Collection of Vegetables exliil)ited by B. H. Barton, Esq., D.L., Straffan House, Stiaffan, Kildare 

 (Gardener, Mr. Streeter). From seeds supplied by Messrs. Hogg & Robertson, Mary Street, 

 Dublin. 



as early as possible ; finest species and varieties are 

 ColcJiirum speciosum, and the varieties rubium 

 and alhum. ('. giganteum, with large, handsome, 

 lilac pink flowers, C. nutumnaJe, C. autumnale 

 alhum plenum and others, are all ornamental in 

 shrubberies and anywhere that the large leaves 

 will not be too conspicuous when dying down in 

 early summer. 



Others which should be pUmted early are 

 Chionodoxas, Scillas, such as sibirica and hifolia, 

 Erytltroniums, of which there are numerous beaviti- 

 ful American species loving damp places and 

 hating to be long out of the soil. Fritillarias, 

 especially the smaller flowered, early blooming 

 kinds, oiight to be procured and planted as soon as 

 possible, most of the failures with these small 

 bulbs being due to their l)eing kept dry too long. 

 Snowdrops, as a matter of fact, should be planted 

 while still in leaf, for they hate disturbance when 

 dormant, and resent strongly being kept out of the 

 soil. 



Leucojums too, particularly 7y. vprnum and its 

 varieties, grow much stronger if planted as early 

 as po.ssible. By this time the majority of rock 

 plants have finished blooming, and a considerable 

 amount of planting can be proceeded with ; among 

 other things bulbs may be put in in selected places. 

 Colonies of dnonocloxan, scilla i^ibirica, S. hi folia, 

 white and pink. Crocuses of many colours. Tulip 

 species such as T. {hisysfemon, T. Fosteri, T. 

 Eichlni, T. Bafalini, T. Bageri, T. montann, T. 

 pulchelhi, and so on, also Narcissvs minor and 

 minimus, N. moscliafu.'^, N. trianclrus, N. ryrht- 

 minrus and .V. hulhocodium, all rejoice in sunny, 

 very well drained spots among stones, and give 

 g&eat beauty and interest to the eai'ly spring 

 months. 



FORW.\RD. 



Allotments. 



The drought has caused seiious loss to allotment 

 holders. They were the first users to be re- 

 stricted with water in districts where the scarcity 

 demanded economy. However, apart even from 

 water restrictions, crops which were never watered 

 by artificial means, such as Potatoes and root 

 crops, have suffered tremendou.sly by the absence 

 of rain. There are a number of cases of Potatoes 

 planted in the beginning of May which, at the 

 time of writing, with the exception of a few 

 tantalizing droy)s, have not luid a .shower of rain 

 since being planted. These crops have made but 

 little growth, and have every yjrospect of ripening 

 prematurely with consequent loss. Tf Potatoes, etc.. 

 have suffered badly the condition of autiunn and 

 winter Cabbages and Cauliflowers is even wor.se. 

 The planting time was postponed in the hope of 



rain, but day followed day and instead of rain 

 the temperature rose still higher. In some sandy 

 soils the greens were planted and watered every 

 day until rooted in the new ground, and it is 

 questionable now whether the endless, tiresome job 

 of carrying water has been in vain. 



The lessons to be learned from prolonged dry 

 weather are the advantages of deep cultivation 

 and manuring. It has been surprising on well 

 cultivated plots the resistance to drought even 

 vegetable crops are capable of. When we "also take 

 into consideration that by far the greater propor- 

 tion of the constituents of these crops is water one 

 wonders from where have they managed to abtain 

 moisture to live and grow. 



Absence of Weeds.— Another striking effect of 

 the drought is the absence of weeds on plots which 

 were hoed and weeded in the usual manner after 

 the rows of crops were above the ground in the 

 spring. The small seeds of Chickweed and 

 Groundsel have positively refused to grow, and 

 after-weeding has been reduced to a minimum. 

 Even if these small seeds of weeds germinated, the 

 lack of moisture in the surface soil caused their 

 early collapse, so high was the temperature of the 

 soil at midday. However, the absence of weeds 

 does not compensate one for the loss and dis- 

 appointment which is the experience of many 

 allotment holders this season. 



PoT.\TO Spr.wing. — The restrictions on the use 

 of water by allotment holders as mentioned above, 

 has meant, so far as we here are concerned, prac- 

 tically no potatoes have been sprayed. Although 

 it is yet early to speak of wluit may happen to 

 the latest , crops of Potatoes,, it is cei'tain the 

 mid-season crops will be almost free from blight, 

 even without the spraying. Blight is, of course, 

 favoured by moist conditions in June and July, 

 and- these months being so dry disease so far is 

 practically non-existent. 



Cauliflowers. — Early Cauliflowers are such a 

 valual)le crop that it is worth while taking some 

 trouble to obtain success. The seeds may be sown 

 outside; if the soil is poor .so much the' better to 

 get sturdy plants for the winter. The .seedling 

 plants should ,be transplanted in firm ground about 

 foiu' inches apart. Tf frames are availalile no 

 difficulty is experienced in getting plants to survive 

 the winter. Protection should only be given in 

 severe weather. 



Herbs.— Tn dry weather cut herbs. Sage, Thyme 

 and other Herbs are useful when dried for tlie 

 winter, and on tlie Continent these plants are 

 grown extensively for this purpo.5e alone. Their 

 practice . is to cut the herbs, and tie them in 

 bunches, hanging them on lines stretched near the 

 ceiling in open sheds. Cut before the plants seed. 



