IRISH GARDENING. 



tables ; but indifferent plants treated indifferently only 

 disappoint. Springs planted cauliflowers are subject to 

 the attacks of slugs and tfie turnip beetle or "fly," 

 especialh- when the plants are weak and slow to start. 

 Use soot and lime dusted on the plants and about them 

 as a safegfuard. 



Cucumbers. — Cucumbers for a summer supply may 

 be g^rown in pits or frames with a good hot-bed pre- 

 pared. In making the hot-bed choose the sunniest site, 

 and use plenty of fermenting material. Build it a foot 

 wider than the frame on three sides and a foot and a 

 half at the back, so that it will retain heat. Make it 

 quite firm, and let it be something higher at the back to 

 catch the sunrays. When the frame is placed in position 

 make a mound of about a bushel of fibrous, mellow- 

 loam three parts, one part decomposed manure, and a 

 proportion of lime rubbish mixed in the centre of each 

 light. When the rank steam is dispersed and the tem- 

 perature within the mound falls below 80^. plant out one 

 young cucumber in each mound, not allowing the plants 

 below the level of the seed-leaves. .\ good selection of 

 Telegraph is suitable for frame work. 



Parsnips. — Before sowing, the land for parsnips 

 ought not to be freshly manured in the surface. This 

 causes the roots to divide in all directions attracted bj' 

 the manure. Ground that has been manured for a crop 

 the previous season, or that has been manured from 

 late autumn and exposed in ridges during winter, will 

 be in suitable tilth for preparing for the seeds, and will 

 grow nice clean roots. People sometimes take extreme 

 measures to grow giant parsnip by opening trenches 

 and placing manure sufficiently deep, or by making 

 holes and using special compost for each root. This 

 involves much labour, and size with coarseness often 

 results. Medium parsnips, clean and fine, are more 

 acceptable at the table. When the soil is deeply dug 

 and reduced to a fine state, draw ruts eighteen inches 

 apart and about an inch deep. Early thinning forwards 

 growth, and regular hoeing is essential. For medium 

 table parsnips eight inches between the plants will 

 suffice. Sow Student or Hollow Crown, the difference 

 between which is seldom apparent. 



Onions. — The main crop of onions ought to be sown 

 on the first suitable chance. In cottage gardens where 

 space is limited growing in beds has advantages. 

 They are convenient for after-tillage, when the help 

 mav be encumbered with petticoats and skirts. A bed 

 four feet wide accommodates four lines. Early and 

 partial thinning and light hoeing between the lines, so 

 as not to disturb the roots, must be the order. Xo 

 weed can be tolerated in an onion bed without harm. 

 Weeds left till strong cannot be removed without dis- 

 turbing the roots, which checks growth, and the crop 

 suffers sooner from over-shadowing than almost any 

 other. In fact, if weeds get ahead of joung onions it 

 is time and space wasted. Onions in cool frames must 

 be aired and pushed along for planting next month. 



The first volume of " Beautiful Garden Flowers and 

 How to Grow Them " (T. C. and E. C. Jack), issued in is. 

 monthly parts, is now complete, and forms a really hand- 

 some book. The coloured plates are most attractive. 

 The second volume begins in Part 9 just received. 



Bee-Keeping. 



By T. Magiire, The Orchard, Enniskillen. 



Extracting — III. 



WHEN getting an extractor it is cheaper to get a 

 good one. A geared two-frame extractor 

 will cost more than an ordinary one, but will 

 repay its cost in comfort and efficiency. Two uncapping- 

 knives, the " ripener" already referred to, and sufficient 

 tins to hold the honey should be in readiness. If the 

 extracting can be performed immediately the frames 

 are taken off the hive, and whilst they are still warm, it 

 will be so much more easil3- done, and the room should 

 be kept at a warm temperature for the same end. 

 Have some hot water at hand in which to keep the 

 knives heated. They must be clean and sharp, and 

 whilst one is in use the other is immersed in hot water. 

 With a little practice it is easy to remove the capping 

 in sheets, almost without touching the honey. Hold 

 the frame over the strainer with the side which is being 

 operated upon inclined downwards ; begin at the lower 

 part of the frame, and allow the capping to drop into 

 the strainer. These cappings should, of course, be 

 carefully preserved, to be duly converted into wax, of 

 which more hereafter. First, extract about half the 

 honey from one side of the comb, then reverse the 

 machine tu the other side, and finish that side : reverse 

 again, and finish the first side. This method puts least 

 strain on the combs, w hich, when new, are easily broken. 

 The handle should always be turned gentlv until a good 

 part of the honey is thrown out, when speed may be put 

 on to finish. 



The ripener is provided with a strainer on top, but 

 this is not sufficiently close to leave the hone\' readv for 

 sale. .\ very convenient plan is, when a quantity of 

 honey has accumulated in the extractor, to put the latter 

 on a table or bench sufficiently high to allow the strainer 

 to stand underneath the tap. .\ jelly-bag is then hung 

 on the tap of the extractor, and the honey is allowed to 

 pass through. The tap should be so regulated that the 

 bag will not overflow. When strained, the honey can 

 be put into tins or bottles, and should be kept in a warm 

 place till disposed of If the honey is verv thick and 

 slow to strain, bring the apparatus near the fire, when 

 it will strain more readily. 



When the combs have been extracted they can be 

 given back to the bees to be filled again as required. 

 When extracted for the last time thev should be placed 

 over a colony with a small hole in the quilt, or with a 

 Federation escape board, having the slot open, under- 

 neath, to be cleaned up. When drj' they should be 

 stored in a dry place for the winter, secured from moths 

 and mice. 



Different grades of honey will be gathered as the 

 various flowers come into bloom. It is sometimes 

 desirable to keep each quality by itself, and, when 

 shallow frames are used, this is easily enough done in 

 a good season. The white clover honej* should, if 

 po.ssible. be kept separate at all events, as its light 

 colour and beautiful flavour command the highest price, 

 to say nothing of the prizes at the shows. 

 [To be cuiiliiiued.'\ 



