SEPTEMBER 



IRISH GARDENING. 



141 



thoroug-h ripening- of the remaining- canes. These 

 canes are likely to be short this year, as the continual 

 dry weather retarded growth. In good ground, and 

 where liberal mulching of manure was given last spring, 

 very fair growth has been made. 



Strawberries.— Continue to make new plantations, 

 and treat the soil and plants as described in a previous 

 issue, p. 127. Plants already put out should have liberal 

 and frequent waterings, and this should be done in the 

 evening in preference to any other time. 



Watering Fruit Trees. — This is important in the 

 case of wall fruit trees, especially those carrying crops. 

 In a season like the present such trees suffer very much 

 from the drought. Late apples, such as Cox's Orange 

 Pippin, Blenheim Orange Pippin, and Newton Wonder, 

 will benefit if water and liquid manure be applied to the 

 roots. Such varieties continue to grow and develop 

 their fruit till late in the autumn. 



Summer Pruning. — If this work has not yet been 

 done, it should be taken in hand without delay. The 

 shoots have now a matured appearance, and by the 

 removal of a portion of these, as described in last 

 month's Irish Gardening, it will ensure ripening of 

 the wood and buds, thereby contributing to the future 

 fruitfulness of the trees. In the remarks on this subject 

 in last month's Irish Gardening, p. 127, a misprint 

 occurs in the first sentence — the word " natural " should 

 read "matured." 



The Vegetable Garden. 



By J. G. Toner. 



SPRING CABBAGES.— Every gardener, amateur 

 or professional, prides himself on the earliness of 

 his cabbages in spring. And the earlier they are 

 the prouder is he, but with a proper pride. There are 

 many factors that make for complete success in this 

 detail of gardening. Amongst them is the selecting 

 of a variety that is naturally quick to mature, but must 

 have no tendency to bolt, as the formation of flower 

 stems instead of nice little white hearts is termed. 

 Again, the soil has of course a large influence, and so 

 has the position of the garden itself. But more im- 

 portant, perhaps, than these is the date of planting. 

 For however early the variety may be it cannot possibly 

 do itself justice if the plants have not had time to make 

 themselves at home, as it were, before the advent of 

 cold wet weather and sharp frosts. Therefore let the 

 early ones be put out in their final quarters, if possible, 

 during the first week of this month. Provided the 

 right variety is used, the soil in good order, and the 

 planting done at this period, a sufficiency of nice cab- 

 bages will come to hand mayhap in April, and with 

 them complete satisfaction. 



Tomatoes. — Whether in the open or under glass 

 some defoliation of these plants may be practised. 

 As much advantage of the sun's influence as possible 

 will thereby be utilised in the ripening of the fruit. 

 Moderation, however, is advised. Now and again the 

 lower leaves or portions of them can be cut off so that 



the sun's rays may play directly on the fruit. At the 

 end of the season, which, so far as these are concerned, 

 in the open at any rate, will be the present month, those 

 that have not ripened may be cut off^, taking the whole 

 trusses, and if hung up in a warm greenhouse or even 

 in the kitchen they will colour all right, but will prove 

 much inferior in flavour to those that matured naturally. 

 However, " when all fruits fail welcome haws," and 

 tomatoes artificially ripened are not so bad at all ; in 

 fact they appear to be very good when the others have 

 vanished. 



Cauliflowers. — Prick out seedlings to stand the 

 winter in frames or positions in which they can easily 

 be protected in hard weather. 



Tripoli Onions. — Let the bulbs that have reached 

 full size be raised and treated to a roasting in the sun- 

 niest part of the garden for a few days. Afterwards 

 they may be cleaned and hanked or bunched and stored 

 in a cool, dry place. 



Spinach. — The prickly variety is the one for winter 

 and spring. Thinning of August sowings must be seen 

 to. The thinnings will make a nice tender dish just 

 now. Encourage growth as much as possible by 

 hoeing, at the same time cutting off" the weeds in the 

 flower of their youth. 



Vegetable Marrows.— If assisted by copious water 

 supplies these v/ill go on bearing for a long while yet : 

 that is if the fruits have been cut young. When, how- 

 ever, they are required for jam-making or preserves 

 they must be allowed to ripen or nearly do so. 



Parsley. — Everybody almost wants a sprig of 

 parsley now and again, and often, especially in winter, 

 one must have it of their own or do without it. In 

 some soils and districts there appears to be much diffi- 

 culty in coaxing it to grow. Tliis, however, may in 

 nearly every case be met by using one or other of the 

 various soil fumigants, and also by dressing the surface 

 of the soil with very fine coal ashes which had been 

 previously sprayed with paraffin. At this season this 

 bitter topdressing is hardly called for, as the flies — 

 well, let us say, have flown. But just try it in spring. 



Leeks. — The blanching of these may be continued 

 so long as growth proceeds. Their mildness commends 

 them to many for the flavouring of various dishes, and, 

 as a matter of fact, when properly cooked and accom- 

 panied by a white sauce of the proper quality, they 

 form a " dainty dish fit to lay before a king," as the 

 nursery rhyme has it. 



Moulding. — The earthing-up of late planted broccoli, 

 sprouts and curly kale is a rather important work. 

 They all have to stand right through the winter and 

 turn in for certain in spring. That is the season when 

 the vegetable grow-er's weak points are most apparent, 

 therefore such work must be kept in mind and duly 

 performed. Wishing in the scarce time won't make 

 plenty. The late crops of celery will be later still if 

 the moulding -the final moulding— is deferred as long 

 as possible. The precaution of having the soil in 

 proper condition for the work should be taken, so that 

 if the necessity arises it can be quickly done. 



