IRISH GARDENING 



[05 



Reviews, 



Successful Gardens for every Amateur.* 



of ;l UM 

 itratc ( 



111' 1) 



l)Vllilishr',l 

 a srlisll.lc 



■Xpo 



ahliv 

 a MUar 



; tho tit 



Chilian Xitratr (\. nil,, III, M', aiul 

 ion <,1 tlir i-alionai iis- -,1 niannivs in -anlms. 

 The ostensible object ot the pubUcatioii is t,, innvase 

 the use of nitrate of soda^ bnt no extrava-ant rlaims 

 are made ff,r the use of this essential In'tilisn- by 

 itself. Due importance is given to the proper use of 

 other manures, particularly farmyard dung, which 

 gives bulk and adds humus so essential for retaining 

 ?he readily soluble elements. Excellent advice is 

 given as to the cultivation of the soil, the quantiti?? 

 and kinds of manures necessary fn 

 giowth, the right time to apply nit 

 gether with the methods of applicati 

 to ai)]-)ly. 



rndoubtedly nitrate of soda, properly ap])lied at 

 the i-ight time and undrr proper condiiions, is a 

 wondiTful (■:•,,])-], lodnc'i'. and we commend tliis little 

 l)tibrK-ati()n to oni' ivadors as nuich foi' its valuable 

 information on gardening as for the reasonable and 

 moderate claims for nitrate of soda. 



Town Gardening. 

 By Mary Hami'DEN. 



This is one of the Home Garden series published 

 by Thornton & Butterworth. The author is a well 

 known writer on flowers and gardens, and in the 

 book under notice has compiled a mass of informa- 

 tion which must be of the utmn-t bni.dit to every 

 town gardener. The advice and sn^^csiions given 

 are ostensibly for the amatetir and novice, never- 

 thele-^s there is much for even the nioi'o t xpci imciMJ 

 ])rofessional to study with prollt. A great deal ot 

 the information is the result of the author's own 

 exjx'rienee and observation, and is generally 

 practical and to the ponit. It is hardly possible 

 to touch on all the aspects of town gardening 

 dealt with by the author, btit there are few possi- 

 bilities not considered. Work for the various 

 months is outlined, with directions for accomplish- 

 ing it. Many suggestions are made for the treat- 

 ment of gardens in different aspects; copious lists 

 of plants are given, and many exam])les ai'e shown 

 by means of photographs ancl line drawings. It is 

 a book we can heartily reconnnend to anyone 

 interested in gardening, but particularly to those 

 in or near large cities. If we have any fault to 

 find it is in the constant disregard of the right nse 

 of capital letters when writing generic names. 

 Why, if the book is written at all, these names 

 should not be correctly written is not easy to see 

 The olive-green .binding is neat and tasteftil and 

 the print clear and easily read. We have no doulit 

 " Town Gai'dening " will be well received. 



The Eighteenth and Final Report of Woburn 

 Fruit Farm. 



As indicated the Report undei' notice is the last 

 of a series commenced in 1897, twenty-fotii- years 

 ago. The series comi:)rises the most important con- 

 tributions on the science ol fruit growing ever made 

 ill this coimtry. 

 Conducted jointly by the Duke of Bedfm'd ami 



Mr. Spencer Pickering, M.A., F.R.S., the reports 

 are remarkable for the painstaking care with 

 wbii'li the details of the experiments were worked 

 out. While not a little controversy has raged 

 lound som(> of the conclusions set forth, yet, in 

 the main, the results have been such as to justify 

 the undertaking, and fruit growing and horti- 

 culture generally have benefited to a degree 

 perhaps no yet fully realised. 



The Report under notice opens with a brief 

 Foreword by Dr. E. J. Russell, followed by Mr. 

 Spencer Pickering's last report, dealing with 

 " Fruiting in Consecutive Years," " Table Show- 

 ing Smnmarv of Results ancl Financial Returns 

 from Fruit Plots." 



Kxliaustive tables in connection with the fruit- 

 im^ oi various varieties are inchtded in an 

 Appendix, which contains also Meteorological 

 ibsults from 1895-1917. On page 28 begins a list of 

 tlu' plots referred to in the Ap])endix. sliowing the 

 treatment as regards prtmiu'j,, manuring. iVe. 



As, with two exceptions, the various rejiorts can 

 be obtained at prices varying from Is. \^d. to 

 Gs. fruit growers can easily possess themselves of 

 a first-rate fruit growers reference library. 



Allotments. 



We were judging a group of allotments recently 

 which was such a good example of what can .be 

 done, that we here briefly record their methods. 

 This particular group is situated in the town, but 

 is so securely fenced that it is not overlooked from 

 the road, and gives the allotment holders and 

 their families a restful and seclusive garden. The 

 whole of the working arrangements are in the 

 hands of a committee appointed from among the 

 allotment holders. This eoimnitne ivnis the land 

 from the landlord, whose i( snousibility tliereafter 

 (•( ases, for the committee collects the rents from 

 the plot holders and sees that the rules they have 

 diawn up are observed. They are able, after pay- 

 ing all expenses, to have a surplus, which they 

 devote to ' awarding prizes for vegetables and 

 flowers. Almost every plot has a flower border, 

 and one large bed we noticed was filled with ex- 

 hibition Roses, which the plot holder— a shipyard 

 worker — had budded himself. Vegetables were 

 growing well in great variety. The whole place 

 was a real garden, and a model of what a group of 

 allotments can be. 



General Work. — Where winter Turnips have 

 been sown they will require thinning to about nine 

 inches apart in the rows. To encourage growth as 

 much as possible, stir the soil with the hoe and 

 give an occasional dusting with soot. Late crops 

 of greens, such as Sprouts, also benefit by having 

 the soil kept stirred about them, and this will 

 also keep the weeds down for the winter. Beet 

 which is not requir(>d for storing should be lifted 

 when it attains full size, or the roots will become 

 coarse if left in the ground. The leaves must be 

 carefully removed. It is better to lift Beet which 

 is full grown and store it temporarily than allow 

 it to remain in the ground. This has been a good 

 season for Tomatoes in frames and cold houses on 

 the allotments. The fruits shoidd now have the 

 benefit of all the sunshine possible, and leaves 

 shading the trusses removed, so that the ripening 

 may be natural. When eold weather is antici- 

 pated what green fruits remain nuiy be ripened in 

 the house. Until then, the leaves and frames 

 should be kept dry. Much can be done in Sept- 

 ember to get the plot in order. As the crops are 



