ro8 



IRISH GARDENING 



JULY 



lower 



SI 



TOWS. 



Vacant Lanci C-iilt 



nation. 



MR. Cl'RTIS. so wvllUiunvii as llu- I loiiotiny 

 SLXivlaiy of (he National Swoi-l I'oa Soiiely, 

 has wriltiMi for Iho '• Haiulbook of I'raoliral 

 liarileiiiiijf Sorii-s " a lilllo work * thai must prove im- 

 mensely useful to every owe interested in j^-rowinif 

 flowers, fruits, and vegetables for exhibition. He deals 

 with every possible point in the formation of horti- 

 cultural societies aiul in tin- coiuluct of shows, as well as 

 givinif information concerninj^ the best varieties of 

 plants to vfrow, llic merits and faults of particular sub- 

 jects, hints on lluir cultivation anil preparation for 

 exhibition, slaifini,^, &c. 



As an example of the method of treatment we take 

 an extract from the article on sweet peas : — 



"Succt peas are exhibited in \ases, and rarely 

 otherwise than oi\e variety- in a \ase : from twelve to 

 thirty spikes in a vase according to the grade of the 

 competitor and the importance of the class. . . . 



"J/eri/^ — Large blooms; firm texture; long, stiff 

 stems ; not less than three flowers on a stem ; standard, 

 erect ; waves or only slightly hooded ; standard, 

 wing sand keel to be in such proportions to each other 

 as will constitute a harmonious and well-balanced 

 flower ; brilliance or purity of colouring ; freshness, 

 harmonious arrangement of the varieties in a collec- 

 tion. 



'"■Faults — Crowding: a mixture of stale and fresh 

 blooms, malformed flowers ; spots or streaks in the 

 colouring— caused by cutting and packing the flowers 

 when damp, or by an excess of water given to the plants 

 just previous to gathering. 



'^ Hinls — All orange and scarlet sweet peas and some 

 with deep blue shading are liable to ' burn ' or ' scald ' 

 during hot sunshine ; these should be lightly shaded with 

 cheese cloth or butter muslin. Put the stems in water 

 as soon as cut from the plants, and let them stand in 

 water in a cool, shady room or shed for at least two or 

 three hours (three to six hours are better) before pack- 

 ing them. Pack the spikes in flattish bunches and 

 enfold each bunch in one thickness of tissue paper. 

 Pack the bunches in single layers, using several sliding 

 shelves, if large quantities have to be packed in big 

 boxes. The boxes in which sweet peas are conveyed 

 to the flower show should be ventilated by means of 

 air-holes bored in the sides. When unpacked the flowers 

 should ' rustle ' together when lightly shaken ; if they do 

 this they are in good condition. Stand the spikes in 

 water after cutting a quarter of an inch from each stem 

 to allow free absorption of water." 



The book, like all the volumes in this excellent series, 

 is beautifully illustrated, and contains 109 pages of 

 clearly printed matter. It may be taken as an authori- 

 tative work of reference in all matters relating to 

 flower shows, while to promoters of local horticultural 

 societies it will be simply invaluable. All old exhibitors 

 will appreciate Mr. Curtis"s painstaking work, while 

 beginners will be well advised to carefully study its 

 instructive pages. 



* " The Book of the Flower Show," by Charles H. Curtis. London : 

 John Lane. as. 6d. 



A.SCHIKTV, known ;is the X'acant Land Society, 

 was established in London \n i<)oS, which has 

 for its object the utilisation of land lying idle in 

 i>r rounil cities or towns, with a view to tlu- providing ol 

 allotments for the use of casual labourers. .An olV-shoot 

 of this Society has been recently formed in Dublin, and 

 three plots of vacant lanil has been alreatl}- acipiired by 

 I lie connnittce and are now being worked by ordinary 

 cit\- labourers cither in the e\ening or on days when 

 they find themselves out of employment. One of these 

 pieces of waste land is on the site of an old brewery in 

 the Coombe district, quite in the heart of the poorest 

 ijuarter of the city. It is about 61 by 66 yards in area 

 and divided into eight plots, each of which is about 45 

 b\' 12 yards in size. Another is at Clontarf, and is 

 larger, there being il plots, each about 57 by 22 yards. 

 The third, situate at Pigeon House Fort, is larger still. 

 It belongs to the Corporation, and has an area of about 

 5 acres. 



We have just returned from a visit to the Coombe 

 allotments, and can testify to the excellent work that 

 is being carried on there under conditions that would 

 perplex the ordinary gardener. The work of prepar- 

 ing the ground commenced on Easter Monday last 

 upon a piece of rough land that required considerable 

 labour with pick and spade to convert it into soil fit 

 to grow any cultivated crop at all. .After this vigorous 

 system of tillage, the crops were heavily manured with 

 ilimg supplied by the Corporation, and now they carry 

 very fair crops of potatoes, healthy-looking cabbages, 

 beds of lettuces, and rows of peas and beans, and in 

 some plots are even celery, vegetable marrows, and 

 sweet peas. There are practically no weeds on the 

 plots, the paths are tidy, and the whole garden has a 

 general air of being well looked after and cared for. 

 There is one plot only that is not entirely under a grow- 

 ing crop, and considerable credit is due to all concerned 

 in what may be certainly considered as a very successful 

 undertaking. The society, after securing the tempor- 

 ary use of the waste land, proceeds to allot it out to the 

 most suitable applicants. In addition to the free use of 

 the allotment, the holders are also given the free use of 

 tools, which must not be removed from the ground, and 

 after using must be cleaned and put away in a house 

 provided for the purpose. Seeds to the value of 6d. per 

 square rod of prepared ground are pro\ ided, the repay- 

 ment of which may be deferred until the crops are 

 gathered. Should the land while carrying a crop be 

 required by the owner, tlie value of the lost crop will be 

 given to the allotment holder. The work is done under 

 the guidance of a superintendent, who acts as an 

 instructor, and everything must be done to his satisfac- 

 tion if the holder is to continue to enjoy the free use of 

 the land. 



It appears to us a most excellent scheme, and judging 

 from what we have seen it presents no real difficulties, at 

 least no insurmountable difficulties, in carrying it 

 through. We hope the Society will extend its w'crk 

 in Ireland, and that it will receive the support of 

 all who are interested in the social progress of the 

 country. 



