'EBRUARY 



IRISH GARDEXIXG. 



29 



rough pieces of turf, and fill up with ijood loam, a little 

 leaf-mould, and some rough broken charcoal through 

 the soil to keep all sweet. 



East Lothian Stocks. — Where stocks are ap. 

 predated and enter into the summer bedding arrange- 

 ments, the East Lothian or Intermediate strain yield a 

 wealth of bloom which for delicious fragrance and 

 delicate colours cannot be surpassed. Three years ago 

 some friends tried to persuade me that these stocks 

 flowered too late in Ireland to be of an}' service. This 

 is not so, as I had a thousand plants of them in bloom 

 last year from the middle of July till well into October. 

 -A good strain should be selected, and the seed sown at 

 once in well-drained boxes of good loam, and covered 

 lightly with sandy soil. Place in a temperature of 50 to 

 55 deg. till germination takes place, keeping the bo.xes 

 near the glass in a light and airy position and be very 

 sparing with water. When the plants are an inch high, 

 prick off into frames or bo.xes, and keep close for a few- 

 days till they recover the shock of removal. If the soil 

 is fairly moist there will be no necessity to water for 

 some days ; the drier all stocks in their young state can 

 be kept without flagging the better till they have taken 

 to the soil and growth is active. .Abundance of air will 

 be necessarj' afterwards when sturdy plants will be 

 ready to put out earlj- in May. 



Christmas Flowers. — This sounds a bit belated, 

 some may think, but it is flowers for ne.xt Christmas 

 I want to refer to. .\ look round the florist shops 

 during Christmas week showed how the refrigerator 

 had helped the flower supply that was not dreamt of a few- 

 years ago. By the process known as retarding bulbs 

 and roots, such things as liliums, gladioli, narcissus, and 

 lily of the valley can be had in abundance at Christmas 

 without the trouble of much forcing and the raising of a 

 huge coal bill. The bracts of Poinsetiia pulcherrima 

 seemed to be more plentiful than usual, and what can be 

 more telling on account of the brilliant colour the\' impart 

 to a group in which white <jr light-tinted flowers pre- 

 dominate. When poinsettias are past flowering, let 

 them be partiallv dried off and rested by being placed in 

 a cool house. In .April cut the plants back, leaving only 

 three or four eyes of the young wood. Introduce into 

 heat, and when the young growths are a few inches 

 long strike these by taking off each with a piece of 

 •'heel." -After being established in six-inch pots grow- 

 on in a cold frame during summer. Get the wood well 

 ripened, which is the secret of large bracts, and give 

 frequent doses of weak manure-water during the 

 season. Cuttings struck in June will make nice decora- 

 tive stuff" in five-inch pots at Christmas. .Again, the 

 late flowering chrysanthemums are a host in themselves, 

 and are of the utmost service to the decorator at 

 Christmastide. Seasonable notes have recently been 

 given to strike these, but another batch struck in 

 February and March will ensure a supply when the 

 earlier plants are over. Some fine varieties are now- 

 available for late work, the blooms of which are 

 not only valuable in a cut state, but the plants them- 

 selves can also be used where bold and effective 

 groups are wanted. One of the grandest whites I 

 have seen is Queen of the Exe, and is largely grown for 

 Christmas work at Mount Merrion, Bl.-ickrock. Salvia 



splendens, with its rich, velvety scarlet spikes of flower, 

 is also welcome at the festive season, and no one who 

 can aff'ord it room should fail to grow a few. Treat it 

 in every way similiar to the chrysanthemum. It can be 

 grown by sowing the seed now in a gentle heat, but 

 cuttings struck in .April from old plants that have been 

 cut back make a more dependable stock for late 

 blooming. 



Seeds to Sow. — .A start may be made this month by 

 sowing in heat such things as begonia, lobelia, petunia. 

 Phlox Drummoitdi^ and tender climbing annuals. An 

 early start is important in having strong, sturdy plants 

 for May planting. Gloxinia seed sown now will also 

 provide plants for flowering indoors next autumn. 



The Fruit Grounds. 



By WiLLiA.M R. Spe.ncer, Manor House Gardens, 

 Loughgall, Co. Armagh. 



PL.ANTING. -Push forward the planting of fruit 

 trees and bushes, where such remain to be planted, 

 every favourable opportunity that presents itself, 

 always bearing in mind that the soil must be dry, other- 

 wise more harm than good will result. Planting mav 

 be continued with 

 safetv all through the 

 month, but the earlier 

 it is done the better, 

 as late planting 

 means extra labour 

 afterwards, watering, 

 &c. , also chances of 

 success are some- 

 what diminished. 1ti 

 planting fruit trees ii 

 is of the utmost 

 importance not lo 

 plant too deep. Tin- 

 ground, having been 

 prepared by deep 

 digging in autumn or 

 early winter, will now- 

 be in fine condition 

 for this work, rirst, 



mark position of each tree by placing a stake in the 

 ground so that all may be properly proportioned over 

 the whole intended plantation. Then commence by 

 opening a hole w-ide enough to receive the roots w-hen 

 full)- extended without coming in contact with its side.s — 

 its depth must be guided by the size of the tree. Cut 

 awav- any broken or torn roots with a sharp knife. Cut 

 from the under side in a slanting direction outwards. 

 Place the tree in pctsition, spreading out the roots to 

 their fullest extent, and distribute them as evenly as 

 possible all round. Cover each root with fine mould, 

 and as filling in proceeds work the soil between the 

 roots with the hand, so that no open spaces may be left. 

 When finished the surface roots should be covered with 

 about three inches of soil, and all should be somewhat 

 higher than the surrounding level. The nature of the 

 soil must be considered in determining its height — heavy, 

 retentive soils requiring it higher than lighter ones. 



