XIV 



IRISH GARDENING. 



makos, Enjjllsh and Foiviijii. The power of Ihe mac-liirie 

 ami the stnictuie of the noz/le resulled in ihe produo- 

 lion of a spray, the force and firmness of which elicited 

 admiration from the critical onlookers. The machine 

 has no rubber valves, the valves being of brass and ball 

 formation. Another great advantage is that all the work- 

 ing parts are outside and can be got at in a moment. 

 Prices and all other particulars of these machines can 

 be had from the Dublin Agent, Mr. D. M. Watson, 

 Agricultnral Chemist, 6i .South Great George's Street, 

 Dublin, who makes a speciality of spraying machines 

 and materials of all kinds. .\ll who intend purchasing 

 a spraying machine for this season's use should see 

 the "Four Oaks" before buying any other make. 



Notes. 



Tin; C\TKRPII,I.AR OF GoOSF,Bi:KRV SaW-FlV FF.EDINt 

 OH ClRl!.\.NTS 

 (From article by Prof. Carpenter, Irish Gardfiitiig, 1908— Answer to 



Spraying lor Aphis. 



Ai'His appear to be unusually troublesome this year. 

 During the long spell of dry weather preceeding the 

 recent rains, roses, currant bushes and a large number 

 of other plants, including even the common barberry, 

 have been infested with this disgusting pest. -A writer 

 under the initials " H. P." in the Journal nf Horliciilliire 

 announces that he has discovered a " wonderfully cheap 

 and effective insecticide" in a solutiofi of common 

 washing soda. The .solution is said to kill every aphis 

 that is touched with the spray. Not only so, but it 

 washes the leaves clean of honey-dew and leaves them 

 fresh and healthy. The solution is made by disolving 

 I lb. of the washing soda in 20 gallons of water. 

 It is worth tning. See Irish G/NRPKNING, \'o1. U., 

 No. 7, July, 1907). 



.\Ih;ssRs. JosKPH Bk.ntlev, Limited, of Marrow-on- 

 l lumber, Hull, have been granted the Royal Warrant 

 of .\ppoinlmenl .is Horticultural Chemical Manufacturers 

 to the King. 



At the Royal .Agricultural Show (England) held last 

 month, Messrs. Heath, of Cheltenham, well known here 

 as exhibitors of Alpine plants, were awarded the Gold 

 Medal for a striking out-door exhibit of a pleasingly 

 constructed .Alpine garden, which attracted the 

 universal admiration oi visitors. 



Best Ma.virk for Potatoes. — In 

 a recent number of Irish Gardeni.vg 

 we advocated the use of artificial 

 manures, in combination with farm- 

 vard manure, and it is interesting to 

 liTid that further support is given to 

 what is already held as an article of 

 cultural faith by up-to-date growers 

 in a series of experiments conductetl 

 by the L'niversity College of North 

 Wales in the manuring of potatoes. 

 In comparing the results obtained 

 h\ the use of farmyard manure alone, 

 artificials alone, and a mixture of 

 farmyard manure and artificials, the 

 latter gave the best results. The 

 actual quantities used were 10 tons 

 farmyard manure, IOC lbs. sulphate 

 of ammonia, and 82 lbs. of sulphate of 

 potash, per acre. 



Answers to Correspondents. 

 Gooseberry Caterpillar 

 (" H. M'T."). — The simplest pl.'in is 

 to spray with arsenate of lead, but 

 this should not be done within three 

 weeks of gathering the fruit. The 

 safest plan is to hand pick, which, if 

 undertaken early, is not such a big 

 job. See article by Prof. Carpenter 

 in Irish Gardening. Vol. III., No. 29. 

 Box Cuttings ("Querist ").— Make cuttings this 

 month or next from 4 to 6 inches long and insert in 

 a light sandy soil. Place under a light or bell jars and 

 keep in a shady place Roots ought to develop easily. 

 Or layers may be made. When planting out, plant 

 firml}'. 



Thl'IA Hedges ("M. O.").— There ought not to be 

 any difiiculty in getting Thuia giganica to thrive on the 

 site mentioned. The reason of the failure is, probably, 

 that the plants were too old — a very common source of 

 disappointment. Plants two years younger, 16 to 20 

 inches high, would be far more sure of taking. If the 

 site is very exposed and devoid of natural .shelter some- 

 thing temporary might be rigged to tide over Ihe first 

 year or two. Be sure the right tree is got. Be sure 

 the roots do not get dried up or frosted in transplanting. 

 He sure Ihe hole is dug plenty wide and deep enough to 

 allow of the roots being evenly spread with nice. 



ox Tin; Leaves 



sponden 



