176 



IRJSH GARDENING 



(■rnwdfd ill I 111- ci'iitrfs of (rccs. [\u-\ sIk.uI.I I.c 

 I'lvi'ly tliimn'tl ur shnHviu-d : if totl nunuiuus, 

 cut a luimluT uiil. Ii'aviiii; 2 oi- iiulics of hasc. 

 and from this new shoots will he prodwci-d 

 tlifSf pnirifd ill tuni w id eventually foi-ni a new 

 set of fruitinir sjjui-s ; this |>runinK apiilies 

 equally to ajiples ami pears. I'.ums siiould iiaw 

 iiiucii of the small spray j;ro\vtlis left un|iruned, 

 and whicii will eventually iiroduce fruits : all 

 trained tn-es a<:ainst walls, espaliers. \-c.. may 

 he pruned in this manner. e\ceii( .Moi'ell.i .liciiics 

 wluch hear fruit on the youn.y shoots, numhers 

 of these should he tied inand the surplus shoots 

 cut clean away. I'eaches should he left as they 

 are until later in the season, though if these weic 

 properlv dishudch-d after j;rowth was well 

 advanced, and prum-d afl.'r the liuit was 

 iiathered. they will need little >>i 110 pruning 

 during winter season, indeed the lilr and useful- 

 ness of p.-ach tre.-s may he mncli curtail. ..I hy 

 winter pruning; iiei-sevei-ed in. Similar treat- 

 ment should also Ix- accor.le.l to litrs where 

 ^'rowini,' outdooi's. 



JilSll FlM-ITS. If these Were thinned old or 

 summer ])i-uned aflei- the fruit was gathered 

 they will now need lilt!,, pruning. On red and 

 whit.- currants, the l.-ading shoots shoul.l h.- 

 short. -n.-.r and llw side shoots cut hack to within 

 a few huds at the l)ase to form spurs on whicli 

 th.' fruit is horne. (loos.dierries h.-ar the hulk of 

 th.dr fiuit on the young sho.)ts. and may he 

 |)runed accoi-ding to tlie crop desired : inishes 

 that are needed to ripen the crop for dessert 

 should he more severely |)i-uned than hushes 

 from which the fruit will he gathered green for 

 market or jam, \-e. Select a suitable number 

 of young shoots, and just cait away a few inches 

 from ends of shoots, spurring the remainder or 

 cutting away a niunber altogether. Select the 

 most erect-growing shoots, and clean out centre 

 of bushes to a great extent. Black currants 

 produce their fruit altogether on the young 

 shoots of the ))astsiunnier's growth, consequently 

 in pruning these it is only necessary to leave 

 young shoots to carry a good cro]) of fruit 

 without overcrowding tlie bush ; these shoots 

 need not be shortened unless they have made 

 gi'owths so long a,s to disturb the even balance 

 of hush, then they should be shortened a little ; 

 old and overgr<>wn branches shoidd be cut away 

 altogether. When pruning black currants don't 

 forget to look <,ut for the "mitv" buds. If the 

 bush is badly affected, dig it up" and turn it : if 

 (mly slightly affected, cut clean out all tlie shoots 

 wliich bear buds of abnormal size and roimd.-d 

 ai)pearan<e which indicate the ])resence .)f mit.s, 

 and at once bmni these shoots. 



The Vegetable Garden. 



By A. Pk.\rson, (iardener to A. F. Sharman- 

 Crawford, Esq., Lota Lodge, (Haniuire, Cork. 



Thk shortening days and the eorrespondmg 

 cessation of vegetable growth will give more time 

 to the cultivator for the preparation of ground 

 for next year's crops. All weeds, vegetable 

 refuse, &c., shoviUl, be cleared off the squares and 

 used u]) in the refuse hea]). Manure may be 

 carted on to vacant spaces when the weather is 

 suitable, and every available moment should 

 be given to trenching. Grovmd trenched now 

 and left in rough ridges will be in excellent 



-•on.litioi, f.,i' forming s, ..I h. ,|s in spring time by 



the simi.le op-.rafi ,| l.\e!ling t h.- surfa.-.-. Ihus 



saving much valuahl,. lim.. .it. a seasmi w h.^ri 

 e\crv minute .ounts. 



