IRISH GARDEXIXG 



.It 



should, be placed in heat and. propagation, 

 jiroceeded. with at once, a brisk bottom heat 

 beng necessary to success. 



Tuberous-rooted Begonias should be placed in 

 shallow boxes in sand and leaf-mould. A 

 vinery just started, is very su-itable; when the 

 shoots are about half an inch long the tubers 

 may be cut to ip.crease the stock. Begonias 

 always do be.st in very old rotten manure and 

 leaf-mould, with th.? soil rather on the loose side. 

 AH through their indoor stages great care should 

 be taken to keep the plants from a hot, dry 

 atmosphere, it always spells imin. 



The Fruit Garden. 



By Alfred Babkek, Gardener to Lady Fitz 

 Gerald, Carrigorau Co. C!are. 



That most important factor in all outdoor 

 operations " the weather " has, in this locality, 

 during the past couple of months qviite dis- 

 organised all operations in fruit grounds ; it 

 seems also to have quite upset all rainfall averages 

 both in this and most other localities. During 

 the past seven weeks here we have recorded over 

 13 inches of rain (more than double our average), 

 and during this time only had four days without 

 rain to record, consequently all kinds of outdoor 

 work is very much in arrears. 1 am afraid a 

 similar condition of affaii-s is very generally 

 prevalent throughout the country, judging by 

 reports froui various districts. With such condi- 

 tions prevailing it is necessary for all to push on 

 the various kinds of work quickly and in the most 

 methodical manner possible (and even where 

 weather conditions may be near normal) : arrears 

 of pruning and the nailing in and training of 

 fruit trees on «alls should have precedence, as it 

 is near tinxe now that all such work should be 

 completed, so that the trees may have time to 

 recuperate before the flow of sap commences 

 again. New jilanted orchard or border, &:c., fruit 

 trees, and such trees as may have been lifted, 

 should be ]ii-uned about the end of thLs month or a 

 little later in cold, late localities. During the early 

 part of thi^ month trees that are to be lop"- 

 gi-afted should be cut back : when sawing ihe 

 branches, make the cut a few inches above the 

 point where the scions are to be inserted : these 

 few inches must be sawn off at time or grafting, 

 thus ensuring a clean fresh cut on the branch. 

 The system of top-gi-afting does not seem to be 

 carried out to the extent that it merits or used as 

 a means for substituting superior and uji-to-date 

 varieties for poor, comparatively worthless sorts. 

 Where large trees of the latter kinds exist they 

 may be brought, in the course of twf> or three 

 years, to carry crops of most useful fruit, jjit)- 

 viding the constitution of the tree is not too far 

 worn out for renovation. In damp localities and 

 heavy soils some varieties of apples may prove 

 quite unsatisfactory or persistently scanty in 

 sjjite of annual spraying : trees of such varieties, 

 whether old or young, might be headed back and 

 grafted with more satisfactory variety, suitable 

 to local requirements. Trees in orchards or rows 

 that have, thniugh more or less improper manage- 

 ment, overgrown their head rooiu. and being too 

 old to transplant, might advantageously be 

 headed bar-k and regrafted. A due allowauce of 



scions should, without any further delay, be 

 provided (if not already done) for anv contem- 

 plated grafting; tied in bundles, labelled and laid 

 in, where they will not be exposed to sun, until 

 such time as required for use ; about two-thiids 

 of the scions should be underground. 



The time ii quickly drawing near when caustic 

 or winter washes may be safely used on fruit trees, 

 and no favourable oppf)i-tunit"y should be let jjass' 

 for carrying on this work to a finish by the end 

 of this month, bearing in mind "well done is 

 twice done.'" Be carefut to wet every part of the 

 trees, and always have good pressure on while 

 spraying to ensure that the wash may penetrate 

 thoroughly any moss, snaggy parts, 'or lurking 

 places of insects and fungus. Supplementarv to 

 my remarks on spraying last month I mav add. 

 gooseberry and all kinds of currant bushes that 

 are moss-grown or covered with lichens may be 

 sprayed with caustic washes, such as ' are 

 recommended for larger fruit trees, lime sulphur 

 wash is also recommended for this puri>ose, and 

 also has the r-eputation for preventing biids 

 destroying the buds on bush fruit trees. 



It may safely be assumed that, for planting on 

 any extensive scale, the ground would be proj/erly 

 prepared. and all necessary arrangements made 

 for autumn or early winter planting : though, 

 with the best of intentions, it frequently happens 

 that more or less of such planting has to be 

 deferred over the depth of winter, and in any such 

 cases advantage should now be taken of earliest 

 possible opportunities to complete this planting, 

 though do not be tempted by seemingly good 

 overhead conditions, but wait" until the ground 

 is in such condition as to allow of being well 

 trampled without sticking to the feet, as thorough 

 firming of roots in the ground is most imjtoi-tant. 

 It is not, generally speaking, well to advise post- 

 ponement of planting to end of this month or int«j 

 March, but rather do this than plant under 

 improper conditions, especially in heavy soils or 

 badly drained positions. 



Overci-owded trees may be removed to extend 

 plantations, or be planted in any suitable posi- 

 tion : new trees may be planted in fruit l}<jrders 

 where ground is in i-easonably good heai-t without 

 any farther preparation than to see that there is 

 sufficient dcjith of suitable soil, say from 2 to 3 

 feet deep, with satisfactory drainage : if the sub- 

 soil should be i>oor and retentive of uioisture, dig 

 it over and work in a quantity of half -decayed 

 stable manure and a little basic slag, with old 

 mortar rubble or any material which tends to 

 lighten and render the soil more porous : in light 

 or gravelly subsoils add some good rich decayed 

 manure. Do not jdant new trees in exhausted 

 ground or in stations previously occu]ded by old 

 trees without iiro\-iding such material as new 

 loam or good manure to enrich and bring the 

 soil into good fertile condition. Trees such as are 

 growing an excessive amount of young wood and 

 are unfruitful. <>r youns trees a few years planted 

 making undue wood growth and failing to i>rodute 

 any truit. may be lifted and rejilanted in same 

 position : any strong tibreless roots should be 

 shortened. m<jre or less, according to age and size 

 of trees, and any roots having a straight down 

 tendency should be cut ; this will cause them to 

 make libry useful roots and prevent jierhaps 

 getting into unsuitable subsoil ; jagged and 

 bnjken ends of roots should be given a clean cut. 

 After this rejdanting the trees should not need 



