94 



IRISH GARDENING. 



JUNE 



The Fruit Grounds. 



Bv William R. Spenckr, .Manor House Gardens, 

 Lo.ijfhgall, Co. .Arma.ijli. 



BY the time the-se notes appear in print grower.s will 

 be able to form an estimate of the fruit crops for 

 this season. The present is a most anxious time 

 for us all, as now (May i8th) most apples are in full 

 bloom. A few varieties such as D.-rby, Royal Jubilee, 

 Royal Codlin, &c.. do not flower here until the first 

 week in June. The flowers are not fully expanded until 

 then, so will have a better chance of escapin>f frost than 

 the earlier flowering sorts. Frosty nights are the rule 

 just now, with hail showers during the day — not at all 

 favourable for the setting of fruit. It is sincerely to be 

 hoped that the weather will soon change to more genial 

 conditions ; if so we may reasonably hop..' for an^l 

 expect a fine crop of apples. 



Thin.sin'g Frlit Crops.— The thinning of the fruits 

 of most kinds, and p.irlicularly of apples, pears, and 

 plums, is an operation very seldom performed. Trees 

 carrving very heavy crops undoubtedlj- derive much 

 benefit from it ; also, the fiuit is of larger size and of 

 better quality where done. Apples and pears set in 

 bunches of from five to eight or more fruit. If these 

 bunches are regularly distributed over the tree it would 

 be impossible for it to mature all satisfactorily. They 

 ought to be reduced to not more than three fruit to each 

 bunch, and in the ca.se of some of our finest apples and 

 pears one' is quite sufficient. Plums set very thickly .ail 

 along the younger sh.iots .and in bunches. These benefit 

 bv severe thinning. Each fruit should be allowed room 

 for development, so lliat when ripe it may hang clear of 

 its neighbour. It is quite impossible to lay down any 

 hard and fast rule as to how many fiuit any tree should 

 be allowed to carry. If I say pears should be about six 

 inches apart all over its surface it would be alright if 

 we could have them so placed. But they, as a rule, set 

 better and produce more fruit buds further away from 

 the trunk than close to it ; then to allow them less room 

 in this case would be right. The health, age, and 

 vigour of the tree must also betaken into account ; also. 

 if they are fully established trees, with roots in proper 

 working order, or if they have been recently root pruned. 

 Recently planted trees and those root-pruned last 

 winter cannot carry as much fruit as established trees. 

 A last word — do not be greedy by overtaxing the trees. 

 If vour trees bear heavy crops be kind to them, feed them, 

 and at least remove all mis-shapen and small fruits, if no 

 more. They v\'ill be all the better for it, and able lo 

 carry good crops every jear. 



W.\LL Trees. — Attend to the watering of wall trees, 

 and if at all dry give a good soaking of water ; if cany - 

 ing a crop, liquid manure would be of service. These, 

 owing to their position, do not receive the same amount 

 of benefit from rains as trees in open positions, conse- 

 quentlv require to be supplied with water oftener. 



.American Blight or Woolly .Aphis. — This pest ofi en 

 abounds in old orchards, and we find it in young tree-, 

 occasionally. Its woolly looking appearance and while 

 colour makes it easily recognised. If its presence is 

 suspected it should be looked for and destroyed. A 

 paint brush dipped in methylated spirit or paraftin oil 



is the simplest, and at the same licne the most eftective, 

 remedy to apply ; this dabbed on them do not allow it to 

 come into contact with foliage. It is usually found on 

 the main branches and trunk, in cracks, or under loose 

 bark, .and often fully exposed. 



Strawberries. — These will be ripening during the 

 month. In these parts we do not expect many ripe before 

 the first few days of July — a few on young plants, 

 perhaps, the last few d.avs of Jime. In more favoured 

 parts thev will be ripe a fortnight or more earlier. If 

 they have not been mulched with filler, as advised in 

 last months calendar, no time should be lost in putting 

 down some straw now, cut off runners as they appear, 

 and have all netted over to protect from birds in good 

 time. 



(ioOSEBERRIES. —Do MOt pick too long, .IS large berries 

 are not so satisfactory for tarts, &c. Pick fruit nearest 

 Ihe ground first, as they often get spoiled by the soil 

 being w.ashed on to them. Some should be allowed to 

 remain to ripen for dessert purposes. These are belter 

 for being exposed to light. To aid this, remove gross 

 growths, which generally arise now, and fill up centre 

 of bush, also side. Shoots and others not required for 

 future development should be pinched to oite inch of 

 its b.ase. 



CiR.\FTED Trees. — .-\11 growths aris ng from stock 

 .should be rubbed off as they appear. If the scion is 

 m.aking satisfactory progress the clay may be removed, 

 the ties loosened, and retied not quite so firmly .as before. 



Marketi.ng. — .\ few short notes may not be out of 

 place here. Gooseberries are now fit for market, and 

 generally command a good price .about Whitsuntide. 

 Sell as soon as possible after being picked, as they 

 shrink rapidly. Dispose of thera locally if possible ; if 

 not, write your salesman in Dublin or Belfast, who will 

 advise as to the best method to send to market. Straw- 

 berries are generally sold in punnets holding one or two 

 pounds each, and packed in crates holding two or three 

 dozen punnets. The earliest and largest fruits sell 

 better for being packed in a single layer in a flat box 

 holding one pound, each fruit to have a bit of leaf 

 wrapped round it to prevent contact with those next it, 

 but leave fruit fully exposed on top ; place a few loose 

 leaves overall, and close lid. Market as soon as possible 

 after; they must arrive fresh if they are to sell well. 

 They should be picked early in Ihe morning and sold 

 the same day. Be cleanly in your methods ; use clean 

 boxes, crates, punnets, and packing material. Every- 

 thing connected with ripe fruit, and soft fruit especially, 

 must be spotlesslj- clean if the highest price is to be 

 obtained for them. 



Tlie Kitchen (iarden. 



By James Br.ukex, Horiicultuial Instructoi-, Co. Coik. 



DURING the w.irm days of summer, if the amount 

 of waur in the ground required by kitchen 

 g.irden crojis be suflicicnt, growth is wonder- 

 fully rapid. This quickness of growth is desirable, as 

 it means increase of quantity as well as good quality. 

 On this account the means by which moisture can be 



