[88 



IRISH GARDENING 



DKCKMHKR 



or iiidcfd all. of the boards formiii>^ tin- bottoms of ihi' 

 boxes or barrels are removed, and placed on them 

 leniporarily, so that the'sticks may be easily readied 

 without distiirliini^ any appreei;ible iinantily of the 

 lu'.itiiij.; material. 



To.MAioKs. — These .ue always welcome, ami ilie 

 season can be lengtheiieii out \er\- consider.ihly hy the 

 artificial ripening of the latest fruits. The flavour and 

 >.iualit\ of fruit so treated, no doubt, is very inferior to 

 that of naturally matuied produce. Want of sufficient 

 light principally defies our efforts to fruit plants during 

 winter ; but the time is near when a start must be made 

 to have a crop as early as possible in spring. To this 

 end seeds may be sown soon. A steady heat of from 

 ()0^' to 70'^' is required. It will be much better to put 

 iliem in at regular distances apart rather than scatter 

 them indiscriminately, for when this is done they are 

 bound to be crowded, and consequently weak. In the 

 transferring of the young plants to small pots, whicii 

 should be done immediately they have made the first 

 pair of perfect leaves ; the advantages will be apparent 

 also, for nice balls of soil can he easily lifted with each 

 plant, thus ensuring that no check, a very important 



matter at this season, is given. A warm and verj' ligiil- 

 some position must be theirs, otherwise the\ will spindle 

 batlly. Cuttings are sometimes stiuck in autumn, but 

 they do not always prove satisfactorj-, as they lack the 

 constitution of seedlings. 



Dkic'.ING and TkK.NCHiNc;. — This is sometimesdiibbeci 

 ihe slack month as regards work in the vegetable 

 quarters ; there is really never aii)- such time. Work 

 there is in abundance if it is only called to mind and 

 done. Onion beds may be prepared now, likewise the 

 positions for peas and carrots and parsnips will be all 

 the better if the ground has been prepared for them 

 long in advance. When the soil is comfortably dry 

 digging and trenching must be seen to. By a regular 

 system of trenching not only are good soils much im- 

 proved by such deep cultivation, but even bad soils, 

 such as shallow ones resting on clay, can be brought 

 to a much higher standard. In dealing with the latter, 

 coal-ashes worked into the clay, together with the other 

 vegetable refuse, green or decayed, with or without 

 manure, will open it up to a great extent, therefore 

 draining it partially and making it warmer. A dose of 

 lime, too, a handful to the yard, will also prove ser- 

 viceable. 



The Winding Road 



There are many to sing us the doleful song 



Of the heart that is heavy with tears ; 

 Rut who will sing the dauntless song — 

 A marching measure that swings along — 

 Of the heart that has no fears? 



The joy of life is the forward road 



To the heart that is ready to ^o ; 

 There's a laugh and a jest at the end of the day. 

 .\nd a sweet calling voice from far away. 



Whenever the wild winds blow. 



Though what we shall see at the end of the road 



Is hidden from you and from me. 

 Vet with heart that is free of a vain disguise. 

 And face to the front and fearless eyes, 



We will dare whatever we see. 



— Tertiiis Vati Dvkt 



END OF VOLUME M. 



