178 



IRISH GARDENING 



UIA KMHKR 



l'oli:it;e are particularly \aliiablo (or w iiilor 

 effect. An excellent subject for tiiis purpose is 

 Atripiex halimus. whicli makes lons,^, willowy 

 shoots, clotlieJ witli qlisteiiini^-, j^rev iea\es, 

 quite beautiful in winter. Santolina cliamac\- 

 parissus the " l.a\ eiider Col ton "-- is a duarl" 

 spreadiiii^- sliiub ol' i^real use for the front of a 

 shrubbery oi- lor a bed. Like the last-named, 

 Rosemary and l\uc are usctui in tlr\-, sunn\ 

 places, and may be used alouij' with (erusalem 

 sayfe, Phlomis fruticoso, and ^'rex and i^reen 

 leaved \arieties o( rock roses with j^ood 

 effect. 



The heaths, too, are etVeclive winter shrubs ; 

 already the pink Howers ol' ICrica medi- 

 terranea hybrida are bei^inning- to show coIolu', 

 and the Spikes of Hrica carnea are full of hope 

 and promise for a brig-ht new year. 



No mention of shrubs for winter effect would 

 be complete without a reference to the bush 

 ivies. These form handsome evergreens at any 

 time, but seem particularly pleasing in winter. 

 Just lately the ivies have been a mass of flowers, 

 quite attractive though less brilliantly coloured 

 than some. \'arieties are numerous, some with 

 leaves as large as laurels, others with tiny leaves 

 of various shapes ; gold, silver, dark glossy- 

 green, and bronzy-green sorts are procurable, 

 the whole combining to form a set of ever- 

 greens, too seldom properly used, especially 

 about towns, where many evergreens are 

 difficult to manage. 



Personal. 



WITH the issue of this number of Ikish (iARDKN- 

 IN(; the present Editor retires, and Mr. C I". 

 Ball, of the Royal Botanic Gardens. Glasnevin 

 takes his place m the editorship of the iournal. The 

 Editor, in saying "good-bye" to his readers, desires to 

 express liis gratitude to all the numerous contributors 

 who, during the past six years, have so generously and 

 whole-heartedly assisted him in the task of establishing 

 in this country a national and representative journal oi' 

 Irish Horticulture, and he hopes that the new Editor 

 will receive the same help and encouragement from 

 their hands. From the wider and more intimate know- 

 ledge of practical gardening possessed by Mr Ball, 

 Irlsh Garde.ning will, under his care and guidance, 

 increase in interest and usefulness, and become in very 

 reality what it has always striven to be — an important 

 factor in the development oi' Horticulture in this 

 country. 



Fruit Snn 



pmy 



ivs. 



Rv !.;. M. 



/IS spiayiiig h,is mow lu-eoiiu' one of tlii' essential 

 J'\^ items in the routine work of all orehards, anil 

 also with those who onl)- grow a small quanlitx 

 ol tVuil, a few notes on the various sprays, when these 

 should be applied, and the different proportions of the 

 ingredients used, may be a help as ui'll as a reminder 

 to those who aim at first-class fruit. 



Below will be found tiie three important sprays and 

 the various fruit trees on which they can be used — an 

 • ilternative spray for the winter work and an additional 

 owe for leaf-eating insects where they appear during 

 ilu' summer months. These sprays should be applii-ti 

 with a sprayer, but if this is not possible a very fitie 

 no/./.le syringe may be used. Care should be taken to 

 ensure that all the trees and bushes are thoroughly 

 welled with the spray, and that the under as well as the 

 upper surface of the leaves are sprayed. When the in- 

 gredients are mixed on the pn-mises the proportions 

 must be carefully adhered to. 



I . Winter spray for apples or pears where fungoid 

 pests are present, and for scab and spot, use in Decem- 

 ber a solution of 2 lbs. bluestone to 25 gallons watei-. 

 When the fruit is set and the leaves are open, spray with 

 the same material, using i lb. bluestone onl\' to the 25 

 gallons water. 



For these two sprayings the Bordeaux mixture ma\- 

 be used instead of the bluestone, but at the second 

 spraying, when the leaves are open and the fruit is set, 

 the Bordeaux mixture must be diluted with one-thiril 

 more water. The bluestone mixture will be found the 

 simplest, as it is more easily prepared. The Bordeaux 

 mixture consists of 2 lbs. copper sulphate (98 per cent.), 



1 lb. lime, freshly burnt, to 10 gallons of water. Use a 

 wooden tub, and dissolve in it the copper sulphate in 

 half the quantity of w'ater. When the lime has been 

 slaked to a fine powder mix it with the remaining water 

 ;ind pour into the copper solution. Keep all thorough!}- 

 stirred. 



2. The cleansing spray, for keeping the trees healthy 

 and the bark clean, to be used early in February, after 

 the pruning, on apples, pears, plums, damsons, cherries, 

 apricots and peaches in the open, gooseberries and red 

 and black currants, in the following proportions: - 



2 lbs. caustic soda (98 per cent.), )4 lb- soft soap to 10 

 gallons water. This spray must be used warm. 



3. For insects, to be used on all fruit trees where tly 

 of any sort is present — 2 lbs. quassia chips, i lb. of soft 

 soap to 10 gallons water. To prepare this, boil the 

 quassia chips in one gallon water, strain off the chips 

 and add the soft soap and water, bringing the quantity 

 up to 10 gallons. This spray must also be used warm. 



These three sprays are the important ones, and 

 should be regularly applied each year, but in addition 

 to them, and where leaf-eating insects are present on 

 gooseberries and currants during the summer, spray 

 with .Swift's Arsenate of Lead, which can be had from 

 D. 1\L Watson, Horticultural Chemist, 61 South Great 

 George's Street, Dublin. Full directions are given 

 with each bottle. The ingredients for the various sprays 

 given in these notes can also be had from this firm. 



