosing a fine day for carrying out the work. 

 A good sowing of spinach should be made on a 

 south border about the middle of the month. 

 This .sowing will be i^eady for use during April 

 and May, a time when good vegetables are 

 extremely scarce. 



The Wisley Trap. 



A Sledge Trap for Turnip Flea Beetle 



(Turnip Fly). 

 Many are now sowing, or have sown, turnips, and 

 it is probable that the young plants may be 

 attacked by flea-beetles (turnip fly). These are 

 very small, bluish beetles, that jump nimbly like 

 fleas, eat small holes in the young leaves of the 

 plants from the time that they first come up, and 

 check the growth of the seedlings very con- 

 siderably. 



The following sim])le device has been invented 

 by Professor I^efroy, ^Entomologist to the Royal 

 Horticultural Society's (Jardens, Wisley, and 

 serves as an effective tra]) for these beetles. To a 

 frame made of six pieces of half inc-h deal 20in. 

 long, two pieces of thin board (20in. by oin.) are 

 fixed so as to slo]je outwards and u])wards, on the 

 sides of the frame. These sloping boards are 

 held apart by a cross bar and an end piece, so 

 as to have four clear inches between them at the 

 bottom. The two Isottom outer pieces of the 

 frame are made iin. deeper than the inner pieces, 

 the whole trap riding on the outer iJair as a sledge 

 on runners. The ends are rounded off to help this. 

 The sloping boards, the end pieces facing them, 

 and the cross piece between them are greased. 

 From the cross bar between the sloping pieces 

 hangs a loop of stout string, and strings four feet 

 long are attached to the front top corners. 



The Wisley Trap for the Turnip Flea 

 Beetle. 



If now the trap is drawn down each row of 

 turnips so that the young ])lants pass under the 

 cross bar and are brushed by the string loop, 

 the beetles leap up and alight on the sticky 

 boards. There they perish. 



If made of deal this apparatus is so light that a 

 child can draw it along the rows ; it is best for two 

 persons to draw the trap and for them to walk a 

 few feet away on each side so that the beetles are 

 not disturbed until the sticky boards reach them. 

 If two persons are not available, one can work the 

 trap, drawing it with outstretched arm, and 

 walking, so that the shadow falls on rows already 

 done. 



Satisfactory sticky substances tested include : 

 Messrs. Wood «fc Son's Currant Gall Mite Grease 

 and Smearing Grease (Is. 3d. a tin) ; The S. P. 

 Charges Co., St. Helens, " Morlar " Hop Wash 

 (Is. a tin). 



This little device was designed to deal with the 

 hordes of flea beetles on the turnips at Wisley. It 

 works so pleasantly and there is .such a charm in 

 mopping up the flea beetles that the above 

 description is published. The method may no 

 doubt be adapted to large cultivations by making 

 a number of sledge traps in series so as to do, say, 

 five rows at once ; but the present pattern is 

 intended for garden use. 



The accompanying illustration shows the ease 

 with which the " Wisley " trap can be naade. 

 Those who wish to purchase tra])s can obtain 

 them from Me.s.srs. Wood & Son, North British 

 Wharf, Wood Green, N., carriage paid for 3s. 6d. 

 The tra])s may also be obtained, carriage forward, 

 from Mr. Paddle, 26 Loring Road, Isleworth, at 

 2s. 3d., and from Messrs. Walker & Sons, London 

 Road, Isleworth, at 2s. 6d. 



