IRISH GARDENING 



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The Months Work. 



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4 



Flower (Jarden and Pleasure Grounds. 



Uy A. I.' AMi'iii:!.!.. (.■.anloiuT lo l.oitl Aiilil.iun, 

 St. Amies, Clonlarf. 

 ^IIE flower garden will he vorv ijay 

 during the presenl moiitli. Roses 

 of sorts will now In- in full bloom, 

 ■ uul will amply repay ;i link' cxlr-.i alli-ii- 

 lioii. Ciive tluMii .m occasional watering 

 Willi woaU liquid manure; remove all 

 Mooms that are past, and if an autumn 

 tlisplaj' is required cut each shoot back 

 to a plump bud. I refer to I'erpetuals, 

 'feas ami II)"brid 'I'eas. If watered and 

 ki-pt clean, tlicy will again flower freely 

 during Auyust and September. The 

 •y-*^"*^ B^ rampant Iiourboiis, Noisettes, Musk, and 

 jIT. Ck'JH tlie Hybrid Sweet Hriars, &c., should have 

 iN^luat -■ some of the old shoots which have flowered 

 cut olT to make room for and encourage 

 strong, joung growths from the base of 

 the plant for next year's displaj'. Should 

 it be desirable to increase any variety, it 

 can now be budded on briar or any suit- 

 able slock. 



Carnations should have their flower 

 shoots secured to small stakes, and their 

 young growths la}'ered for the coming 

 year's supply. 



Hedges can be clipped by the middle of 

 the month, as they will then have nearly 

 completed their growth. Slake tall plants in borders 

 which are likely to be injured by storm or heavy rain. 

 X'erbenas, Heliotrope, Agatha-as, &c., should be pegged 

 ilown so that the surface of the beds is completely 

 covered. Keep the flower-beds and borders neat and 

 clean ; grass must be kept short and walks cleaned and 

 rolled. 



Many of the plants required for autuiim planting 

 should now be dibbled out into nursery lines, so that 

 they will be strong and well-rooted by October ; this 

 refers to Wallflowers, Polyanthus, Daisies, Pansies, 

 Myosotis. &c., which were sown in May. Cuttings of 

 Violas, .-\rabis. Aubrietias, &c., should be inserted in 

 cold frames in a north aspect ; if shaded from bright 

 sun and kept moist they will soon make roots, when 

 they can be exposed to full light and air. 



Choice Double Daisies should be increased by divi- 

 sion, also the Double Primroses. See that Violets do 

 not become dry ; hoe between plants, remove runners, 

 and keep clean. 



The Fruit Garden. 



By L. Chii.ds, Gardener to the Earl of Meath, 

 Killruddery, Bray. 



STK.WVBERRY RL'XNER.S. —These should be 

 selected from strong, clean plants ; for preference, 

 from the bed planted last year. The strawberry 

 can be propagated in various ways, though 1 consider 

 that the best method is to layer them in small pots, 

 three-inch for choice. These should be thoroujjhly 



clean, with a few leaves or fibrous loam placed in them 

 before filling them with good, rich soil Some growers 

 believe it to be advantageous to sink the pots nearly to 

 the brim, but it is not usually necessary if you make 

 sure they are standing level. As soon as the runner 

 has developed a few leaves it is pressed closely upon 

 the soil in the pot and kept in contact with it by means 

 ol a small hooked peg. Then keep them spraved over 

 with a rose during dry weather, and they should be 

 ready for severing from their parent plants in three 

 weeks. When they are taken ofl" place them in a cold 

 frame or a shady place and give them water. The 

 earlier you can gel young runners the better both for 

 forcing and planting out. If you have not already 

 prepared your new bed, it should at once be done. A 

 nice, rich soil, somewhat on the heavy side, will be 

 found most suitable with south aspect. Try and get 

 them planted by the end of July, then you should have 

 some splendid fruit oft' them the first year. 



Apple trees will require your attention, for most of 

 them are infested with web and maggot ; they should 

 be cirefully picked olT and burned. The few that have 

 a small crop are not swelling satisfactorily. We have 

 been getting slight showers with harsh winds, which are 

 all against successful cultivation of fruit. When in 

 England for the great International Exhibition I visited 

 several large gardens in five diff^erent counties, and in 

 each of these places I found the apple ciop very much 

 under average. So if it is any consolation to Irish 

 growers I can tell them that Ireland is treated no worse 

 than the other side of the Channel. On the oiher hand, 

 pears are promising excellent returns for the labour 

 spent on them both in England and Ireland. See that 

 these do not suffer from want of nourishment, especially 

 those growing on walls ; remember that very often 

 they derive little benefit from rain in summer. Weak 

 liquid manure may with advantage be applied to bush 

 IVuil, iMcluding currants and raspberries, and the latter 

 should bo kept neatly tied to wires or stakes. 



Grapes. ^ — The atmosphere in the early houses must 

 be kept drier. Ripe grapes will need very little water- 

 ing i'or some time. He sure and keep free ventil.'ttion 

 both oil top iind front sashes. Later vineries, of course, 

 will require more moisture, with plenty of air iluring 

 sunny weather; and on no account close the house at 

 night if you are growing the Madresfield Court variety, 

 or you will wake up some morning to find a lot of ber- 

 ries cracked, and perhaps good bunches destroyed. 



Recommence syringing peaches and nectarines when 

 you have finished gathering the early fruit ; also be 

 careful not to .illow them to become dry at the roots. 

 If possible, take ofl' the lights, or ;it any rate give the 

 trees every chance of ripening their wood, keeping 

 foliage fresh and free from red spider, for next year's 

 crop will greath' depend upon the way they are treated 

 during summer aiul e;irlv autumn. 



The Vegetable Garden. 



By Wm. TvNii.VLL, Horticultural Instructor, 

 Co. Kildare. 



DIKING the months of July, .August, and 

 September, numerous shows will be held, 

 and prizes will be offered for vegetables. 

 To win prizes vegetables require constant attention 

 in watering and mulching, the value of which on light 

 shallow soils can hardly be over estimated ; in all 

 soils, in fact, from heavy clay to sandy soil, a good 

 mulch put on when the ground gets warm will save 



