96 



IRISH GARDENING 



disbuti and tliin out some of Uie superfluous shoots, but 

 do not be too severe in this important work, which 

 requires considerable experience. July will be soon 

 enough tor the principal stopping;, &c.. but remove any 

 curled or blistered leaves when they are detected, and 

 try to find lime to syringe them with Quassia Extract, 

 and see that all trees planted dnrinsr last autumn and 

 spring- do not suflTer foi want ci water. 



The Vegetable Garden. 



By \Vm. Tvndall, Horticultural Instructor, 

 Co. Kildare. 



THIS month will be a busy one in the vegetable 

 gardet'i, though most of the seeds have been 

 sown. Transplanting will claim attention in 

 getting out the various winter crops. The past month 

 has been so dry that where the hoe has been kept 

 going few weeds are to be seen, and the crops look 

 most promising. I know that potatoes and many small 

 seeds, especially of the Brassica family, suffered much 

 by the severe frosts on the nights of May 12th and 

 13th ; still, with some heavy showers since, the planis 

 have recovered quickl)'. Where the seeds have been 

 sown thickly the plants will soon get weak if left 

 without being transplanted into nursery lines, and this 

 is most necessary where the intended ground for 

 planting is occupied with a growing crop, and the 

 permanent planting can be delayed to a later date, 

 lifting the plants from the nursery lines with a fork, 

 preserving as many roots as possible on the plants ; 

 treated this way the plants will be found to grow better 

 and withstand more frost without injury in the winter. 

 In planting out winter and spring broccoli it is not 

 necessary to have very rich ground, but make it firm. 

 Plant as early in the month as possible Autumn Giant 

 and Self-Protecting Broccoli in lines ai feet apart and 

 2 feet from plant to plant. Later in the month, on less 

 heavily manured ground made firm, plant Winter 

 Mammotli, Snow's WinterWhite. Mount Blanc, Leaming- 

 ton and ivtodel Broccoli for succession. .'\s cabbage 

 plants from the spring sowing become fit, plant out in 

 rows 2 feet apart, and the ground can scarcely be 

 made too rich. In this month the main crop of celery 

 should be planted, and Solid While and Standardbeaier 

 are two of the best kinds, and the latter, a red variety. 

 can be kept very late into the spring. Open good wide 

 trenches one and a half feet wide and deep and give a 

 heavy dressing of rich, well-decayed manure. After 

 the celery has made a good start in the trenches a top- 

 dressing every two or three weeks of superphosphate 

 three part^, and sulphate of potash and nitrate of soda 

 one part each, and well watered in, will very much 

 improve the appearance and size of the plants, giving 

 also an occasional dose of liquid manure, but al the 

 beginning give it in a weak state. 



Parsnips, carrots and beet should be singled out when 

 large enough, and if fly attacks the plants spray with 

 soap and water, and dust the plants every week with 

 soot. Onions also will require thinning, if not already 

 done ; and, so far, I have seen no sign of the onion fly ; 

 but thin early, and give the crop a dressing of artificial 

 manure every two weeks, as recommended for celery. 



If the plants are attacked pull up .and burn those 

 attacked and sy'ringe the remainder with soluble petro- 

 leum, two ounces to a gallon of tepid water, treading the 

 ground to make firm close to the plants. 



Stake peas and climbing beans as they require them. 

 A last sowing of Gladstone pea can be made at once, 

 antl later in the month make a sowing of an early 

 variety, as Gradus or Pilot (tall), and Daisy or Webb's 

 Little .Marvel (dwarf). During the month make a couple 

 of sowings of turnips, spinach, lettuce, radish, endive, 

 and French beans, for the first four selecting a cool, 

 rich border, so as to keep them as long as possible fit 

 for use and not going to seed or getting stringy. 



The Irish Rose and Floral 

 Society. 



Tm; Irish Rose and Floral Society holds its second 

 annual show, in conjunction with the provincial show o( 

 the National Rose Society, in the Botanic Park, Belfast, 

 on Friday, the 19th of July. Last year's show was a 

 great horticultural success, and we are pleased to see 

 by the report that a balance oti the credit side was 

 shown. The visit of the National Rose Society of 

 England will add great importance to the show, so that 

 all Irish rose-growers will endeavour to show their top 

 form to friends across the Channel, and all garden 

 lovers should attend and give assistance if possible to 

 inake the first visit of the N. R. S. a notable success. 

 There are 49 Classes for Roses ; the prizes are most gene- 

 rous, and six of the N. R. S.'s Silver Medals will be 

 awarded. 



The Schedule is compi'ehensi\e and particularly 

 strong in Sweet Peas. There are twenty-four classes 

 in which really substantial pi'izes are ofi'ered, including 

 numerous challenge cups, valuable plate and good 

 money prizes. In other classes, too. the prizes seem 

 considerably in advance of what is usually offered. 



In the Miscellaneous Section there are classes for 

 Hardy Garden Flowers, .Annuals, Carnations, Be- 

 gonias, &c. Entries on the Rose Section close 

 on 15th July ; entries in the Miscellaneous Section 

 close on 12th July. .Schedules may be obtained from 

 H. P. Pinkerton, Hon. Sec, 18 \'ictoria Street, Belfast. 



Intending competitors should be in possession of their 

 schedules as soon as possible, so that the rules, &c., 

 may be carefully studied. 



Show. 



Tut! second .ainiual exhibition of the Galway Horti- 

 cultural Society of Fruits, F'lowers and \'egetables will 

 be held on Tuesday, the i.^th .August. In the open 

 classes a Silver Challenge Cup is offered for Bordei- 

 Carnations. Another Silver Cup is offered for Sweet 

 Peas, and the Jones Challenge Cup for Gladioli. 

 Entries close on August 1st, and Miss J. T. 

 ."Vrmstrong, Mount Pleasant, Ballinasloe, is secretary 

 and treasurer. 



f^ 6^ ^* 



I.N nature, as in life, the sweetest things are around 

 us, they spring up at our feet. — Dovnes. 



