14 



IRISH GARDENING. 



January 



their fruit, so that wlien the fruit from the 

 younger plantations come on the market they 

 will not have to take second place. There is 

 vast room for improvement in the methods at 

 present generally employed, and if remunerative 

 prices are to be obtained different systems of 

 cultivation will have to be adopted. It is un- 

 reasonable to expect ground to produce at the 

 same time, as is often expected, two crops — one 

 of hay and the other fruit. Can fruit of the 

 finest quality be expected when grown under 

 these conditions ? Certainly not ; and so long 

 as it continues very indifferent fruit will be the 

 consequence. 



The planting- of fruit trees, if not finished last month, 

 should be completed as soon as possible, provided 

 that the soil be dry ; if not, better defer planting 

 till it is so, which probably Avill be some time now. 

 Never plant while frostj- or wet weather prevails. If 

 trees arrive from the nursery during- such weather have 

 them carefully unpacked, and plant in some sheltered 

 place until favourable conditions, as to soil and weather, 

 return. 



Fruit trees already planted should be secured to a 

 stout stake to prevent rocking and consequent dis- 

 turbance of their roots, which is very detrimental to 

 their well-being. 

 Place a pad, made 

 of a piece of sack- 

 ing or similar 

 material, between 

 the stake and tree 

 where tie is to be made so 

 as to prevent rubbing. When 

 (his is finished prick over the 

 soil lightly with a fork to 

 erase footmarks, &c. , after- 

 wards mulch with littery 

 manure. Rabbits and hares 

 must be rigidly excluded or 

 considertible damage will be 

 done to the trees. 



If conditions as to soil and 

 weather prevail, as required 

 for planting, root-pruning of 

 an)' trees requiring it ma)' be 

 done. Generally speaking, 

 if trees are growing rapidly, 

 making very long, sappy 

 growths, it may be safely- 

 assumed that there are a few 

 roots penetrating the sub- 

 soil, which, if not checked, 

 will continue to throw a 

 superfluous amount of sap 

 into the tree and render it useless as a fruit bearer so 

 long as these conditions remain. To obviate this, young 

 trees showing a tendency in this direction should be 

 lifted, preferably early in November, the strong roots 

 well cut back with a sharp knife and be at once replanted, 

 and made secure to a stake and given a mulch. 



Prim.sg. — The pruning of all fruit trees and bushes 

 during mild weather must be pushed on now as fast as 

 possible, .-\dmirable directions have been given from 

 time to time in these pages as to methods of pruning 

 these, so it is unnecessary to repeat them here. Where 

 wall trees are grown the pruning and nailing up of 

 shoots must be done now, if not already done. The 

 pruning of apples and pears which have filled their 

 allotted spaces is a very simple matter, simply requiring 

 all summer growths (breastwood) to be cut back to 

 within one or two buds of their base, and spurs re- 

 gulated if getting too long or too thickly disposed over 

 the trees. Plums and cherries require more careful 

 handling, as they produce fruit on joung wood as well 

 as on spurs on older wood. Where possible lay in a 

 young shoot of previous year's growth ; shorten about 

 one-quarter its length if strong, if weak it may be cut 

 back to within a few buds of its base. Cut away all 

 dead wood, as well as branches devoid of fruit spurs, 

 and so make room for the younger and more fruitful 

 shoots. Have all prunings collected at once and 

 burned ; the ashes should be preserved dry and forked 

 into ground round fruit trees. 



Fork round all fruit bushes, collect all perennial weeds 

 as work proceeds ; at the same time, any bushes re- 

 quiring aid in the way of manure should be given it — 

 place it round bushes as far as the roots extend, and 

 cover over with soil. .\11 established fruit trees and bushes 

 which have borne a good crop the previous season 

 should be given some aid in the form of farm-yard 

 manure well decomposed. Drainings from manure 

 heaps, cow-sheds and such places form one of the 

 most valuable manures, and may now be given freely 

 to all established trees. Later on in the season it 

 should be diluted with clean water, as it would not be 

 safe to apply it very strong to growing trees. 



-Any portion of the fruit grounds requiring to be 

 drained should be attended to during the month. 

 There is nothing more detrimental to the well-being of 

 fruit trees than stagnant water. .AH old drains should 

 be cleaned out to allow the water free passage, or new 

 ones made if required. 



The Vegetable Garden. 



By James Bracke.n, Horticultural Instructor, Co. Cork. 



IN the first month of the year plans for rotation and 

 preparation for the new season's cropping ought to 

 be well advanced. But before entering upon details 

 of work it will be well to briefly review the conditions 

 that make for cultural success. Good drainage and 

 thorough tillage, followed by adequate manuring, are 

 the first essentials. Then, remembering the conditions 

 under which our cultivated crops have been evolved, 

 care must be taken to allow them space enough for 

 individual development in land always free from weeds. 

 Suitable rotation of crops must be arranged, and a watch- 

 ful campaign carried on against insects, fungi and other 

 enemies. Finally, in order to get pleasure and profit 

 out of gardening we must buy good seeds — that is, 

 seeds obtained from selected plants of the very best 

 varieties. 



