io8 



IKISii GARDENING 



art- gatlHTi'd priiiu' out all uniurfssary \\<mkI; 

 tlionniglily syniigi- tin- tifi's with a strong insert i- 

 cide if signs of Kiil Si>idir are present; txiu.sf tin- 

 fruits of Si-a KagU\ I'riucfss of Wales and ctlier 

 late soits to all i)iissil)le light and air. If |Missil>le. 

 fasten a few lights (.ver the trees; this will hasten 

 the ripening and iniprovi' the flavour of the Iruits. 

 only eare must he taken to seeurely fasten theiu In 

 the" wail. Where voung trees have made raid< 

 growth It would i>e advi.sahle to lift them, eutting 

 liaek the strongest roots and any to|) roots that 

 are lorniiiig. When linished give a tlmnmgh soak- 

 ing of elear water. , 



l'i,.\NTi\<; Fkuit Tukks.— \Vhere hush trees are to 

 \)j planted this season, make a journey to the 

 nursery where it is proi)osed to i)urehase. a?k to 

 see the fruit foreman, anil tell him e.xai-tly your 

 requirements; he is the best judge and will give 

 you the hemdit of his experienee. Have the 

 ground in readiness so that they may l)e got in at 

 onee. Soak the roots and eut off all raggeil ends, 

 and sever any hraiulu-s that may have heeii 

 lu-oken in transit. I'lant very firm, hut do not 

 puddle the ground l)y planting when it is wet. In 

 the ea.se of taking old trees out anil replanting 

 with new ones, remove all the soil to a depth of 

 two feet and ten feet in diameter at the very least, 

 t^hoidd this suhsoil .be eold elay plaee six inehes of 

 broken bricks and a slate or tile direetly under 

 the tree to keep tliem from going down. I'se the 

 best loam obtaniahle in replanting, remend)ering 

 it has to last a good numl)er of years. 



The Apple Crop. — This seems to be another un- 

 favourable Apple season by reports issued in the 

 iiarilciirrs' Chrunicle. I am happy to say we 

 are blessed with a heavy erop, whieli will tax our 

 fruit room to the utmost, and since the heavy 

 rains they are sw^elling well; young trees planted 

 during the past tl ree seasoi's have iiad to be 

 lieavily thinned, and are making cleun, .^tK^n-.' 

 growth. It was most noticeable that the old re- 

 maining trees, closely i)runed each year, dro])i)ed 

 a consideral)le amount of fruit din-ing the hot 

 weather, althougli kept mulched and supplied with 

 water both at the root and overhead, l)y syring- 

 ings, whilst young trees w-ere swelling good crojjs. 

 I tliink more than ever, after this season, that it 

 is advisable to take out a few old trees each 

 season and plant young ones; also give tlieui 

 quarters to themselves, and not by the side of the 

 walks. MS i> so often done. 



Southern and Western Counties. 



By Mr. J. Matthews, Gardener to Sir Eicliard 



Musgrave, Bart., Tourin, Cappoquin, County 



Waterford. 



The Kitchen Cai;i)I..v. 

 Cabbages. — Plants intended for early s])riiig use 

 should be j)lanted in their permanent quarters 

 during the month, as soon as the ground is vacant. 

 The most forward i)lants may be planted on an 

 early border for cutting in March and April. If 

 they are to follow a crop of Onions or Peas a 

 thorough digging will be all that is required, as 

 the ground will be rich enough. Plant fiom 15 to 

 18 inches according to the variety. 



Carrots. — The main crop should be lifted when 

 fully grown, as there is a tendency to split if a 

 spell of wet weather conies on. Store the roots in 

 a cool shed, or behind a north wall, covering ea'-li 

 layer with sand or fine coal ashes. 



Cauliflowers.— Make another sowing during the 

 month in a cold frame, prickin<j them off a few 



inehes apart wImm large enough, anti glow a? 

 hardy as possiide. 



Cei'eh\ .— 'Ihe earthing up should be continued 

 when c<ndilious are stntable lor the work. It is 

 in seasons like the present that disease nuikes its 

 api)earance. Puk off the iilfert.d leaves and burn 

 them, sjiraving the plani> uiili liie same uii.xture 

 as is used for I'otaloes. 



Lktti'( K.— ScmI ^own last month will require 

 thinning, and these may be transplanted in eold 

 frames and on warm burdt-rs for winter use. 



O.N'ioNK. — Continue to harvest the l)ulbs as they 

 become rii)e; have them quite dry before storing 

 away. Keep the beds that were .sown last month 

 elear of weeds, and where seedlings an- too thick 

 thin them out and transi)lant in other qmirters. 



I'oT.vioKS. — Continue lifting tubers as they be- 

 come ready iluring fine days; sek-ct the seed size 

 wlieii picking and store separate in a cool, airy 

 phu-e w'here light can reach them. Those kept f(tr 

 table u.se may be stored in cool, dark I'ellar.-*, ex- 

 I'luding the air from them. 



'I'm: l''l!i:iT (iAKOKN. 



The geneial storing of triiit is now coniing on. 

 and if the fruit room has not had its ainiual 

 cleaning this work should 1)0 done at onee. All 

 the shelves and woodwork shoidd be thoroughly 

 washed with hot watci- niid \\ir walls white-washed 

 with hot lime. Give all ventilation ])ossible until 

 storing time. 



Apples in this iieighboiu'hood are a very heavy 

 croj) in si)ite of the long drought, and early 

 varieties are ripening finite ten days earlier than 

 usual. Gather the differt-nt sorts as they become 

 fit. handling them as car<'fully as ])Ossible to avoid 

 bruising. Plums and Pears are very easily 

 damaged. 



Late PE.\cHi:s reciuire to be looked over daily for 

 ripe fruits, which nuiy be stoii'd in boxes lined 

 with soft wood wool covered with tissue paper. 



Stuawuerries. — Some of the varieties were shy 

 of throwing cut runiKM-s owing to the dry weather. 

 When the runners are suflicieiitly rooted continue 

 the planting. eom])leting the woik bifure the end 

 of the month. ollierwise""it is lietl( r left over until 

 si)iing. 



The Pleasure GRoi;;.ios. 



The flower garden will be losing its brightness 

 anfl some of the l)eds getting < xiiausted; these may 

 be cleared out and ])repared for sj)ring bedding 

 plants. Ticiicli the ground if i)ossible; the results 

 well re))iiy the extra hit)our. Push on ail arrears 

 nf propagation, and if the .stock is ditiicult to make 

 up it is a wise ])lan to lift a h'W of the old phints 

 and pot them up for spring cuttings. 



Border Carnations. — The layers will now be 

 rooted and should be severed from the parent 

 1)1 ants and left for a few days to recover the check 

 iu'fore lifting. Autinnn planting is to be recom- 

 mended to get the best results, unless on very 

 heavy ground; in this case i)ot the layers into 

 three or four-inch pots, and winter in cold frames, 

 guarding against dampness. 



Violets.— Th' friuiies should he put in readiness 

 for these, and tlie plants put in towards the end of 

 the month, shading for a few days mitil estab- 

 lished, afterwards give all air possible. 



Svvei't Peas for early flowering sliotdd be sown 

 towards the end of the month. Sow in four-inch 

 pots and grow in frames close to the gla.ss. Bulbs 

 should be ordered at once and i)lanted as soon as 

 possible, either in the beds or potted up for 

 forcing. 



