144 



IRISH GARDENING 



blossomed well, but the fruit failed to set properly, 

 consequently many have dropped off since, and a 

 number of those remaining are badly shaped and 

 undersized. Pears are extremely plentiful, but with 

 the unnatural low temperature I doubt if manj' 

 varieties will ever attain their proper size. Victoria 

 plums and damsons are a good crop in this garden. 

 Bush fruits are also very good. 



The Vegetable Garden. 



By Wm. Tyndall, Horticultural Instructor, 

 Co. Kildare. 



CONSTANTLY take advantage ot any dry 

 weather to keep down weeds by hoeing, as it 

 is wonderful how quickly weeds grow anil seed 

 at this time of year, especially if this month is warm 

 and dry, which often occurs. In this month we some- 

 times have one or two nights' frost, just sufficient to 

 injure or destroy French and Runner Beans, V'egetable 

 Marrow, and Cauliflower, so that if the nights look 

 like frost an effort should be made to protect these 

 vegetables, as ijenerally after a couple of nights' frost 

 we get a long spell of tine mild weather that keeps the 

 crops growing for several weeks. 



Celekv. — Early in the month earth up the main crop 

 of celery, leaving that for latest use till the end of the 

 month. With so much rain this year, celery planted 

 out early has made fine growth, but the last planted 

 celery on account of the cold, especially at night, has 

 not done well. Before earthing up remove all side 

 growths and decayed leaves, tying up each plant 

 with a piece of matting, theii dust with lime and soot 

 equal parts between and around the plants, to help 

 to prevent them being injured bj' slugs and worms. 

 Always earth celery on a fine day when the soil is dry, 

 breaking it up well before putting to the plants. On 

 no account cover the heart of the plants. Before 

 earthing up it would be well to give a good soaking 

 with liquid manure or good artificial fertilizer, manv of 

 which are advertised in this journal. 



Onions. — .Spring sown onions should now be fit for 

 pulling, and if the weather is dry they may remain for 

 a week or ten days on the open ground, finally finishing 

 the drying of the bulbs under cover, either in an open 

 shed or in an empty frame, giving plenty of air in wet 

 weather, and lifting off the lights on fine days. When 

 the bulbs are well ripened store in a cool place, and for 

 preference hank the onions. 



PiiTAio. — This crop should be lifted at once where 

 the haulm has died down, it being a great mistake to 

 delay lifting after this has taken place as is so often 

 done. Pits are the best way of storing, and cither 

 have air holes which should be stuffed with straw or 

 leave half a foot wide on top of pit uncovered with 

 clay for a week or two to prevent the potatoes heating. 



Spinach. — Another sowing should be made early this 

 month of this useful vegetable. V'ictoria Round is one 

 of the finest, and stands severe weather. The plants, if 

 the seeds grow freely, should be thinned to about six 

 inches apart in the rows. 



Cabbage.- Towards the end of the month get planted 

 out your cabbages for use in spring, and good plants 

 fit for pl.anting out should be had from seed sown as 

 recommended in July or early .August. For the first 

 planting, about September 20th, I select those varieties 

 noted for earliness, such as Excelsior, a good type of 

 EUam's Early, Webb's Emperor and Sutton's April, 

 and few of these will be found to bolt in spring. If 

 sown before the 20th of September, and a warm 

 autumn follows, many of the cabbages would start to 

 whiten, and then when frost follows these heads decay. 

 Later in the month plant for succession Flower of 

 Spring, Mien's No. i, and Early Offenham ; these will 

 require i| feet between the plants, in the rows 2 feet 

 apart, while the smaller early varieties may be planted 

 only 15 inches apart in the rows. An important point 

 in growing spring cabbage in heavy land is to 

 plant on raised drills, as cold seldom kills cabbage 

 plants, but wet will if it lies round the stem of the plant ; 

 therefore secure natural ilrainage in heavy soils, and 

 few plants will fail. 



Ti RNiPs. — These sown last month should be thinned 

 to about 6 inches apart, and keep clean b\* hoeing. 



Cardoons. —These may now be blanched by tieing 

 round with bands, and earthing up the same as celery 

 with clay. 



Notes. 



Gai.ega Hartiandi is one of the dwarfer varieties of 

 the Cialega family, growing from 34 f^'^' '"^ 4 feet, ac- 

 cortling to position. The flowers are deeper in colour 

 than G. officinalis, being more of a lavender shatle. 

 They are invaluable for cutting, lasting well in water. 

 It is a showy perennial plaiit for the herbaceous border 

 and wild garden, being in bloom from July to Sep- 

 tember. Propagate by dividing the clumps in aulnuin 

 or spring. 



PoTliNlil I.A GlBSDNI is a fine plant for rockeries and 

 the front of herbaceous borders. The flowers are 

 single, of a brilliant scarlet. The inflorescences are 

 from 2 feet to 24 feet long, but, owing to their procum- 

 bent habit, greatly detract from the appearance of the 

 plant ill some positions. L. G. 



Ol.It.VRl A lU.I-ll Ol.l.V. 



Win N more plentiful and better known this 

 handsome species will be eagerly sought after by 

 lovers of good shrubs. It is as free flowering as that 

 valuable species O. Haastii, and so far appears quite 

 hardy. It has not, however, been sufliciently tested in 

 this respect to allow of a definite statement. .\ 

 flourishing specimen is now in flower at Glasnevin. 

 This is growing in a border fronting the curvilinear 

 range, and was put out as a small plant from a pot 

 about four years ago. The leaves are much larger 

 than those of O. Haastii, of a pleasant green colour. 

 The flowers are produced in corymbs with great 

 freedom. Propagation is easily effected by cuttings or 

 .seeds. Seeds collected from the specimen at Glasnevin 

 germinated freely, and a large batch of young plants 

 resulted. — B. 



