34 



IRISH GARDENING 



tlitioii Moiitlni-tiiis m.iy In- planted in ;irimi>s mi 

 hordors. iui-ordiny t«. i..inircnu»nts. W li.r.- ;i 

 liold »'ff.'it is i»'(iiiiri(l :i t'ood liortlt-r will aiisw.-i 

 i>«'st. IMant iihmit 4 \i< ti inches di'i'p in ^'«><><l 

 •.Tonntl. Tlio stroiii-'.'si ^''^'Wors may !'•• allow. ti 

 12 indu's apart. l>iH sdiii.- of tin- newer variftits 



may yo •) imlus. H« st earefnl wlien |»lantin^'. 



as tile vonnjJT t.M(iwili is very brittle. 



Hahd'y Fkkns.— Last year's Kern fronds may 

 now l)e removed from tlie deeiduous Kerns and all 

 nnsi-zhtly froiiils from the everyreein varieties. 

 Wlu-re iiu> soil is jjerished the following i-ompost 

 should rei.laee the old sour, worn-out stuff: — 

 Leaf soil :\ i)arts. 1 part loam. 2 narts rivt-r sand. 

 For Limi'stone Polyjxidys an additional i)art of 

 mortar-ruhhle. Shade is most essential for tin- 

 ujajority of hardy Kerns, hoth for ^-'lo^^th and 

 effect, (hniiiiiihi rei/dlis loves to reach the water. 



H.\i.K-HAiu>v Anm-als.— Many half-hardy annuals 

 will retpiire to he sown now— Salj)i':lossis. 

 riilnj- Pnimmomli, Verbena, Dianthus, Mo- 

 tiiiiKi Sunilriir, Kihrons-rooted Be«;onias. and 

 many other like sid)jeits. Prepare a nuMd)er of 

 seed-hoxes and raise in heat. As soon as they 

 have -lerminated remove to t-ooler quarters, and 

 ;;nard aj^ainst <lrou<iht. 



KiiK.Mriu. — These most handsome plants require 

 a dtvp, rich, sandy soil, and when once well 

 established are fairly hardy. It is as well, how- 

 ever, to pla<'e a haiidlijrht over the crowns \yhen 

 they eomnience to grow to keep off cold bitin<,' 

 winds. A sharp look out must be kept for shijis 

 wliich are most trouble.some. 



Pi.ANr-EOCiiNos — '^Hirinjrs to borders may be 

 made quite attractive by the careful use of 

 various low-ftrowing plants, sueh as Thymus 

 of varieties. Aiahi.s lii(i(ht xuu'ieijaiii, a golden- 

 leaved ])lant; Cmii^tium totnentomim , silver- 

 leaved; Thrift (Aimeiid ruhjans), Anbrietia, etc.; 

 to borders in the woodland garden Tvy. St. Jolin's 

 Wort and Vinai nmjor. All those are usefid and 

 neat. Any box-edgings that require replanting 

 may be treated this month. 



fiNAPHAi.TU.M T>KONTOi'oniUM . — The Edclweiss is 

 raised quite easily from seed. Add a little fine 

 mortar-rubble to the compost when sowing, and 

 raise in a close house. When planting out in the 

 rockery allow a good sunny position. 



Dkli'Hiniu.ms. — Prick out the young seedling 

 Deli)hiniums as .soou as ready. Keep a watch for 

 slugs on established plants in the borders, dust- 

 ing frecMU'utly with .soot or lime. Where extra 

 good spikes are required, thin down the young 

 growths to ." or 5 on a plant, and when al)out 4 

 inches high give a nnilching of well-decayed 

 manure. Try a few of the low-growMnjj varieties, 

 such as Blue Butterfly, Porcelain Blue, etc., for 

 the front of the borders, they are most effective. 



Thk Fra.mk CiuoiJNn. — Plants growing in frames 

 will require cr)nstant attention regarding water- 

 ing and ventilation. Air must he given earlv in 

 the morninc, and the litrhts covered at night, 

 when the thermometer drops below .">R degrees. 

 When seedlings are pricked out straight into the 

 frames thev must be kept close and shaded till 

 the yoinig plants arc establi.shed, when air must 

 lie gradually given. 



