IRISH GARDRNING 



79 



The Month's Work. 

 Flower Garden and Pleasure Grounds. 



Hv A. L'.\Mriii;i.i., Gardener to Lonl Anlihuin, 

 St. Aiiiie'.s, Clontarf. 



MAY is perhaps the iiio^l iiilerest- 

 iiig month of the year hi Lhc 



flower jjarileii ; there are so 

 many beaiilifiil and tiecah'd colours 

 at this lime which are not to be liad 

 It any other season. We have many 

 be.iiitiful shrubs and trees which dur- 

 ing the present month add so much to 

 t lie general displ.iv ; there are many 

 I ock or .-Mpine plants in bloom ; each 

 Hitle patch has a charm of its own — 

 I he varied tints of their tiny flowers, 

 their compact habit of growth, some 

 oC which creep or hang over rocks. 

 These fe<'itures distinguish them from 

 other gtirden plants ; they adapt lliem- 

 selves to positions antl brighten inan\' 

 a spot where ordinary plants will not 

 thrive ; they are full i.^f interest, atid 

 well deserve the extra attention and 

 esteem now bestowed on them. 



Plants such as Forsythias, Genis- 

 tas, &c., directly they have finished 

 flowering, should be cut hard back ; 

 tlie\' will then make and perfect new 

 growth for next year's display, other- 

 wise they become weak and slrag- 



Herbaceous borders should be carefully gone over, 

 removing anv of the surface plants which encroach on 

 the permanent ones, so that the latter may have freedom 

 to develop for a later display. When Delphiniums have 

 flowered thev can be cut over, the surface soil stirred 

 and lop-dressed ; give them a thorough watering, and 

 they will again start and give a good display in the 

 aiMunin. 



t."onlinue to train creepers so as to till up spaces. 

 Stake Sweet Peas wliich are .idvanced, and tor succes- 

 sion make a sowing where they are to flower. 



Notes taken last summer and autumn should now be 

 referred to, and any change then decided upon can be 

 made when the summer bedding is being done. .An- 

 nuals should be thinned out antl watered if the weather 

 is dry. Keep the grass mown and have all walks clean 

 and rolled. 



It is now time to think of the requirements for winter 

 iind spring bedding, and to sow* \\'allflowers, Erysimmn, 

 I'ansies, Daisies. Polyanthus, Myosotis, &c. In clearing 

 beds of their present occupants preparatory to summer 

 bedding, such things as X'iolas, Pansies, .Arabis, .\ubrie- 

 lias, &c.. should have their lops shortened and be 

 carefully planted in reserve ground, so as to give a good 

 supply of cuttings for propagating plants for coming- 

 winter and spring requirements. The above are some- 

 limes neglected at this hurried time, and are much 

 injured by exposure, so it is important that they should 

 receive the necessary attention. 



The Fruit Garden. 



liy L. Ciiiiii--, Gardener to the Karl of .Meath, 

 Killruddery, Bray. 



1)l..\Clli;S .\ND NKCTARI.N'ES.— Peaches which 

 were started last December should now be taking 

 on their final swellings; give them plenty of walei* 

 and frequently syringe till such time as the fruit shows 

 signs of ripening, then shut up closely immediately after, 

 then put on air again about six o'clock in the etening in 

 mild weather and leave on all night. The front venti- 

 lator may be used freely again now, and it will help 

 considerably in giving the fruit its necessary flavour. 

 Slop laterals and tie in other shoots, and keep the 

 leaves clear from the peaches that all the fruit may have 

 necessary sunshine. But the skin of the nectarines 

 being rather delicate, will be the belter for partial 

 shade to prevent them from shrivelling. Unless the 

 fruit is urgently needed for use at once you may dis- 

 pense with fire heat to allow them to finish off slowly, 

 for with increasing atmospheric temperature and plenty 

 of clear water you can rely on gelling sufficient sun- 

 shine at this season for giving peaches a splendid finish. 

 Pay careful atlenlion to later peaches, keeping them 

 properly tied, and of course with hot weather and long 

 days they require more frequent watering and freer 

 ventilation Ihan the others wanted in the early part of 

 the year. Perhaps you will notice frequent repetition 

 of caution about important details, but you must re- 

 member thai I claim to be a practical exponent of 

 gartlening. and I am very anxious that all readers of 

 these notes should meet with success, and one cannot 

 be too particular in peach gi owing, and no one can 

 afl'ord to have failures. 



Str.wvbkrrif.s I.N PoT.s. — These will now be ripening 

 last ; push lliem through with due discretion, and make 

 room for growing melons, cucumbers, and tomatoes, 

 which will be in great demand during Ihe next three 

 months. 



Harhv pRflT (;.\RDKX.— If every detail in this de- 

 partment received proper attention in .March and .'\pril 

 it will not cause much trouble during May. Just see 

 that none of the fruit trees suffer for want of water or 

 mulching. Outside strawberry beds should be carefully 

 looked at. The\' will now be flowering, and in very 

 earl)' districts further advanced. See that the soil is 

 well covered with half-decayed stable manure or short 

 cut grass free from weeds — an)' material that will keep 

 the soft fruit from dirty soil caused by heavy rains, &c. 

 K.VRLV \'i-NERtES. -Fire heat will still be needed in 

 houses where all the berries have been thinned and the 

 stoning process completed. -Maintain at nights a tem- 

 perature of 65 or 70 degrees. Vou will find the roots 

 very active at this stage, and if you have a satis- 

 factory crop of good bunches they must get plenty of 

 nourishment, liquid or artificial. I prefer both given 

 alternately, for, like ourselves, ihey require a change of 

 food. Keep them well syringed and free from thrip or 

 red spider until they are colouring, or else you will not 

 succeed in getting them to finish off properly. Be very 

 careful not to touch or rub the berries, and commence 

 giving fieer admission of air when the grapes are nearly 

 ripe and occasionally during fine warm nights. You 

 can shut ofl" the fire he.at from Black Hamburgs, and 



