IRISH GARDENING. 



and cultivak-tl from foiirtosovfu Uiiu's. Tin- ^rass 

 in the soil i>l<'t. wa.s usually cut ••luc, .stmu-Umcs 

 twice, all other o])iTations l.finf: id.-ntiral for all 

 tlio ]ilot«. 



Till' oxperinit-nt was^dix idnl into two :>-y.;ir 

 iH-rii.ds. During tlu' lirst luriod tlu- onliard was 

 divided in halves by a north and south line, and 

 ilurhig the second i>eriod l)y an i-ast and west Une. 

 Thus, one quart^-r of the orchard was under 

 tillage in years ; antdher under tillage 5 yeai-s, 

 then left in sod 5 yeai-s ; the third quarter was 

 in s<.il in years and the fourth hi sod ii yi-ars, 

 thin tilled 5 yeai-s. 



Tile writer sunmiarises the resviits as follow : 



The average yield of the plot left hi sod for ten 

 vears was OD.IO harrels in-r acre, that of the i)lot 

 tilled 10 veai-s 11(J..S barrels jn-r acre, inakhig a 

 dift'erence'in favour of tillage of 47. HI barrels per 

 acre iter annum. The fruit from the sod ])lots 

 was more highly coloured than that from the tilleu 

 land and matured from one to three weeks earlier 

 than the tilled fruit. The latter keejts from two 

 to four weeks longer than the- former and is also 

 betttr in quality, behig crLsper, jucier and of 

 better flavour. 'The uniformity of the trees 

 under tillage was in striking contrast to that of 

 the trees in sod, which lacked uniformity in every 

 f>rgan and fiuiction of which note could be taken. 

 The grass had also a decided effect on the wood of 

 the trees, a.s evidenced by the greater number of 

 dead branches and the less plump and duller 

 appearance of the sodded trees. The leaves of 

 the tilled trees came out three or four days 

 earlier and remained on the trees several days 

 longer than on the sodded trees. Those on the 

 tilled trees were a darker, richer green and more 

 numerous, mdicating greater vigour. 



The effects of the change from sod to tillage 

 were almost instantaneous. Both trees and 

 foliage were favourably affected before mid- 

 summer of the first year, and the croj), while 

 below normal, consisted of ajjples as large in size 

 as any in the orchard, the falling-off in yield being 

 due to ]>oor setting. The change from tillage to 

 sod was cjuite a« remarkable and as hiimediate, 

 the average yield of the new sod i)lots being less 

 than half that of tlie tilled i)lots. The use of 

 nitrate of soda in the sod plots greatly increased 

 the vigour of the trees and was a paying invest- 

 ment, yet for the 5-year period the yield was only 

 slightly more than half as much as that of the 

 tilled trees. 



The very marked beneficial effect on sodded 

 trees of placing adjacent grovmd under tillage 

 shows that the sod should not only be removed 

 round the trees but also for a considei'able distance 

 from them. 



The changes in the soil due to the two systems 

 concern chiefly the amount of humus and nitrogen. 

 It w as found that tillage and cover cro] s conserve 

 humus and nitrogen better than the sod-mulch 

 treatment. 



The itasturmg of pigs, sheep or cattle on sodded 

 orchards does not overcome the bad effects of 

 the grass. 



The average cost per acre of growing and 

 liarvesting apples in sod was $57.73 and under 

 tillage $83.48, making a difference of $31.75. 

 Svibtractmg these figures from the gross return, 

 leaves a balance of $74.31 for the sodded plots 

 and $140.67 for the tilled ]jlots, or an increase of 

 $66.30 m favour of tillage.- — Madhly BuUethi of 

 Agricultural Intelligence and Plant Diseases, 

 July, 1915. 



Dublin Wholesale Markets. 



OwiNc to the inclermiicy nf tlic Weath.i' during 

 the month jtast. there w as a decrease in the suppl> 

 of fruit and ve^elables. consequently prices lia\c 

 exceeded^^lhose of the previous month. 



Fni'iT.— A|)ples formed the principal feature 

 in this section, good cooking soi-ts absorbing the 

 interest of buyers, rough sorts difTfltult t^o sell at 

 most irregular prices, small nicely packed lids 

 are readily disitosed of at good prices. A few 

 small lots of pears are also in evidence, and an- 

 w^ell com|)ensating growers. Cross-channel pro- 

 duce, such as ai)i)les. grapes and pears, arrived 

 in quantities ; prices somewhat Ixlow the average, 

 exce]jt for the latter, which ligure high. 



\'kuktabij-;«. — Cabbages, although exceedingly 

 cheap in the early part of the month, have in- 

 creased considerably in price towards the dose of 

 the month. Cauliflowers. — .Su|)ply very limited, 

 jjrices lu-m. Savoys were suiiplied in aliundance. 

 price not up to average. (Jelery hns iiiqiroved 

 since last month, and nice lots of healthy stuff on 

 sale, receiving good attention from buyers. 

 Brussels sjtrouts are now supjdied in quantity, 

 demand good ; also carrots, artichokes, and 

 Swedes maintained stiff prices, being in keen 

 request. 



Flow^ers. — The sujti-ly of flowers was very 

 meagre, and consisted chiefly of Chrysanthe- 

 mums, Cross-channel consignments being far 

 superior to home-grow'n. It was quite evidi-nt 

 particular care had been taking in ] tacking, as 

 they maintained a fresh api>earance despite long 

 transit. 



The following is a j)rice list for the month : — 



Fkuit. 

 Apjtles (Dessert) per float 

 ,, (Selected) per dozen 

 ,, (Cooking) ,, 



,, ,, Iter barrel 



Pears (Firsts) per dozen 

 Grapes per 11). 



Artichokes (.ler.) 



Cabbages- 

 York 

 Savo \- 



Cauliflowers 



Swedes 



Cucumbers 



Carrots 



Celery (White) 



Parsnips 



B. Sprouts 



Scallions 



Onions 



Leeks 



Parsley 



Lettuce 



Turniits (O. Jelly 



Thyme 



Tomatoes 



Vegetables. 

 per float 



per load 



Iter flasket 

 per cw t. 

 ]ter d<tzen 

 ]jer bunch 

 per dozen 

 ])er doz. bunches 

 ])er cw t. 



float 



ItTinch 



fl.tat 



bag 

 Iter bunch 

 ])er float 

 Iter dozen 

 ) per bunch 

 ])er doz. }jun<hes 

 per lb. 



1 o 



P 

 1' 

 !> 

 Iter 



Flowers. 

 Chrysanthemums jter doz. blooms 1 

 ,, (Seconds) jter doz. bunches 8 

 Roses per dozen ■.09 



1 9 

 1 

 1 3 