RosKS. — Remove any midchin^s. and prune the 

 H. P. and H. Teas. Cut away all old .snags and 

 cross .branches. Weak growths should be pruned 

 to 2.or'.1 eyes and the strnuger growtlis to 5 or 

 Inids. For garden decoration or effective planting a 

 slight thinning out and shortening of tall shoots 

 will prove sufficient. Always prune to an out- 



wan! I ye When! Roses are pegged down or 

 liained en \sire>. all surplus growth shotdd be cut 

 away after covering the reipiired space. Always 

 cIkxis.' stiff growers that hold their heads uj) for 

 <,his purpose. .\s soon as i)runing is finished, 

 clean up all prunings and burn, (live the ground 

 a dressing of well-deeayed manure, and lightly 

 fork over the whole gnnuid. heaving all neat anil 

 clean. 



Hkhk.u'Koi-s |{(u;i)KR8.— As soou as the soil is in 

 good condition press forward any planting yet to 

 he done in the herbaceous and nnxed borders. 

 Some of the stronger-growing plants will re(piire 

 dividing and replanting. Any i-xtra choice 

 varii'ties should be planted in prepared soil to 

 giv." them an extia good start. When the jilant- 

 ing is finished, give a neat forking and a line 

 finish. Always ende'Jivour to g'row a certain 

 amount of surj)lus i)lants in the reserve garden. 

 When slugs prove troublesome, give a good dust- 

 ing of liuu> or soot. 



SwKirr Pkas.— These beautiful annuals are so 

 indispensable in even the snudlest gardens that 

 every effort nuist be ina<le to have a display of 

 Mowers over as kmg a jieriod as possible. The 

 autuuui-sown plants are ready for jilanting out 

 on well-i)re])ared ground as .soon as the ground 

 is fit to work on. Place a few short twigs for 

 sujiport and a few branches of spruce or laurel 

 on the north or east sides; make a final sowing 

 in 5-inch i)ots for clumps in the borders, etc. 

 Keep the colours in harmony with the sinround- 

 ing plants; dust soot amongst the plants 

 occasionally, and kee]) the soil stirred with a 

 dutch hoe or small fork. For hou.se decoration, 

 remember long stems and clean colours are most 

 essential. Avoid overcrowding. 



Hollyhock. — Give the seedling Hollyhocks 

 another shift W'hen the roots reach the side of 

 the pots. Gradually harden them off before 

 finally planting out. These plants did extremely 

 well liere last season, many reacliing 14 feet high. 

 They are planted in different positions in the 

 various .borders, but alw-ays with a background. 



Salvias Si'LKNokn's and P.\tens. — These two 

 brilliant Salvias should be raised in quantities, 

 the scarlet of the former lighting up dull grounds 

 wonderfully well and the bright blue of the latter 

 making very telling effects in the borders. Tliey 

 ciui be grown from seed or cuttings; the latter 

 require a Wiiriu ])ropagating case. Grow them in 

 warmth, and well syringed till establi.shed in 

 5 inch pots. 



Lawns anu Eogks. — Give the lawns a thorough 

 sweeping and rolling before putting (he machines 

 on for the first cutting. In many damp places it 

 will be advisalile to run over the lawns with the 

 scythe this mild season, grass having grown all 

 the winter. Where mo.ss is troulilcsome. give it a 

 good raking with corn rakes. All bare spots 

 should be made eood. Put all edges in good 

 condition with the edging iron. This requires 

 considerable time and skill to get them cut 

 through from end to end. Where paths reonire 

 re-surfacing, this should he attended too. making 

 all smart and clean for the season. 



Climbers. — Finish the priming and training of 

 all climbers. CJeiixtfis Jarhmonnii and its hybrids 

 require hard pr\ming; (\ Movtmui aiid f. 

 montann mhcnx only an occasional thinning; 

 Loniceras or Honeysuckles require fairly drastic 

 treatment; .Tasmiiu\s and the ornamental Vines 

 should be pruned hard. 



Wti.I-OW and roRNUS, — These water-loving 



