JULY 



IRISH GARDENING. 



109 



at Harristown House as a way leading to a wood be- 

 yond it suggests logical use in the scheme. 



It adds greatly to the attractiveness of a pergola 

 to have the walk flanked by borders filled with tall 

 herbaceous plants such as Lilium candidum. It is a 

 grave mistake to over elaborate the pergola, simplicity 

 of framework should be the ruling idea. Of course no 

 person of taste would tolerate paint being used. 

 Nothing must be done to take away attention from 

 the foliage and flowers. 



Is there any border plant grown that can give more 

 satisfaction than that most delightful hybrid pink, Mrs. 

 Sinkins? It is, perhaps, the commonest pink found in 

 gardens, but is nevertheless the rarest. It blooms most 

 freely, is beautiful in form, deliciously scented, and 

 flourishes under almost all circumstances. During the 



especially if the precaution be taken to remove the 

 blooms before the central florets are open. Another 

 type, not so much grown as might be, is the pa^ony- 

 flowered dahlia. They are very free-growing and 

 flower abundantly. They are most decorative as garden 

 subjects. 



On fruit trees during the past month, and especially 

 on those recently planted, numbers of sappy shoots 

 may have arisen from the lower parts of the stem or 

 from the stock. These twiggy growths, being not onlj^ 

 useless but exhausting to the head, ought to be speedily 

 removed. Care must be taken, however, to cut them 

 off" close to the main stem, otherwise if a bud is left it 

 will immediately push out into a shoot again. A sharp 

 knife is the best tool to use. In the case of cordons, if 

 there is a too vigorous growth of side-shoots, these 



Photo by] 



Pergola in the Grounds of Harristown House, Brannockstown. 



recent dry weather it has made the bravest of show, 

 although the soil was hard, dry, and riven with deep 

 cracks. Its leaves, covered with silvery bloom, resisted 

 transpiration and defied the hot sun that brought evident 

 distress to its less fortunately endowed companions in 

 the border. 



The planting out of dahlias has been receiving atten- 

 tion during the past month. Of the numerous types in 

 cultivation the Cactus variety is perhaps by far the most 

 popular. It is derived from Dahlia Juarezii, a Mexican 

 species, introduced into Europe as late as 1872, For 

 garden purposes there are two essential qualities in a 

 decorative dahlia. It must be free-flowering, with the 

 flowers carried erect on long stalks well above the 

 foliage. Personally, we prefer the single type. Grown 

 in clumps about four feet apart, and away from the shade 

 of trees, the single dahlia will give a glorious autumn 

 display of colour. It is also good as a cut flower, 



should be checked by pinching off the tips. The same 

 operation may be performed in the case also of bush 

 and other trees, if any particular branch or branches 

 show a tendency to so outgrow their fellows as to 

 destroy the symmetry of the tree. 



Good onion growers need not be told that success 

 can only be attained by constant hoeing. It is the all- 

 important factor in their growth and development. But 

 the hoeing must be done lightly — certainly no deeper 

 than an inch. The next important factor is the keeping 

 down of weeds, as weeds are fatal to the best results ; 

 but if the hoeing is rightly done and, as it ought to be 

 done, persistently there will he no weed trouble at all. 

 Feeding is also important. Some of the best growers 

 use a mixture of five or six parts soot, one part quick- 

 lime, and one part common salt. But if this stimulant 

 is used it must be understood that the quick-lime imme- 

 diately releases ammonia from the soot, and it will be 