Wet weather is to us in Ih,. south .1 much 

 greater woi-i'y in wintei' than I'ri.st. but it is 

 advisable neveit heless to have a supply of ]iro- 

 tfctive mati-rial ready to use at short notice on 

 a frosty night. Dry bra.ken. leaves, straw, or 

 even the driest jiiikings (,f th.- used stable litter, 

 is useful for spreading ligldly on tender crops, 

 such as celery, lettuces, \-c., I'eiuoving the cover- 

 ing when the sun rises Ih.- following afternoon. 



Ain-K iioKios nuiv be left in the gi-oinul with 

 a slight .Ir.ssing <.f leaves or litt.-r t<. ensure a soft 

 s..il to dig th.' roots wh.n want..! during f rost v 

 w. at her. The (dob. varielv will re.piin- ."i 

 .hvssinu'<,f litl.'r on .■a.h si.l.. .".f th.^ rows, l.-avin- 



Ih.. he.irl .-Xpes,.!. 



Asi'Ai; \.iis Hi:i)s. whriv Ih,. .iitliiig down 

 syst.-m is adh.Ted to. . Might t.. b.^ tidied and 

 lightly dr.'ss.'d with stable nianur(>. 



Hi:i:'n!()()Ts. ("ahhots and otiikh Hoots. — 

 <'<niipl'.|e Ih.- lifting and storing of these as 

 ad\ise.l in last month's notes, taking extrenu' 

 .ar,' to a\(.id breaking anv of the taproots in 

 the be.-l. Carelessness in this resp.-.-l will m.-an 

 a s|i..iled white root inst.-a.l ..f what is le.piif. .1 — 

 a bloo.l-red sample. 



CaumkL'JWKHs — -Late autumn sorts will b.- 

 valuable now, and in the event of hard frosts 

 coming on, draw all the good heads and sti.re them 

 in a siud. A disused mushr.)om or ice-house 

 makes a splendid storing place for them. Hanging 

 the plants by the root with head downwards, 

 they will kcej) in good condition for some time. 

 The later ones not yet hearted may be laid down 

 where growing with the head facing the noi-th. 

 Neither frost n.u' iviin .an do Ih.' sam.- .lamag.- 

 to the young cuid. 



Cki,i:i!Y. — Continue to earth the later crojis 

 and k.-ep a sharj) eye on the weather, promjitly 

 covering with protecting litter when fr.)st appears 

 imminent. 



Hhoad Bkans may b.- sown on a well-sheltered 

 dry piece of soil with every prospect of their 

 standing the winter and turning in early in the 

 following year, but do not waste seed an. I 

 })atience by sowing on wet heavy soils. 



Cabbages. — August .sown may .stil be jtlanted 

 as succession crops. lAttle growth will take 

 l)Iace from now until spring, so a lirm s )il will 

 suit their needs. 



Pkas,— Like broa.l b.-ans. this exc.-ll.-nt veget- 

 able may be sown on a south, well-sheltered 

 b.)rder. Given ]irotection against the raids of 

 mice, birds and slugs, very early <-rops will In- 

 gathered. Of cours.- only the hardy early sorts , 

 such as Pilot, William, A:c. (and a variety called 

 Essex Star, I have foun.l <i really good thing) are 

 likely to give the utmost satisfaction. 



Seakale. — Lift small quantities for forcing, 

 but do not force extensively just yet. Finer 

 ])roduce will result from later forcing, and after 

 all, seakale is the easiest forced of all vegetables. 



To those who have a full supply of heat and 

 g.).)d forcing houses, French beans may be sown 

 in 7 inch pots, keeping the ])lants near the roof 

 glass and taking great care in ])raviding water. 



Tomato Fritits which may have failed to 

 ripen outdoors should be cut off in trusses and 

 brought into a heated structure. If hung up, 

 many of the fruits will ripen quite well and will 

 prove useful for cooking. 



