IRISH GARDENING 



35 



procure branches of the Common Woodnut and 

 shake over the trees on fine mornings, placing the 

 cut boughs in the tree afterwards. 



Peaches and Nectarines.— As soon as these 

 trees begin to expand their flower buds, pro- 

 tection of some description should be placed in 

 readiness to guard against bad weather. The 

 best protection is, of course, glass copings and 

 roller blinds which can lie raised or lowered as 

 required. Double netting may be used, and 

 failing this place everg.reens lightly oyer the 

 trees. Any extra care will be well repaid later. 

 Allow the trees to have full sun and air during 

 the daytime. 



Vines. — "Where hardy Vines are to be planted, 

 the border should be prepared with the same 

 care as for the Vines mider glass. There are 

 several varieties that succeed outside, but very 

 few gardeners can boast of doing them well. 

 Select a south wall, and keep all green manure 



visaible tio place the nets over the plantation. 

 This will also ward off several degrees of frost 

 duringi the flowering period. 



Grafting. — Towards the end of the month, when 

 the stocks are in good condition, any grafting to 

 be done should be carried out. Keep the scions 

 laid in behind a north wall until ready to use. 

 This wiU retard them and allow the stocks to be 

 some days ahead of the scions which is advisable. 

 Have all materials in readiness, so that the 

 operation may lie quickly performed. If drying 

 winds and hot sun prevail it is advisable to spray 

 scions twice a day after they are in position. 



Protection of Fruit Trees from Rabbits. — 

 Keep a sharp watch at all times on trees 

 growing in orchards and exposed positions for 

 attacks from ground vermin. Where possible the 

 safest plan is to enclose each stem by about 2 

 feet 6 inches wire netting fastened with a straight 

 thin iron rod. In the case of bush trees the 



out of the soil. They must never be allowed to 

 suffer from drought. Do not plant before May 

 when the danger of severe frost is gone The 

 Strawberry Grape, Sweetwater, and Royal Mus- 

 cadine are well tried varieties. Finish all prun- 

 ing of established Vines at the earliest moment. 



Fruit Room. — Watch all stored fruit very care- 

 fully; remove any decayed specimens at once; 

 keep the room as cool as possible. 



Figs. — Where protection has been given to Fig 

 trees, this must now be removed and the trees 

 trained. Thin out all weak and gross shoots, lay- 

 ing in well-ripened and .^hort-jointed wood. Try 

 iuid get the fruiting wood right from the centre 

 off the tree. Figs to l)e fruitful must have re- 

 stricted root-room and a rather poorer compost 

 llian most trees, giving tliem copious supplies of 

 manure water during the fruiting season. 



Gooseberries. — Get any remaining Goosel)erries 

 tiained and pruned. Keep the bushes well open 

 in the centre and all suckers removed. Give a 

 good dusting of lime, and fork into the soil a good 

 dressing of manure in the case of established 

 trees. Put in a few cuttings of the best varieties 

 each season. If birds are troublesome it is ad- 



netting must take a circle round the tree. The 

 stems might also be smeared with one of the pro- 

 tective compositions now advertised. 



FLOWER GARDEN AND PLEASURE GROUND 



Tuberous Begonias. — Remove the tu'bers from 

 their winter store, place them thinly on cool 

 peach-house borders where they can be constantly 

 damped to recover their plumpness. Shade them 

 from strong light during the first fortnight, then 

 gradually inure them to the light. As soon as 

 signs of growth are noticed, box them up in the 

 following compost — 1 of loam. 1 leaf soil and 1 part 

 sand with a dash of soot. Keej) the soil moist but 

 not wet. Otherwise a inmd)er of them may collap.se. 

 Endeavour at all times to obtain a sturdy growth, 

 and grow as cool as possible. Where the stock is 

 short, some of the largest tubers may be divided. 

 With the varieties Lafayette, Argus, etc., they 

 require more warmth or a more sandy compost to 

 start. The second early vinery is a better 

 temperature for these, and the shade of the Vines 

 greatly facilitates their growth. 



MoNTBRETiA.— As soou as the soil is in good oon- 



