96 



IRISH GARDENING 



Watili any that aio roiontly i)lamid, as dryi 

 at tlu- root is fatal to good results. 



flAKDY Feuns. — TIhsc liaiidsoiiu' KtMiis must 

 l>f allowfd to ia'coiiic dry; a gentle spray o 

 the fronils. and a tlmrougii soaKiiig at Ihr i 

 are most essential. 



Lavenukh. — The Lavender spikes reciuire U> 

 eut and sent into the house to dry for the lii 

 press, ete.. before tlu-y are fully out. When 

 Jlowers are picked carefully clip the ludges 

 l)ushes into sliape. 



Southern and Western Counties. 



By Mu. J. M.vrTHEWs, Gardener to Sir Kiehard 

 *Musgrave, Bart., Tourin, Cappoquin, County 

 Watcrford. 



Till-: KiTcuiiN Garden. 



TuK coniiuiKJiis spell of dry weather has l)een very 

 trying on vegelahle growth, and has added con- 

 siderably io the labour in the Kitclu'n Garden. 

 The advantage of trenching the ground lia.s been 

 fully borne out this season; crops growing on such 

 land have made fair progress, but watering has 

 been a necessity to gave complete failure on 

 ground that was merely dug over. 



BuoccoLi. — The planting of most vegetables will 

 be in arrear. but late batches of Broccoli can be 

 put out during the month, with a good chance of 

 turning in at their proper season. The planting 

 of JiCeks, Savoys and other winter greens should 

 be completed as soon as possible. 



Cabbage. — A further sowing may be made during 

 the first week, and another about the end of the 

 month. Early Offenham, Ellam's Early and 

 Drummond's First of All are all good, and may 

 be relied on for this sowing. 



C.iuLifLOWER. — The last days of tiic mouth will 

 be early enough to sow for a supply next June. 

 Sow in a sheltered .position, and when the seed- 

 lings are large enough prick them off into cold 

 frames; the lights will only be required in wet 

 or frosty weather. 



Celeky. — The early trench will require some 

 soil put to them, adding a few inches at one 

 time, pressing it round tlie plants; it is advisai)le 

 to give them a good soaking of water the previous 

 evening. 



Lettuce. — Sow lor a winter and spring supply 

 during the month; Winter White and All the Year 

 Kound stand well. 



Onions. — Towards the end of the inontli sow 

 Tripolies; Ailsa Craig. Cranston's E.xcelsior and 

 Sterling Exhibitor may be included, and are of 

 a higher quality than the former. Plants showing 

 signs of maturing may be pulled and left on the 

 ground to ripen off, when they can ))e lifted under 

 cover until a convenient time for cleaning and 

 storing away. 



Potatoes. — Dig up second earlies as soon as the 

 haulm changes colour, utilising the ground with 

 green crops or Strawberries. 



Spinach. — Sow prickly or winter varieties^ in- 

 cluding a few^ drills of Spinach Beet, which will 

 always give a picking. 



ToM.\TOES. — When early c-rops are required, and 

 a proper temperature, can be maintained during 

 the winter, seed shoidd !)e sown during the month. 

 A temperature of 55 to 60 degrees with a dry 

 atmosphere is necessary to keep them going Po't 

 on the seedlings when large enough, and aim at 

 getting them established in their fruiting pots 

 before winter sets in. Plants ripening fruit require 



careful watering, pick the iruil as soon as coloured, 

 as there is a tianger of them bursting with a 

 sudtlen rise in the tenii)eraturc. 



Tuu.Mi's. — Make a good sowing of Ivirly Snow- 

 ball Ked Globe or Golden Ball. These may be left 

 in the ground and pulled as re(juired for use. 



TuK Fruit GAiioi.N. 



STitAwuKituiKs. — Push Oil willi the planting of 

 I he young runiu'rs when the garden is in a suit- 

 able I'ondilion. The earlier they are got in the 

 lietter lo enable them to get well estal>lished, and 

 luiild uj) i-rowns before tlie winter. Clean away 

 all weeds and runners from old i)lantations, and 

 keej) the hoe in use during the autunni. 



Kasi'behiues and liOGANBEiuuEs. — As soou as the 

 fruit is gathered cut away the old canes, and thin 

 out the young ones to the required number; tie 

 these loosely to the supports against the wind 

 breaking them over. All weeds and rul)bish may 

 then be removed and burned; water well with 

 liquid manure if available. 



Pe.\ches and Nectarines. — Trees under glass are 

 liable to attacks of Red Spider during the period 

 of ripening; when the fruit is picked give them 

 a thorough syringing daily until clean. Cut away 

 the old fruiting wood and encourage the ripening 

 ol th(> young shoots by allowing all air possible 

 through the house. Guard against dryness at the 

 roots. 



Figs. — These require a plentiful supply of 

 moisture at the roots, especially when they are 

 restricted, also occasional applications of liquid 

 manure. Pinch the young growths at the fifth 

 leaf and cut out weak and surplus wood. 



Wasps are very destructive amongst ripening 

 fruit and must be dealt witli. Destroy all nests 

 l)o.ssible. Cyanide of Potassium dropped into the 

 hole and moistened with water generally ends 

 their career. This can be done in the daytime 

 when it is easier to follow their flight. Peaches, 

 Plums and Pears must be protected, small pieces 

 of tiffany secured over choice fruits repays the 

 little trouble taken. 



The Pleasuije Grounds. 



The principal work in this quarter will be the 

 keeping of the surroundings clean and tidy. The 

 flower beds and borders will have a gay appear- 

 ance and, to maintain this all spent Bowers and 

 decayed leaves should be picked off, the grass 

 edges trinnned and paths hoed and raked. 



Provision nuist now be made to raise a stock 

 of material to carry on the next season's plan; 

 cuttings of Geraniums, Hi'iiotropes, Verbenas, 

 Fuschias and other such plants that are used in 

 the flower qiuirters shoidd be got in. Geraniums 

 are generally placed in boxes of gritty soil and 

 stood in full sunshine, and the other subjects 

 mentioned require a frame and kept shaded from 

 bright sunshine till rooted. 



Border Chrysanthemums will be coming into 

 flower and should be tied up to thin supports, 

 otherwise the weight of bloom will l)reak them 

 over. A little artificial manure hoed in round the 

 plants will help to increase the size of flowers, and 

 add richness of colour. 



Yew and other hedges should be trimmed during 

 the month; very little growth is on them this 

 year ownng to the drought, but they have a ragged 

 appearance. 



Rambler Roses that have finished flowering may 

 have the old wood cut out, and the young shoots 

 coming from the base secured to the poles and 

 trellises. 



