76 



IRISH GARDENING. 



MAY 



The Month's Work. 

 The Fruit Grounds. 



By William R. Spencer, Manor House Gardens, 

 Lougfhgall, Co. .Armagh. 



STR.4\VBERRIES.— The ground must now get a 

 good deep hoeing between these plants ; it should 

 be done when the ground is dry and all weeds 

 removed. When this has been done the w-hole ought to 

 have a thorough dressing of freshly-slaked lime or lime 

 and soot mixed together. The leaves of the plants must 

 be lifted and underneath be dusted, for it is here slugs 

 are found in quantities. If this be done many of them 

 will be destroyed. 



Considerable damage is done year by year to ripe 

 strawberries by slugs, and growers should endeavour 

 to get rid of them as far as possible. If this be 

 neglected now the lime and soot cannot be applied later, 

 as in doing so when fruit is formed they get patches of 

 the dressing on tliem, which frequently remain on them 

 altogether, and are useless in consequence. 



Before the trusses of bloom get too far advanced, or 

 better, as they are seen to form, a good mulch of stable 

 litter should be applied, and ought to consist chiefly of 

 straw (not haj). If applied now the rains will have 

 washed the straw by the time fruit is ripe, and will then 

 preserve them from getting soiled during heavy rains. 

 The mulch has many more advantages ; besides others, 

 it helps to keep down weeds, no small advantage, be- 

 sides conserving moisture. No fruit suffers more dur- 

 ing spells of drought, and if such occurs during the 

 time fruit are swelling water must not be withheld ; 

 they will benefit greatly by several good drenchings. 



Deep cultivation, with liberal quantities of farmyard 

 manure and after-surface cultivation and good mulch- 

 ings, is the proper course to follow in the culture of this 

 fruit, and if such be done water will scarcely be re- 

 quired in any but the dry est of soils. However, as 

 already stated, during the swelling period of fruit if 

 drought is experienced watering will be attended with 

 considerable success. 



Teach Trees out of doors on walls will now require 

 almost daily attention. Disbudding must be systemati- 

 cally done. Remove all shoots growing outwards or 

 towards the wall ; also thin those on the sides, so that 

 no more may be left than that required to fill vacan- 

 cies, and replace shoots which are to be removed next 

 autumn. .■\s the fruits are seen to swell thinning may 

 be commenced. This cannot be done all at once, as it 

 sometimes happens that the fruits drop off through a 

 check or from other causes. Besides, to thin all at once 

 would in itself cause a check to the tree. See that they 

 do not want for water at the root, and syringe after hot, 

 sunny days about five o'clock if frost is not e.xpected. 

 If the dreaded leaf-curl should appear pick of^all leaves 

 showing the least sign of it and burn them, and if 

 possible protect the trees from cold winds. 



Raspberries. — In established plantations these will 

 by now have thrown up quantities of young canes, 

 many more than are required for fruiting next year. 

 .All these surplus canes may now be pulled up carefully, 

 leaving those nearest the old stools, and only sufificient 



for next year's supply. These, if allowed to remain, 

 exhaust the soil, and afterwards smother the ripening 

 fruit and prevent the sun and air penetrating to ripen 

 the canes for next season. A mulch of good fat manure 

 applied to these would be of great benefit. 



Gooseberry and Curra.nt Sawflv. -This insect 

 often does considerable damage to both gooseberry 

 and currant bushes. Where it has made its appearance 

 last year, unless it has been destroyed, it will now be 

 back again. .As soon as they make their appearance 

 the\- must be attacked, or soon nothing will be left but 

 naked bushes. They devour the leaves in a very short 

 time. Swift's arsenate of lead is strongly recommended 

 for their destruction. This is a poison, and is sprayed 

 on the le.'ives ; as the caterpillars feed they eat the 

 poison, and so become defunct. I have not personally 

 tried this preparation, but believe it to be everything 

 that is claimed for it. Paraffin emulsion or quassia 

 extract and soft soap will kill them, or the bushes when 

 damp may be dusted with freshly slaked lime or soot, 

 which will do away with them. 



General Remarks. — Enemies will during the month 

 make their appearance in many quarters. Keep a 

 sharp look out for such, and attack them early, or they 

 will do untold damage. Prevention is at all times 

 better th.-in cure. Therefore keep the syringe or engine 

 going to keep down filth. -A weak insecticide, such as 

 quassia or paraffin emulsion, will do wonders in ward- 

 ing off attacks of greenfly or other aphis which do such 

 a lot of damage to all sorts of fruit trees and bushes. 

 Keep down weeds, they will now be fast making head- 

 way. Got them under at once if you are to keep them 

 under during the vear. Mulch an_\' fruit trees not 

 already done. Fruit trees are gross feeders, especially 

 when carrying a crop, and anything in the nature of a 

 stimulant will be gratefully received and acknowledged 

 later on. Therefore if the mulch be of good quality 

 manure it will be all the better, but even a mulch of 

 grass or similar material will prevent the soil getting 

 very dry, and be of benefit. It is too early in the year 

 to form an idea of what the fruit crops will be even- 

 tuallv, but the prospects are very bright so far. Pears 

 and plums are showing well, and apples are showing an 

 enormous amount of fruit blossoms. If we only get a 

 fair spell of weather when the setting period comes, and 

 insect foes leave them alone, we may anticipate a very 

 full crop, but there are many buts before this can be 

 pronounced upon with safety. 



The Flower Ciardeii. 



Bv J. H. CfM.MING, Overseer, Royal Dublin Society, 

 Ball's Bridge. 



GENER.AI. work. — During the latter part of this 

 month more bedding plants will be put out than 

 in any other month of the year. The number of 

 beautiful plants which have been furnished to the flower 

 gardener of the present day and the experience in 

 making proper selections for various soils or climates 

 give us considerable advantage over those of a past age. 

 All flower garden plants, whether propagated in autumn 

 or spring, should be well hardened off in order to 



