IRISH GARDENING 



47 



the Gladioli, which now rt'^uire attention. Cover 

 the corms with about four inches of soil, and neatly 

 label each variety. When planting in the herbaceous 

 Ijorders be very careful as to the colour, otherwise 

 they may clash terribly with their neighbours. There 

 are many beautiful varieties. America is still a 

 magnificent variety that would go almost anywhere. 

 Princeps is a giant scarlet. Lemoine's hybrids are 

 very fine. 



Ornamental Grasses. — Tlie ornamental grasses 

 make a bold show and are very useful for winter 

 decoration. The following are a few worth gi'owing : 

 Eulalia japonica, Elymus canadensis, Agrostis 

 nebulosa, and Lagurus oi-atus and Hordcuiii. 

 jubatum. Planted by streams in the wild garden or 

 in groups on the lawns, they are always in keeping. 



Annuals. — What a wealth of flowers are under 

 this heading. Many may be sown now out of doors 

 where they are to flower. In all cases sow thinly 

 aud when the ground is in good condition. Mignon- 

 ette, Nasturtivnns, Lupins, Larkspurs, Godetias, 

 Nigella, Linarias, Poppies, Asters, various Chrys- 

 anthemums, Lavateras, Loveliness strain, Malope 

 and Sweet Peas are just a small selection according 

 to taste. Phlox Drmmondi, Marigolds African, 

 &c., Nemesia, Scabious, Ten Week Stocks and the 

 Mammoth Asters are better sov^m under glass and 

 pricked out when large enough to secure the best 

 effects. 



Flowering Shrubs. — Any plants of Dcutzias, 

 Cerasus, Lilacs and Prunus triloba that have been 

 forced should be carefully pruned as soon as flower- 

 ing has finished and planted in a rich border for 

 two or three seasons to recover their strength. 

 Forsythias and Eibes require pruning when flower- 

 ing has passed to enable them to make plenty of 

 flowering shoots for next season. Nuttallia cerasi- 

 formis, a greenish wliite flower, is also' well worth a 

 place in the smallest collection. 



Herbaceous Borders. — Use the Dutch hoe ^\hen- 

 ever possible and watch for slugs, especially around 

 choice Delphiniunas, &c. Prepare stakes in good 

 time and make up all vacant places. See that the 

 bulbs in flower are correctly labelled and in good 

 health. Watch for the narcissus fly. 



Lawns and Walks. — Lawns will require weekly 

 mowings now. It is false economy to allow the 

 glass to become long and no time is gained in miss- 

 ing it for a week. Keep the machines well oiled and 

 cleaned and put away after each day's w^ork. Do 

 not allow the grass to remain on the lawn after 

 mowing. Finish everything off each evening. 

 Edge the walks regularly and use the weed killer 

 according to directions. This will save and clean the 

 walks quicker than anything else. Keep all climbers 

 tied up in good time, and give all garden seats a 

 good painting before placing in the grounds for the 

 season. 



Southern and Western Counties. 



By Mr. J. Matthkws, Gardener to Sir Richard 

 Musgr'ave, Bart., Tourin, Cappoquin, County 

 Waterford. 



THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 



Artichokes, Globe. — Remove the protecting 

 material from these plants now and lightly fork in 

 some well rotted manure. If new plantations are 

 intended secure strong side suckers with a few roots 



attached, planting them on trenched ground, in drills 

 five feet apart and three feet between the plants. 



Broccoli. — Sow seeds during the later part of 

 the month in an open situation to provide plants for 

 winter and spring supplies. 



Beans, Broad. — Plant out those raised under 

 glass if not already done. The maincrop should be 

 sown during the month in double lines six inches 

 apart and three feet between each double row. In 

 due course supports will be required for these, and 

 a good plan is to run a strand of coir rope along 

 each side of the drills, fastened to stakes at intervals. 

 Cauliflowers.— If these are planted in large 

 batches at one time too many come into use 

 at once, consequently a large number go to waste; 

 better to plant a few at intervals according to tiie 

 demands of the kitchen. Another small sowing may 

 be made about the end of the month, such as 

 Hurst's Express and Early London, which will come 

 in useful late in the autumn. 



Cabbages, Borecole, Brussels Sprouts and 

 Savoys should be sown about the middle of the 

 month ; earher sowings should be pricked out or 

 planted when large enough. Early spring Cabbage 

 may be hastened on with a dressing of Nitrate of 

 Soda, hoed or grubbed in. 



Carrots. — The end of the month is early enough 

 to sow the maincrop. Select a deeply worked piece 

 of ground that was well manured for a previous 

 crop and thoroughly break it up with the fork; give 

 a dressing of soot, Avood ashes and salt, raking it 

 well iu.^ Sow very tliin in shallow drills twelve or 

 fifteen inches apart. Make another sowing of the 

 stump-rooted variety for early use. 



French Beans.— Tbwards the end of the month 

 a .sowing may be risked outside on the eavly border, 

 and at the same time sow a good batch in pots or 

 boxes for planting out in May, these will give a 

 picking well in advance of the others if protected 

 for a bit after planting. 



Herbs. — Those of the annual varieties should be 

 sown this month, and others s^plit up and replanted, 

 if not already done, finishing off the border neatly. 



Leeks. — Sow the maincrop early in the month. 

 Leeks require a good rich soil in an open situation, 

 and if not prepared may be done now. 



Lettuce. — To keep up a daily supply make a 

 sowing about every fortnight. Sow as thin as 

 possible and thin them out later to nine inches. 

 Keep the lioe working to encourage a quick growth. 

 Onions. — Plants raised early in the year in boxes 

 should be fit to nlace in their quarters whenever the 

 soil and Aveather Avill allow; carefully lift without 

 damaging the roots, and plant with a trowel, getting 

 the roots straight doMn, making the soil firm around 

 them. Towards the end of the month sow seed to 

 provide bulbs for pickling; choose rather poor 

 giound, as the aim is to have small, well ripened 

 bulbs; no thinning will be necessary. 



Peas. — Make succes&ional sowings according to 

 requirements; allow from fourteen to fifteen weeks 

 fi-om the time of sowing till required for picking. 

 Stake all former so^\ings made outside as soon as 

 through the soil, and apply the hoe frequently along 

 the drills. 



Potatoes. — Complete the planting of all late 

 varieties during the month, allowing a space of three 

 feet between the drils and half that from set to set; 

 if planted too close the haulm gets drawn and weak, 

 resulting in poor crops. 



