IRISH GARDENING 



79 



French Beans. — French beans grow freely in a 

 sunny aspect, in light, rich soil. The rows may bo 

 two feet apart and the seed may be dropped about 

 three inches apart, later on ever)^ second plant to hi- 

 pulled out or transplanted. Canadian Wonder is a 

 strand variety for general cultivation. To keep up a 

 regular supply successional sowings must be made. 

 Climbing French beans are well worthy of a place 

 where anj- of the tribe are grown, having the good 

 qualities of the dwarf varieties as well as being early 

 .and continuous to bear. Where space is limited and 

 stakes are procurable they are a distinct acquisition. 

 The Wax-pod or Golden Fuller beans also deserve to be 

 cultivated. 



Scarlet Ri xners. — Make a first sowing of these in 

 the open during the first week of the month. Allow 

 six or more feet between the lines, with six or seven 

 inches from plant to plant. This crop requires rich 

 soil, deeply worked and manured. Where very high 

 stakes cannot be had runner beans may be pinched to 

 anv required height. For seed use a good selection 

 of the Champion Scarlet variety. 



To.MATOE.s. — Tomatoes fcr outside ought to be 

 hardened off for some time previous to planting. If 

 plants are strong and the weather favourable, and it" 

 teniporary shelter, as old sashes, &c., can be afforded 

 them, these may be put out against walls with a 

 southern aspect about the twentieth (20th) of the month. 

 The soil ought to be moderately enriched with light 

 m.anure, as an old hotbed, and a dressing of super- 

 phosphate is also very helpful to fruit formation. 

 .Make the plants firm when planting, leaving a distance 

 of about eighteen inches between the plants. The 

 stronger the plants are and the earlier when started 

 in permanent quarters, the more profitable will outdoor 

 tomatoes be, but it is useless to put out weak plants 

 too early, or any plants, if some temporary shelter 

 iNHtmot be given 'them 



1'e.\s. — It is very important to keep up a constant 

 succession of peas. For the later supplies special 

 preparation must be made, as after the turn of the 

 season their growth is not vigorous, especially under 

 careless cultivation. For the late crops sunken 

 trenches ought to be prepared, using a liberal supply 

 of decomposed farmvard manure, and thoroughh' 

 mixing this with the surface soil. The sides of this 

 trench should graduallv slope from either side to about 

 six inches below the surface level to the centre where 

 the seeds are sown. Sow Autocrat, British Queen, or 

 Gladstone, shedding the seeds thinly and covering with 

 about two and a-half inches of soil. When the pods are 

 swelling thorough waterings with liquid manure is one 

 of the secrets of having good late peas. 



LigiiD Manure. — The time was when gardeners 

 had to depend mostly on liquid manure to grow choice 

 and prize-taking vegetables. .At present there seems 

 to be less care taken to have a handy supply of this 

 most valuable aid for the kitchen garden. In many 

 cases there is a great waste of plant food in the loss of 

 the urine of faim animals. Sometimes people mix a 

 little solid manure with water, and fancy that this is 

 equal to any form of liquid feeding. This is a mistake. 



The judicious use of the urine of farm animals, decom- 

 posed and diluted, is of the greatest assistance in the 

 cultivation of most of the kitchen garden crops, though 

 this, like many a good thing, can be abused. 



The Herbaceous Border. 



By Frank Hi nsoN. 



AS soon as dahlia tubers have made some growth 

 move them into a cool frame to harden off. If 

 seeds of annuals were not sown last month sow 

 them at once. Stake sweet peas before the plants get 

 too tall. Mark all daffodils and narcissi if it is intended 

 to lift them later on for division. As soon as poljanthus, 

 double daisies and hybrid primroses have done flower- 

 ing lift them and divide the roots; plant again in the 

 border or into a nursery bed. 



Give stocks and asters plenty of light and air. .\t 

 the end of the month sow seeds of biennials, such as 

 wallflower, Canterbury Bell, hollyhock, pansy. Sweet 

 William, silene, Brompton Stock, Forgel-me-Not, antirr- 

 hiniunis; also sow seeds of pentstemon, viola, polyanthus, 

 In'brid primrose, aubretia, arabis, alpina, AUysttin 

 saxafile, foxglove, aquilegia, anemone, Bellis pen-nuts 

 (double daisy), Campanula pyramidalis^ auricula, gail- 

 lardia, delphinium, and carnation. These can be planted 

 out in the border next October for spring and summer 

 display. Keep the Dutch hoe working. 



Bees. 



By T. Magiiri;, The Orchard, Enniskillen. 



THIS month should see all hives spring-cleaned 

 and painted, queens clipped, supplies of founda- 

 tion, sections, &c. , ready for the season, spare 

 hives prepared for eventualities, and the apiary in 

 general put in shape. It adds greatly to the pleasure 

 in bee keeping to have the hives neatly set out in 

 appropriate positions on flags or concrete blocks. 

 The latter are easily made — four bo.irds about 30 inches 

 by 4 are put together like a bottomless box and set 

 perfectly level in position. Fill in with rough stones, 

 and pour in cement — one to three is a good proportion. 

 Fix a piece of bent wire in the concrete at each side of 

 the hive, with a loop to take the rope for tying down in 

 winter. Smooth the top with a float, and when set 

 remove the boards and smooth the edges. This makes 

 an ideal stand — clean, dry, and cool. If there is a row 

 of hives, climbing or standard roses, or tall growing 

 flowers planted between them, will give a very pleasing 

 effect. 



Feeding must now be attended to. One quart of 

 water to three pounds of cane sugar, and four drops of 

 izal for disinfecting purposes, makes the best spring 

 .syrup. Bring to a boil, and feed in the evening, 

 about lialf-a-pint for the night. Weak stocks will 

 want feeding to stimulate them, and strong stocks, 

 unless honey is coming in plentifuU)-, will require it even 

 more. The great point is to keep the queens laying right 

 through this month, for it is the bees bred in May that 



