i8 



IRISH GARDKNING 



FEHRUARY 



not one member of the council wlio recoj^nises 

 this public duty and who is spirited enough to 

 insist upon at least the appointment of a Horti- 

 cultural Instructor who would visit these allot- 

 ments and show the labourers how to make the 

 best use of their little plot of land ? There may 

 be other counties just as bad in this respect as 

 Dublin, but none could possibly be worse, and 

 furthermore it is the example of faulty admin- 

 istration that lies nearest to our own door. 



With such thoughts as these in our mind 

 we wrote to Mr. Charles Wakely, the Horti- 

 cultural Organiser for the County of Essex, 

 with whose splendid work in the organisation 

 of workmen's allotments in that county we have 

 been long familiar. We asked him to tell us 

 from his wide experience what possibilities lay 

 in these half-acre plots under the control of so 

 many of our labourers. Mr. Wakely replies as 

 follows : — 



Vou tell me, and it interests me greatly to know, that 

 a large number of labourers in Ireland have now as 

 much as half an acre of land attached to their cottages 

 with a view to the developm#it of profitable gardens. 

 I exclaim — "' What a grand opportunity and what 

 possibilities are thus opened up ! " 



I write as one who has long observed and encouraged 

 the efforts of those who have taken in hand the cultiva- 

 tion of ground of all kinds. Neglected plots of land 

 have often been made to yield a heavy return to 

 interested workers who have thoroughly applied them- 

 selves to the subject. About half a mile from my house 

 I have recently watched two capital examples of this 

 sort. On one side of the railway a deserted brickfield 

 has been gradually levelled and made into gardens. A 

 more unpromising site it would be difficult to find, and 

 possibly some ''professional" gardeners have smiled at 

 the efforts made. But results are gradually increasing, 

 and a pretty constant supply of fresh vegetables is now 

 being gathered. 



On the opposite side of the railway a mixture of 

 rubbish heaps and soil from the foundations of a large 

 factory has served a similar purpose. Here again 

 the conditions were indeed difficult, but keen application 

 to the work is once more provWig itself to be the chief 

 requisite for success. 



When writing of the culture of special classes of 

 plants it is the custom to recommend particular soils in 

 each case, but my present object is to encourage 

 anyone having a bit of land of any sort to make an 

 effort to improve it, and to reap a satisfactory return 

 from it. It must, indeed, be a strange piece of ground 

 that admits of no improvement ! 



My first suggestion is that special attention should be 

 given to good spade work, in suitable weather. 

 Specially avoid working the ground into a pasty con- 

 dition. Autumn cultivation usually proves very helpful 

 in this connection, as this gives an opportunity for 

 frost and air to do their work of opening and mellowing 



the soil. ll is more than ever cle.ir to-day tli;il this 

 work is profitable, as il serves to bring about healthy 

 conditions for the roots. Good, deep culti\atioii may 

 be old-fashioned, but it stands out in iqio more fully 

 justified by results than ever before. 



Manuring naturally claims attention, ami at fust the 

 value of a bulk\' manure such as that from the farm- 

 )'ard should be borne in mintl, on account of its help in 

 working the soil. Almost anything that will rot down 

 will in time prove useful. Perennial weeds, hedge- 

 clippings, &c., should be burnt, as well as anything 

 likely to carry on disease. The ashes from such fires 

 are simply invaluable as a manure. The value of the 

 pig should be borne in mind, both in view of the disposal 

 of waste vegetables and of the provision of manure. 

 Do not use the latter in too fresh a condition. The 

 profitable use of "artificial" manures is now receiving 

 more attention from small holders, who are getting 

 great assistance from them. Pay special attention to 

 the preparation of good seed beds, as this means much 

 in a new garden. Remember that it pays to buy good 

 seeds. Study the state of the soil in view of sowing, 

 rather than make too much of the almanac. Bear in 

 mind the usual amount of growth made by each crop, 

 and allow proper space for development. Through 

 lack of this there has been sad waste in the past. 



A variety of circumstances will dictate as to which 

 crop should be prominent. If to be grown for sale, 

 carefully consider your probable market and the 

 produce in demand there. For home use remember 

 that a constant supply of vegetables is most desirable. 

 In this connection give special attention to the cabbage 

 class for winter and spring use. 



Fruit bushes and possibly trees will in many cases 

 prove of great value in such a garden. Start with 

 good trees or bushes, avoiding divisions of old ones. 

 Remember that these crops require cultivation as much 

 as vegetables do. The apparently simple practice of 

 hoeing means more to them than many growers yet 

 believe. 



The gradual introduction of hardy herbaceous plants 

 and roses, for the supply of cut flowers, is now com- 

 monly noted in many gardens, and certainly adds 

 greatly to their interest and value. 



A further development is seen in the shape of small 

 frames for the raising of early crops, particularly for 

 planting out as soon as weather allows. This feature 

 in a garden has many reasons to commend it. 



It is quite true, as Mr. Wakely suggests, 

 that much depends upon a man's own push 

 and industry, but it is also true that the present 

 advanced condition of allotment gardening in 

 Essex is largely, if not entirely, due to the 

 enlightened policy of a Technical Instruction 

 Committee that has always been in the fore- 

 front of educational progress. 



If allotment gardening is to advance in this 

 country we must instruct the labourers ; there 

 is no other way. Let us begin with the metro- 

 politan county. Gentlemen of the Dublin Co. 

 Council, an Instructor in Horticulture, please! 



