IRISH GARDENING 



71 



CelEi;Y. — Hant out the Celery into prepared 

 trenches as each batch becomes fit- Thoroughly 

 water each row as it is finished, and dust with lime 

 in the evenings if slugs are troublesome, a little and 

 often. A weekly dusting of soot will greatly stimu- 

 late this crop. The earliest sowing and plantings 

 will require the rough outside leaves removed and 

 a little good soil added for top dressing. 



Lettuce and Endive. — Select a cool border for 

 sowing all Lettuce and Endive in hot weather. Keep 

 all growing crops hoed and well supplied with water. 

 Sow thinly and allow them to mature where sown. 



Beet. — Sow sufficient Globe Beet for the supply of 

 3?oung roots during the autumn. 



RuNNEii Beans. — Make a final sowing of Runner 

 Beans in a sheltered position from early frosts. Add 

 the stakes to the plants already up and pinch out the 

 tops when they reach the tep of the supports. 



Green Vegetables. — Continue to plant out as 

 quickly as possible all Sprouts, Kales, Broccoli, Cauli- 

 t'owers and Cabbage, filling up the ground as it be- 

 comes vacant. Allow plenty of room for each speci- 

 men to properly develop. Visitors to these gardens 

 often say : " You allow your plants plenty of room, 

 but they seem to repay you well for it." 



Onions. — Onions of all types are growing rapidly 

 and require constant attention with the hoe. Spring 

 sown Ailsa Craig and Premier are just beginning to 

 take the feeding and artificials may be carefully 

 applied. Make a sowing of Silver Queen for salading. 



Vegetable Marrows. — Give the growing Marrows 

 plenty of water and keep the superfluous 

 growths cut aw^ay. Use the fruits in quite a young 

 state and send in Imp. Custard varieties for the 

 dining room. 



Peas. — Make a final sowing of an -early variety 

 about the middle of the month. Keep all growing 

 rows staked and mulched in good time. Do not 

 allow the pods to become too old before using. 



Hardy Fruit Garden. 



Strawberries. — Royal Sovereign requires to be 

 picked as soon as it is ripe to get the full flavour. 

 Viscountess Hericart de Thury is still one of the 

 best for preserving ; endeavour to obtain enough for a 

 good boiling ; this will lessen the work of the house- 

 keeper and also give far better results. Pick per- 

 fectly dry. Of course, the gardener must be guided 

 by the requirements of the family he is serving in 

 the way in which he sends in liis fruit for dessert. 

 Here it is four times a day, breakfast, lunch, tea. 

 and dinner. There is also a considerable number of 

 boxes to be sent to various members of the family. 

 We have no difficulty in getting Strawberries to 

 London by Post, and yet, with the same system of 

 packing they will not reach Scotland in .good condi- 

 tion. Why, I cannot explain. See that the late 

 ^arieties do not suffer from drought. 



Cherries. — Cherries have required thimiiiig. See 

 that no insect pests gets estalilislied, aiid keep the 

 giowths pinched and the leaders trained in for exten- 

 sion. Give a dressing of lime and a thorough good 

 soaking to trees against the walls. Place the nets 

 in position as soon as they commence to color. See 

 that the nets hang quite clear of the trees. 



GocsEBERRiES. — Thin the fruits for preserving and 

 cooking; this will greatlv relieve the trees of sucli 



heavy crops as are on the trees this season; give 

 a good dusting of lime through the plantations. Keep 

 the side growths of the cordons pinched back. Use 

 the hoe as often as possible; this Avill assist the 

 moisture. 



Quinces. — Planted in a moist position these fruits, 

 beyond supporting the main branches, require very 

 little attention. They are not grown to the extent 

 they should be for their fine flavouring quaUties. 



AV'atering Trees.— All wall trees are requiring 

 plenty of water at the root ; it is advisable to go over 

 a certain amount of the trees every day. A good 

 mulching will greatly help the trees, and also an 

 occasional dressing of lime, and a good dressing of a 

 well tried artificial manure. 



Pear Trees. — Pear trees growing against walls, 

 &c., will require to have the leading shoots nailed 

 or tied in, and the rest stopped, pinching out the 

 tips of the growths. The early varieties are ready 

 for thinning, although the frost' during the early 

 mornings in May have partially performed thi^s 

 operation. 



Flower Garden and Pleasure Guound. 



Summer Bedding.— Complete the bedding as 

 quickly as possible. See that all pot plants are well 

 staked, and that the balls of the plants are thoroughly 

 well soaked before planting. Only carry sufficient 

 plants to the beds that can be"^ di.spo'sed of the 

 same day, otherwise, if large quantities* are dumped 

 down at the various beds, the work of the Inside 

 Department will have been in vain during the past 

 six months, and many plants in excellent condition 

 when leaving the frame yard will be wrecks in less 

 than a day. 



Spring Bedding.— Plant out Wallflowers, Sweet 

 WiUiams, Canterbury Bells, &c., as they become fit, 

 endeavouring to get them established before the ex- 

 pected hot days of July and August. Propagate all 

 other spring bedders according to requirements. 



Saveet Peas.— Place the tallest stakes in position 

 before the Peas reach the tops of the last sticks. 

 Where extra fine flowers and stems are required keep 

 the side shoots pinched out; mulch the rows Avith 

 some good manure; spray over Avith clear soot Avater 

 after hot days. 



Herbaceous Borders. — Carefuly watch all newly 

 planted herbaceous plants for water. If they appear 

 stunted and refuse to grow it is generally a sign that 

 the crowns are parched. Staking Avill noAV require 

 considerable time ; this operation requires to be done 

 in a perfectly natural way. Hazel pea stakes placed 

 around the plant, so that it is sui:)ported and yet not 

 lumched, is perhaps one of the best .systems. Strong 

 groAving Delphiniums, Dahlias, Hyacinthus candi'^ 

 cans, Gladiolus, &e., are best staked singly. 



Summer Chrysanthemu.ms. — Pinch the tips of the 

 leading shoots and 'endeavour to form good shapely 

 bushes. Stake out thinly and give Aveak doses of 

 manure water. Watch (•ar(>fully for any sign of 

 leaf miner and greenfly. 



Roses. — Continue to tie in the slioots of the 

 climbing Roses. Where extra fine floAvers are re- 

 quired attend to the feeding, Avatering and dis- 

 Inidding. Keep the hoe at Avork on the beds and 

 boidei's, and keep a sharp look out for insect pests. 



Pinks.- As soon as the old-fa siiioned Florist's 



