[RTSH GARDENING 



63 



in the wild garden, such as heneath the shade of 

 trees or near to rocks. 



Trees and Shrubs that were planted in clayey 

 soil during ifarch whilst the ground was wet 

 should be mulched with half -decayed manure : 

 this will conserve the moisture and prevent rapid 

 evaporation by drying winds. 



The Vegetable Garden. 



By A. Pearson. CJardener to A. F. Sharman- 

 Trawford, Esq., I^ota Lodge, Glanmire, Cork. 



The ])resent month is one of increasing activity 

 in the vegetable garden, the jir(>ver])ial showers 

 in conjunction with the greater sun jiower 

 expedite the growth of all vegetation ; many 

 of the tendei'er vegetables may be sown outdoors 

 towards the end of the month. 



1 may be ])ardoned for once again urging the 

 need for ])lanting up every vacant space with 

 useful vegetables in case of emergency. We are 

 face to face with the most devastating war the 

 world has ever known ; one lucky stroke of the 

 enemy might deprive us of much of our sea-borne 

 food supplies, and in any case all vegetables 

 will be at an enhanced price for some time to 

 come. Hospitals and Refugee Honies require 

 help, and surplus produce cannot be given to 

 n\ore worthy institutions : therefore the system 

 of growing so many plants and no more is in- 

 defensible for this year at least. 



Asi'AUAcus. — Beds prepared last month may 

 now be sown or planted as decided on. If 

 jdants are chosen, see that they ai'e exposed to 

 air for the shortest possible time. Eighteen 

 inches every way is a suitable distance to plant ; 

 encourage by nitrate dressings growth in the 

 old beds. 



Artichokes. — .1 rusalem, if not planted last 

 month, should be got in at once ; give 3 feet 

 between, the rows. The Globe Artichoke will 

 now be lit to propagate, using offshoots from the 

 parent, ])lanting a distance of 5 feet between 

 the rows and 3 feet between the jilants. 



Beetroot. — A small sowing of a round variety 

 comes in useful for autumn use. I ])refer to 

 sow the main crop early in May. Late April is, 

 however, quite a suitable time for many. 



Beans, Kidney — Sow towards the end of the 

 month a small quantity of seed on a south 

 border or in pots in hotbed for planting outdoors 

 later on, to])dress forcing beans ])assing ojt of 

 flower. 



Carrots. — Sow^ the main crop, 12 inches 

 I.etween the drills, on ground deeply worked, and 

 in which no manure has been recently dug in. 

 The choice Short Horn varieties may stand closer 

 in the lines. 



C'.\ULiFLOWERS. — Plant out any remaining over 

 from autuum sowings, and i)rick out those sown 

 in beds last nionth ; rich, heavily maiuni'd soil 

 is imperative to their welfare. 



Broccoli. — The main croi) for wiuler aiul 

 spring su])plies may be sown any time after the 

 middle of the month according to locality ; in 

 the south we find the end of the month a good 

 time in normal seasons. 



Cabbages, Borecole, Bru.ssels Sprouts may 

 all ])e sown, and earliest sowings requiring pricking 

 out or i>lanting attendcMl to : light dressings of 



nitrate of soda applied every ten days to forward 

 early cabbages will work wonders. 



Celery. — Sow the main crop in hot frame, 

 and see that a clean stock of seed is got and 

 preventive measures against the disease taken 

 from the earliest stages. 



Lettuce. — Sow for succession, and plant out 

 on rich soil seedlings from early frame -sowings. 



Onions. — Plant out any sown under glass, 

 and if pickling ones are required sow on poor 

 soil, leaving them unthinned. Thin the main 

 crop during moist weather. 



Peas. — Continue to sow the wrinkled marrows 

 ev^ery ten days, and attend to staking growing 

 ones. 



Salsafy and Scoi{Z()nki{A. — Sow at the end of 

 the month on deeply dug soil free from manure ; 

 15 inches between the drills is ample space. 



Spinach. — Sow freely and frequently between 

 rows of ijeas, cutting down immediately the crop 

 runs to seed. 



Turnip. — Sow freely the sma'l table sorts on 

 rich soil, and encourage early sowings by frequent 

 hoeings. 



Vegetable Marrows. — Sow a few i)ots in heat 

 for early supplies, gradually hardening off in 

 frames. 



Herbs. — Many of these may now be sown, 

 others will bear dividing, a small sunny border 

 is an ideal i)lace for them, and these herbs, 

 besides being useful for flavouring and salads, 

 are pIso of educational value. 



Winter Greens and Broccolis wi 1 now be 

 passing ; see that the areas are cleared and got 

 ready for new crops. Prepare celery trenches : 

 deep trenches are a fallacy. Plenty of good 

 manure is the paramount need, and if space is 

 given between the trenches, say 4 feet for every 

 18 -inch wide trench, soil for earthing to any dei)th 

 will be available, and the excavation v ill prove 

 in wet wintei's excellent drainage. 



The Fruit Garden. 



By Alfred Barker, Gaiv^ener to Lady 

 FitzGerald. Ctrrigorar, Co. Clare. 



The most important operations connected with 

 hardy frviits through the dormant season being 

 brought to a conclusion either in ordinary course 

 satisfactorily, or of necessity with the advent of 

 what I think all will accord a hearty welcome 

 to — i.e., the return of si)ringtime and active 

 growth of all kinds of vegetation -I doubt the 

 conclusion of these o])erations cannot be a uiost 

 gratifying matter in many instances, as the past 

 has been a most difficult season, with sodden 

 ground and rainy skies week after week, sorely 

 trying one's patience and retarding work in a 

 nuist disagreeable manner : especially so with 

 those having heavy, retentive^ soils to deal with. 

 Though small comfort to any one. it is noteworthy 

 that fruit gn)wers throughoiit the British Tsles 

 have all been similarly affeited by these un- 

 favourable conditions "(and combined in nuiny 

 districts with the great uplieaval caused by stress 

 of war). The London Tiincs says, in the course tif 

 a review of the weather during the winter nu)nths, 

 that during the i)ast one hundred years no such 

 heavy rainfall as that of l!)14-l.') has been 

 recorded. We can only hoi)e that the season 

 before us nuiv bring considerable compensation 

 for the (litlicuUies and troubles of the i)ast. At 



