10 



IRISH GARDENING 



The Month's Work. 



Midland and Northern Counties. 



liv Mk. 1". Stukktkk. C.ardener to B. II. Harl.ni. 



Kt^q.. D.l... Straffaii Houso, Straffaii. 



C\«. Kiklaro. 



Thk Km II in Gaudkx 

 Will lu-i-d great attoiilioii tliis inontli i)it.i)uriiig 

 all vaeant i)lots for flu- coming' season's crops. 

 Prepare a plan, mark off into squares, 

 and a.s near as possiMe woik to scale. By this 

 means each piece of .,romid can be prepared 

 correctly to suit its occupants. During the past 

 few years vegetable growing luis come very muili 

 to the fore, and riglitly so, considering their 

 great health-giving (pialities. and there is still 

 plenty of room for improvement. T should like to 

 see the small gardens and i-ottagers growing more 

 Varieties, especially Beans, Peas, C'aulifiower, 

 Beet, Parsnips, l.eeks. Brussels Si)routs. Marrows, 

 and Lettiu-e. This would give greater satisfaction. 

 1 am sure, than the usual Cabbage, which of 

 course in its season is most valuable, but must 

 get monotonous year after year. 



Cat.alogues. — As soon as the seedsmen send 

 their catalogues, mark off the requisite seed, add 

 up the total to see that it is not in excess of the 

 amount to be spent, then make up the order form 

 provided, neatly and i-learly, and post w-ith as little 

 delay as jiossil/le. By this means it gives the seeds- 

 men more time to exec-ute the order and also pre- 

 vents disappointments in some of the best varieties 

 being sold out. Keep well to the standard and 

 well tried varieties, adding and trying a few of 

 the most i)romising n.ovt-ltiep. 



Forcing Vkgetablks. — Get large quantities of 

 leavers. ."> i)arts. and long litter, 1 part, made up 

 into hot-beds for filling the forcing rits and Tor 

 standing box frames on. As soon os possible it 

 is a good plan to draw^ the leaves together as 

 near the frame yard as can be conveniently man- 

 aged, this saving the second carting. The above 

 will l)ring along such useful croi)S as Potatoes, 

 Carrots. Turnips. Beet. Radishes and T.ettuce. 

 Asparagus will easily force from this month on- 

 wards, taking great care never to allow the crowns 

 long exposure to the air after lifting. Tiift and 

 plant at once in the frames. 



Broad Bkans. — Make a sowing of Broad Boaiis 

 (Johnston's Wonderful) in boxes for jjlanting out 

 later. Sow 2 inches apart in a comj)ost of 2 i)arts 

 loani. 1 leaf soil, and 1 of sand. Place in cold 

 frames and cool fruit houses, free from rats and 

 mice. They will require very little water for 

 some time, .but give air on every possible occasion. 

 If the soil on the south liorders is in good con- 

 dition a small sowing might be made. 



C.auliflgwkr.— Sow a quantity of Cauliflower- 

 First Crop, Magnum Bonum and Early Giant — 

 in boxes to follow the autumn sown varieties. 

 Germinate in a temperature of 55* and grow cool, 

 pricking out the yomig plants as they become 

 fit for handling. Make sure they never suffer 

 from drought. When watering see that the soil 

 is wet right through the box. Oftentimes soil is 

 used from luider the potting bench in too dry a 

 condition, and water only runs through in 

 plaees, leaving the bulk of the soil as dry as ever. 

 Give the autunui grown plants pricked out in 

 frames air on all nnid days and' nights. Keep 

 the soil sweet and constantly pricked over be- 

 tween the plants. 



Caurots.— If heated brick pits are available 

 uuike a good sowing of Early Gem Carrot. Sow 

 in lines 12 inches apart. ,ind sow Jiadishes in 

 between. I'se the latter iiefore the Carrots are too 

 large in leaf, otherwise it will cause the Carrot 

 foliage to become drawn. Spray with tepid water 

 i>n i)right days, and keej) a sharj) look out for 

 slugs comingtiirough the hotbeds, dusting with 

 lime or soot. 



PoTATOKS. — \\'licr<' new Potatoes are required for 

 Faster (whii-h is early this year), a start must 

 lie made with well .sprouted tubers of May (iueeii, 

 Sharpe's Exi)ress. New Success, or King Edward 

 VII. If grown in pots or bo.xes use the following 

 t-ompost : — 2 parts leaf soil. 2 parts spent mush- 

 room bed. 1 part loam, and 1 i)art sand, with a 

 good dash of soot. .lust lightly cover the tidier 

 and half fill the pot or box to allow U>r toj) dress- 

 ing; start in a temperature of bU^. 



Exhibition Onions. — Where large Onions are 

 required a start must now be made. Prepare 

 sufficient boxes, filling with the following com- 

 post : — li parts good loam, 1 part leaf soil, and 1 

 part sand, make thoroughly firm, pick out the 

 largest seeds, and sow an inch apart. Just cover 

 the seed and make firm, then germinate them in 

 a warm house, 55" to OU-'. As soon as they are 

 through the .soil remove to a light position and 

 slightly cooler quarters; avoid all draughts at all 

 times. Almost all the varieties will attain a good 

 size (except, of course, the Queen varieties). 

 Ailsa Craig. Premier, Cranston's Excelsior, Brown 

 Globe, and A.l are the varieties principally grown 

 for this purpose. Watch the autumn sown 

 varieties growing out of doors after sharp frosts 

 and gently hoe between the lines if the soil is dry 

 enough. 



ToMATOKS.--Tomatoes that were sown last 

 month will now require their first shift. Bring 

 soil and pots into the house in which they are 

 growing, so that everything may be the same 

 temperature. Pot fairly firm in a compost of 2 

 l)arts loam, 1 part leaf soil, and 1 part sand. 

 Water most carefully, and grow on a shelf away 

 from all draughts. Another sowing of Maincro]) 

 varieties should be^ made as soon as possible. 

 This sowing is the one generally made by the 

 market men to obtain good prices early in the 

 season. Klondinc Red and Ailsa Craig are ex- 

 cellent varieties, althO(Ugh for flavour there is 

 nothing to equal " Peach Blow." This is the 

 variety that caused some trouble at the last Bray 

 Flower Show. The Judges evidently did not 

 know- the variety, so they passed it as ornamental 

 and not to be considered. I also noticed an 

 article in a weekly paper, that it was shown io 

 catch the judge's eye. I would ask those in- 

 terested in Tonuitoes to> get a package of seed and 

 try it for themselves. 



Peas. — In cold districts it will prove a great 

 gain to sow the earliest peas in boxes and plant 

 them out, When the conditions allow, fill a 

 sufficient quantity of seed-boxes with ordinary 

 compost, and sow 2 inches apart. Raise in a 

 cool peach-house, and water carefully. Watch 

 for mice. Gradus and Early Giant are excellent 

 varieties for this sowing. 



Skakai.k ano Rhurarb. — Introduce sufficient 

 crowns into the forcing house at fortiii<,ditly 

 intervals. See that they do not become dry. other- 

 wise the growths will "prove tough and stringy. 

 Maintain a moist atmosphere at all times. 



Chicory and Endive. Continue to l)lanch 

 sufficient for the needs of the kitchen. Mustard 

 and Cress will require to be sown weekly. 



