4« 



IRISH GARDENING. 



.1 liair iiK-lu-s ill K-iik;lli ^lioiiUI In- inidi- 

 lu- stook ; (lu- bark nuisi ilu-ii In- (.-.iif 

 (iilly liiisi'il. ImiI only Minii-iiMilly 

 to piMinil llu- siionto l>i- plaii-il 



ot nil c roiiiul I'ViMi-si/ed iViiil, 

 is Suiirisi'. Kor jfioonho'isi' a 

 as ircati'il in tlio opoii, it will 

 tliosi> who iia\«> not sown 



Ji-.iu-, 



l-ii;. -• shows tlif 

 si-ioii insiTtt'il. This uork 

 slioulil he iliMU- iiniikly so as 

 not to alliuv llu- out sinlaoos of 

 ilio soioi: .iiul sio.k to luuomc 

 tooilry. riio sto.k sho.ilil ihon 

 ho lioinul with lallia slriiu^ or 

 oollon tiiri-ail. anil i^rartiiii; wax 

 or clay applioil iminodiati'ly . 

 Clay for yralliiig- is propaivil 

 y inixini^f iwo-lliirds reloiitivo 

 rlay with ono-tliii-tl oow man- 

 Mio'. riio clay shoiiiil !h> oh- 

 laini-il at a ili'plh of two fi'Cl. 



Mill all small stoiu-s ami i;iil 

 ivnum-il hi-Con- mixiiiv;-. Tiu' 

 ini\liir-c iniisl ho inaiK- lo llu- 

 i-onsisti'iK-_\- of putty aiul .ipplicil 

 lo the slock with the hands. 

 It should bo put on to at least 



an inch in thickness aiouiul the 

 stock. If the hands are ilippcil 

 in water occasionally this work 

 ran be tinished olV more elfectu- 

 ally. Cirafiiiii;- wax prepared 

 laiiied cheaply from any seeds- 



The X'egetable CJaiden. 



Hy J. Ci. Tom K. 



ROLND OR .SUMMER -SPINACH.- None of the 

 other varieties can compare with this for quality, 

 and where this is the first consideration strict 

 attention must be g-iven to successional sowingfs durinj^- 

 the season so thai a full supply may be had at all 

 limes. During- a spell of hot, dry weather it needs no 

 coaxing to show its flowers, ami unless a later sown 

 crop is just ready to lake its place a most undesir- 

 able blank occurs. The first sow^ing- can be properly 

 made during- this month, selecting a spot that is warm 

 and rich. The drills are drawn about one foot apart 

 and one inch deep. When the plants gain sufficient 

 strength a severe thinning will serve materiall\- in the 

 production of big fleshy leaves, such as gardener, cook 

 and consumer delight to see. 



ToMATOi-.s. — The most forward plants ought now be 

 getting well established in three or four inch pots, and 

 must not, above all things, be allowed to suffer for want 

 of light. Hungry, thin and struggling excuses for 

 tomato plants require more skill than the ordinary 

 gardener possesses to enable them to give a first rale 

 crop. In the matter of temperature it will be well to 

 hasten slowly so that ;i strong and sturdy growth is 

 maintained. With improving weather conditions lhe\ 

 will come along quickly enough to please even the most 

 impatient. There are, of course, an almost infinite 

 number of varieties, and those w^ho are conversant with 

 them may be safely left to choose for themselves. It 

 may, however, be of much benefit lo others lo name a 

 choice and most ilependable sort that produces bunches 



bout SIX to the jiound- it 

 111 IV.iine culture, as well 

 .eldom f;iil to please, and 

 ieeds yet might safeh 



•led it 



earii, 

 of l\ 

 pl..e. 



i.iii.ou IK, .\i n MN f.iANT. -To succeetl the 



• variety that w.is mentioiu'il last month seeils 



Autumn t"ii;int miglit bi' sown soon in a box 



I in a cold fr.ime of grei-nhousi'. The\ will turn 



in very usefully in late sumnu'r ami early .-lutumn. 



l.Kl KS. Marly in the month ;i full sowing to be maile. 

 I'lants resulting from this, with liberal culture, will be 

 quite good i-nough for ordinary purposes ; those who 

 require " liig bullies" for sliow will probably have 

 plants ;i few inches high at Ihis date. It would be a 

 bright idea if the prize-winners were compelled to e.-it 

 them toy the edification of an admiring public. 



TiAS. - Everybody's favourite vegetable, as the\ 

 seem lo be, must not be forgotten, and a pint or two 

 may be safi'ly committetl to the earth during the month. 

 If sown very early, or if the soil is of a sticky and r.-- 

 Ienli\e nature, one of the round-seeded sorts, such ;is 

 Sangsler's No. i Improved, which is very hard}- am! 

 dwarf, might be wisely selected. The Pilot, loo, is 

 really good, and grows nearly twice as tall. Towards. 



, the end of the month Gradus is about the 

 best ; ii carries a ver}' Wf-ighty crop of fine big pods, 

 and if it is decided lo make only one sowing at this 

 period ii would be well to wait a little ;ind depend on 

 this. It will be ready about end of Jinie or early July, 

 according to soil and w^eather. 



Whitk TiRNtPS. Kxperieneed growers of vegetables 

 very often sow these between the drills of earl}- peas 

 because of the shelter afTorded. If the ground is not 

 in tip-top condition narrow openings might be made 

 till' depth of the spade, about fifteen inches apart, and 

 a la\er of good fat rotten manure put in, returning the 

 soil or part of it again. Seeds of a small and quick 

 sort, like Early Milan, can then be sown with eveiy 

 prospect of an early and welcome crop. 



Ci-:lerv. — On a hotbed or in a warm greenhouse 

 seeds of the pink and white varieties should be sown 

 quite early in the month. \'ery often there is a tempta- 

 tion to sow small seeds like these too thickly ; no 

 greater mistake could be made, for when pricking-off 

 time comes the delicate little plants must undergo much 

 hardship in the process of singling, and such thread- 

 like weaklings rarely fulfil expectations. Owning lo the 

 facilit}- with which it can be blanched, a pinch of the 

 variety known as White Plume might be put in too. 



Jkrus.\lem Artichoke. — In some way or other a 

 supply of vegetables can be eked out during summer 

 and autumn, even by the careless. It is usually in 

 winter and spring that the famine takes place. This 

 vegetable, if cultivated, will suffice lo, in part anyhow, 

 prevent this. There is a ver\- fine white variety lo be 

 had, and it should always be given the preference, un- 

 less, indeed, it is fount! that pink suits one's com- 

 plexion better. The while form is in every way much 

 superior, and whole sets can be planted just now in 

 drills, at least three feet apart, covering the tubers 

 i|uite six inches, and given about one foot between 

 each. It is an excellent vegetable, and comes into 

 use at a scarce time. 



