January 



IRISH GARDENING. 



and frosts to bre;ik it up. It contains 52 per 

 cent, equivalent of CaO. 



In many districts near tiie seashore shell- 

 sand is applied. It is variable in composition. 

 One sample used analysed 46 per cent. CaO. 

 This being a natural material, heavy dressings 

 can be applied to heavy soils without injury, 

 thereby rendering them easily worked. It can 

 neutralise acids (mineral and organic) in the 

 soil. On heavy soils and those containing 

 much peat the shells are exhausted in 8 to 10 

 years, whilst on dry hillsides they will last for 

 15 to 18 years. Greater benefits might be 

 obtained by grinding them finer ; at least 

 smaller dressings could be more evenly dis- 

 tributed. The results obtained are far ahead of 

 those from lime. The builder burnt limestone 

 to drive off CO2, and having done so mixed 

 sand, stones, and water with it, knowing that 

 the whole would be bound together by the 

 absorption of CO.,. The wall made is an adul- 

 terated limestone. The only advantages gained 

 by burning limestone are the driving off of 84 

 cwts. of CO2 per ton, thus lessening cartage 

 from the kilns, and a finer state of subdivision 

 when slaked. Lime in slaking absorbs about 

 one-third of its weight of water, so that usually 

 the cartage on the fields is about the same for 

 slaked lime and ground limestone. Samples of 

 ground limestone are now on the market. By 

 applying this material on soils deficient in lime 

 we are using the natural substance which has 

 made limestone soils warm, sweet, and of 

 great value for growing stock and crops — a 

 material not easily washed out of the soil, 

 which can neutralise mineral and organic acids ; 

 is a plant food ; forms the base for nitrification 

 and precipitated soluble phosphates. Experi- 

 ments carried out under the Lancashire County 

 Council show more profit from its use than from 

 ground lime. 



[To be continucd.'\ 



Crab Apples. 



CKABAl'PLES as ornamentaltrees are not used as 

 commonly and extensively as they might be, con- 

 sidering their great beauty. In the spring they are 

 covered with a profusion of snow-white blossoms and in 

 the autumn with abundance of ruddy or other brightly- 

 coloured fruits. They should be planted in groups of six 

 or more in such a position as to have a background of 

 green to show off to full advantage their wealth of flower 

 and fruit. The effect is altogether lost if they are planted 



Singly or dotted about on a lawn. There are several 

 varieties that maybe used in the garden or on the fringe 

 of woodlands, and they are all cheap, considering that 

 really nice specimens for planting can be purchased from 

 nurserymen at from is. 6d to 2s. 6d. each. The generic 

 name of the apple is Pyrus, and P. baccata (the Siberian 

 crab) is one of tlie most ornamental of the genus, as it 

 produces a rich harvest of brilliant red fruit. But there 

 are other species equally splendid in their floral display 

 and autumn fruitage, and any one desirous of introducing 

 patches of colour to border or shrubbery would do well 

 to arrange for their introduction during the present plant- 

 ing season. Selection may be made from the following :— 

 The "Dartmouth Crab "has large crimson fruits ; "John 

 Downie" forms a fine tree with red tinted flowers and 

 large festoons of radiant fruit ; \'eilch's Scarlet is very 

 handsome ; while in Neidwetzkyana both the leaves and 

 the fruit show a purple tint. The yellow Siberian 

 crab has yellow and Mrs. John Seden orange-yellow 

 fruit, spotted and stained crimson on the sun-exposed 

 side. The fruit of these crabs, if one cares to use them 

 for such purposes, may be made into excellent jam, 

 while crab-apple jelly, as everj^ one knows, has a great 

 reputation as a preserve. We strongly recommend the 

 planting of crab-apples, even if only for the sake of the 

 brilliant note of colour they introduce to the garden 

 during the later months of the year. 



Vegetable Growing in Cottage 

 Gardens. 



By P. J. Gray, Horticultural Instructor, Schools of 

 Domestic Economy. 



IN many parts of the country, and especially in the 

 west, there is still great room for improvement in 

 the keeping of cottage gardens. Some of the 

 people are slow to appreciate the benefits to be derived 

 from the growing of a variety of vegetables, and well- 

 cropped gardens in this respect are more the e.xception 

 than the rule. 



The cottager should aim at making the most of his 

 garden, and this can only be accomplished by keeping 

 it well cropped, not allowing any of it to remain idle 

 during the season, and growing a variety of vegetables. 

 Many of the county councils now give prizes for well- 

 kept cottage gardens, and all cottagers should be 

 ambitious to gain a prize. The growing of a variety of 

 vegetables does not mean that each of them should have 

 an equal portion of the garden ; a small plot or bed of 

 each is sufficient, and early potatoes, fruit trees, &c. , 

 may be grown in quantity. 



The first thing to see to is that the garden is properly 

 fenced, for if the poultr}- and goat can roam at will 

 through it all our work is vain. Next to a wall, a good 

 whitethorn hedge makes the best fence, both as a fence 

 and to give shelter. The quicks may be planted any 

 time from the present up to the end of March, except 

 during severe frost. Prepare the ground by digging in 

 a good dressing of well-rotted farmyard manure. I'lanl 

 in a double row, the latter six inches apart, and the 

 same distance between the plants in the row. Some 

 yi'ars must elapse before such a hedge would he of any 



