70 



IRISH GARDENING 



May Notes. 



B\- W. H. R. 



HKRE much reliance is 

 placed on annuals the 

 mouth of May is a critical 

 time in the flower g-arden, 

 for its condition during 

 the summer and autumn 

 months will greatly depend 

 on what is done and what 

 is not done now, particu- 

 lirly in the matter of thin- 

 ning- out. Assuming- that 

 the necessary sowings 

 have been made in April 

 and that the seedlings by this time are well above 

 ground, this operation ought now to receive due 

 attention. In far too many cases the rough and ready 

 method with annuals is to sow them thicklj- in clumps 

 or lines and to leave them afterwards to fare as best 

 they can, without regard to the inevitable struggle that 

 must ensue among crowds of seedlings requiring not 

 only room for development above ground but a sufficiency 

 of mineral salts in solution within reach of their roots. 

 In such cases a state of s'arvation results, followed by 

 stunted growth, a brief flowering period, and an earh' 

 death. Most annuals, given sufficient room for develop- 

 ment, will, unless they suffer from scarcity of water, 

 continue to develop fresh flowering branches after the 

 primary growths have passed that stage, particularly it 

 care be taken to prevent the maturing of seed, which is 

 with them the ambition of a lifetime. Seeing that the 

 object of the cultivator is to have as great an abundance 

 of blossom over as long a period as possible, he should 

 do whatever may tend to foster this end. It is in his 

 power to do so by removing the flow-er heads in the 

 early stage of seed formation while the plant is still 

 possessed with the zeal for life and before it has too 

 definitely broken with everything save the instinct that 

 makes for the perpetuation of the species. While this 

 instinct is a well recognised feature in plants, and more 

 particularly so in those of only annual duration, it should 

 not be forgotten that in the presence of an abundance 

 of food most plants will be found not unwilling to 

 respond to the temptation of prolonging a pleasurable 

 existence, and to avoid undue haste in making what 

 might prove unnecessary sacrifice for the good of the 

 race. It is well, however, in the process of thinning, 

 not to proceed too rigorously at first, as worms and 

 slugs claim also to have an interest in this work, and it 

 not allow'ed their share in it may revenge themseU'es 

 on those you had destined alone to survive. AUow- 

 these creatures, therefore, some share in the removal 

 of superfluous seedlings till such time as the plantlets 

 have developed their third or fourth pair of leaves, 

 from which time forward the seedlings will be com- 

 paratively safe, and may be subjected to the last 

 thinning process. 



There are some classes of seedlings, poppies in 

 particular, specially liable to be eaten off" entirely by 

 these creatures imless precautionary measures are 

 taken. Sprinkling soot on the foliage when moisi from 



rain or dew, taking care to renew its application after 

 showers, till the plants have reached three or four 

 inches in height, may be found effective in most cases. 

 The ravages of these creatures are most to be feared 

 where there is convenient shelter close by, such as is 

 afforded by spreading tufts of sub-shrubb}- perennials, 

 like pinks, arabis, &c. Such clumps are often the sites 

 of veritable cities of hungry vegetarians in the shape of 

 snails, woodlice, &c. , whence they sally forth in the 

 dusk or in the darkness of the night to prey on your 

 succulent seedlings. In such neighbourhood more 

 drastic treatment becomes necessary, and the gardener 

 must take the offensive, putting, if possible, the whole 

 of the inhabitants to the sword. 



It is still not too late to make sowings of the quicker 

 growing annuals, and as better effect is obtained from 

 masses of a distinct colour than from a mixture of 

 colours, named varieties or well fixed t\-pcs should be 

 chosen. Among them might be included candytuft Xew- 

 Carmine, Rose Cardinal, and Giant Hyacinth-flowered, 

 clarkia Salmon Queen, godetia Gloriosa, Crimson Glow, 

 and Lady Satin Rose, Leptosyne Stilhnanni, Chrysan- 

 themum Sibthorpi, C. coronarium, double white and 

 double sulphur, and the new hybrid chrysanthemums, 

 Morning Star and Evening Star. 



Where facilities for the raising of tender annuals are 

 absent some of the more useful of these, as asters, ten- 

 week stocks, petunias. Phlox Drummondi^ and zuinias, 

 single and double, should be procured from a nursery- 

 man towards the end c>f the month, b}- which time the\- 

 will have been' sufficiently hardened oft" to be planted 

 out without fear of loss from cutting winds or late 

 frosts. 



The foregoing remarks are concerned onl\' w-ith 

 cinnuals and have reference chiefl}' to thinning. The 

 intention was not to go beyond this, but it may be 

 added that this month is the best time to sow- wallflowers 

 for next year's bloom. The vatieties should include a 

 good strain of Blood Red, Eastern Queen, and Cloth of 

 Gold, to which may be added Primrose Dame, Rubv 

 Gem, X'ulcan and Golden Monarch. 



The Reader 



The Book of the Cottage Garden. By Charles 

 Thonger. London: John Lane Company (2s. 6d. ). — 

 This book, as explained by the author, is written for 

 those w-ho, while possessing country cottages, are in no 

 sense cottagers. It is mainly concerned with the 

 growing and artistic grouping of flowers in natural 

 ways, although the second chapter is devoted to lawns 

 and the last two chapters to the vegetable garden and 

 orchard. It is written in the true spirit of gardening as 

 we understand the term, and its perusal has given us 

 real pleasure. Our author has a fine contempt for the 

 ■'statuary and vases," the "varnished huts with win- 

 dows of stained glass," the " ricketty chairs with 

 striped awning, ' the "tawdry Japanese umbrellas or 

 portable hammocks " found in so many gardens, 

 especially within the regions of suburbia. In the rest- 

 ful garden of the country home the " paths are moss- 

 grown, innocent oi the injmaculate coatings o^ gravel 

 deal- to the owners oi carriage drives and serpentine 



