IRISH GARDENING 



Brussels Sprouts. — Owing to the long season 

 -of growth required to bring Brussels Sprouts to 

 perfection, a sowing of Dwarf Gem should be 

 made in boxes of sandy soil and germinated in 

 a cool house. Prick out the young seedlings 

 before they become drawn, into frames, about 4 

 inches apart ; see that they do not suffer from 

 drought, and grow sturdily. 



Broccoli. — Keep a sharp watch on all 

 Broccolis that are due to turn in, using them 

 as ciuickly as possible- this will allow the ground 

 to be manured and deeply dug for the following 

 crop. Where there is a difficulty in keeping up 

 a supply, I would advise growing more of the 

 purple and white sprouting varieties; these are 

 quite hardy, and will provide a change. Sow 

 seeds of the following for autumn and winter 

 supplies : — Michaelmas White and Autumn pro- 

 tecting. 



Beet. — A sowing of Crimson Ball or Globe Beet 

 should be made on a well-selected site on the 

 south border; a few rows between the early peas 

 will generally meet the demand. These roots 

 when quickly grown are much to be preferred to 

 the old long varieties in the stores. As soon as 

 they are through the ground ply the hoe between 

 the rows and thin down to 8 inches apart. 



Be.\ns, French. — Where one has a few frames 

 to spare a slight hot-bed of -3 parts leaves and 1 

 part long manure, thorouglily trodden clown, and 

 placed on this 6 inches of good soil, will form an 

 ideal place to forward a batch of French Beans. 

 Sutton's Forcing. Selected Canadian Wonder, 

 and Osborn's Forcing are excellent varieties for 

 this work. Cover the lights at night and give air 

 very carefully. 



Cabbage. — Give the main beds of spring 

 Cabbage a slight dressing of Nitrate of Soda 

 during the warm weather, and hoe it in; make 

 good all deficiencies. A sowing of summer 

 varieties should be made in boxes and pricked 

 off when ready. All Heart Favourite, and Im- 

 proved. Winningstadt are excellent varieties for 

 this sowing. 



Carrots. — To provide a succession to those sown 

 on the hot-beds, a sowing should now be made of 

 the Early Horn varieties on a warm border. 

 Give a good dressing of dry wood-ash and soot, 

 and select fresh ground each season fo,r this 

 sowing. The main sowing of the main-crop 

 varieties may be sown as soon as the ground is in 

 good condition. Where extra good roots are re- 

 quired, they should be grown as recommended 

 for parsnips last month, except that the holes 

 need not be so deeply bored. Exhibitors should 

 note that the E.H.S., Council has decided that 

 in future all vegetables shown must be of a size 

 suitable for the kitchens, large specimens being 

 ignored. 



Celery. — Seeds for the msiin crops should Ije 

 sown in boxes of sandy soil and germinated in a 

 warm house. Sow thinly, and prick out into 

 other boxes as soon as they can .be conveniently 

 hanrlled. Standard Bearer. Solid White, Alden- 

 ham Pink, and Wright's Giant White are reliable 

 varieties. 



Cauliflower. — The ground for Cauliflow-er can 

 scarcely be made too rich. As soon as the 

 ground is in good condition for planting a start 

 should be made with the earliest varieties that 

 have been wintered in the frames. Spruce 

 boughs will form protection if the weather should 

 turn very rough. Continue to prick out the 

 spring sown plants and grow as sturdily as 



possible. When watering make certain that the 

 whole of the soil is thoroughly moistened. 

 Another sowing of Early Giant, Autumn Giant, 

 and Halloween Giant should be made. 



Cucumbers. — Where one has frames or heated 

 pits. Cucumbers may now be safely sown. Make 

 up a good bed of fermenting material — 3 parts 

 leaves, 2 parts long litter, and 1 part decayed 

 manure. After three turnings place in the 

 frames with about a barrow-load of the following 

 compost : — .3 parts good loam and 2 parts old 

 spent mushroom bed. Allow this to become 

 thoroughly warm before planting. Place the 

 plants facing north and south. Keep thoroughly 

 moist and shaded from strong sun; they will 

 quickly start away. Regulate the shoots and cut all 

 fruit as it becomes large enough for the kitchen. 



Leeks. — The main sowing of Leeks should now 

 be made. Choose a good piece of ground 

 facing south for the seed bed ; obtain a fine 

 tilth, and sow thinly, adding a good dressing 

 of wood-ash and soot. Another plan is to sow in 

 boxes pricking out when fit into nursery beds 

 before giving the final planting. Prizetaker, Im- 

 proved Musselburgh, Ayton Castle Giant, and 

 The Lyon are excellent varieties. 



Onions. — If not sown last month prepare the 

 site and sow at the earliest convenience. Keep 

 the plants in boxes and frames, growing steadily, 

 and harden them ready for planting as soon as 

 the ground becomes fit. 



Parsley. — A sowing of Parsley for summer 

 supplies should he made on deeply-tilled ground 

 as soon as it is fit. Sow in drills 12 inches apart, 

 and thin to 6 inches in the rows. Give frequent 

 dustings of soot. 



Peas. — Continue to sow the best varieties of 

 Marrowfat Peas on well-trenched ground. Do 

 not sow closer than 3 inches from seed to seed 

 in two lines. Allow a foot higher than the cata- 

 logue height when staking, and do not sow^ the 

 rows too close — better a tow qf peas than a 

 breadth of something else. 



Potatoes. — Early Potatoes should now be 

 planted in sheltered positions, such as at the foot 

 of a south wall. Carefully watch their appear- 

 ance through the soil, and protect from frost. 

 Main-crop varieties should be got in towards the 

 end of the month as the ground becomes fit. 



Marrows. — Early Marrows are greatly ap- 

 preciated. Sow 'singly in .3-inch pots, potting 

 into 6-inch as they become fit. 



Tomatoes.— Plants for outside planting should 

 now be raised. Endeavour to have good plants 

 in 6-inch pots by the first week in June with the 

 first truss set. The earliest fruits inside are now 

 swelling, and will greatly benefit by slight top- 

 dressings and frequent applications of a concen- 

 trated manure. Pot off all young plants as they 

 become ready. 



Spinach.— Make a good sowing on warm 

 borders, and keep the hoe busy between present 

 crops. 



Turnips.— A sowing of Early Snowball or Early 

 Milan should be made on a south border. Pro- 

 tect from birds and slugs. 



Lettuce.— Make frequent sowings of both Los 

 and Cabbage varieties of Lettuce. , ,, 



Herbs.— Any shortage in the herb border should 

 be made good this month. Chervil, Basil, 

 Dandelion, Fennel, and any other annual re- 

 quired. 



General Work.— Keep the hoe busy on every 

 occasion whether any weeds are showing or not. 



