1^2 



IRISH GARDENING 



Gowran Castle Gardens. 

 Kilkenny. 



IT occurs lo me, as I walk through, that hi a few- 

 years this establishment will stand well in the 

 front as a great fruit-producing centre. 



From small beginnings, encouraged by success 

 at various fruit exhibitions in England, Scotland and at 

 home, the work has been carried K\n with great spirit 

 by the manager, Mr. 

 G. Roche, and his 

 assistants. The area 

 of fruit-bearing trees 

 has developed wondei - 

 fully during the last 

 ii^w years. His en- 

 deavours have been 

 strengthened by the 

 appreciation and sup- 

 port meted out lii him 

 by Lady .-\nnall}' an^l 

 the much respected 

 agent. K. While. Iisc|., 

 wiio is also much inter- 

 ested in the develop- 

 ment of the fVuit in- 

 dustry in the Coiuily 

 Kilkenny ami in Ire- 

 land generally. 



Good marketable 

 fruit always command-, 

 it fair price and always 

 pays for attention. 

 There is a good tleal 

 ofe.xpense and trouble 

 starting the work. 

 Many are reluct anl lo 

 plant, and consider tin* 

 ground practically nou- 

 pa}'ing until the tr-ees 

 come into bearing- ; but 

 this is a mistaken itiea, 

 .-md priictical proofs 

 are atfoi-detl lieri' thai 

 such is not the case. 



The demesne orchard 

 of six acres plantec/ 

 last year with Co,\'s 

 Orange Pippin, James 

 Grieve, Newton Won- 

 der, Worcester Pe.'irmaiu, Gascoignc's Scarlet, 

 Duchess' Favourite and Beauty of Hath, which are 

 under close observation, and are doing well. The 

 ground between the trees is planted with strawberries, 

 anemonies, potatoes, cabbage, turnips and mangolds, so 

 there is no idle ground here. 



Tile garden contains fom' a^-res. The main ujipei- 

 walk is planted on a border each side with Bramley's 

 Seedling about nine feet apart, with top and side 

 branches from one tree trained towards the next, form- 

 ing a pretty piece of trellis work. They are bearing 

 well and linking vigorous growth, and this is the third 

 ye.-ir since planting. The centre walk- — This work is 



Vhot,< by} 



Luus.\i,i 



,\ ^ood P;loii}-(Io 



extended into pergola-fashion, iinil the trees from each 

 side arc trained overhead. Lane's Prince Albert is 

 much in use for this work, and looks ver\- pretty fur- 

 nished with highly-coloured fruit. 



In the mixed plot of bush trees, seven years old, 

 some ,-ire carrying remarkably heavy crops of fruit ; 

 some of Bramley's Seedling were so large and highly- 

 coloured as to altogether aller theii- usual appearance. 

 We were tempted to weigh one of these, and it turned 

 the si-ale at i lb. 5 oz., and we could have found many- 

 like it. Lane's Prince 

 Albert as a bnsh plant 

 is carrying a heavy 

 crop, and presents a 

 pleasing sight. On on." 

 of those little trees 

 I CLUinleil 55 large, 

 highly-co loured fruit, 

 weighing the branches 

 to the gionnd. Theic 

 are 200 liees in the 

 ploi. Ml-. Koclu- says, 

 li.'u^stli speaking, he 

 cannot show- nic when- 

 I he best ones .-tre, as 

 they are ,-i!l sijnilar 

 in bearing cxlri'meh' 

 1 a r g I- f 1- u i I. Peas- 

 good s .\onsucli is 

 bciriny some veiy line 

 a p p 1 e s. Hamilton's 

 Seedling, .Mlini^ton 

 Pippin, Ki-nlisli Fil!- 

 h.isUi-t .Mul l;inu's 

 tir-ie\i' <u e ,ill vigo- 

 rtnis ; we conuU say 

 the s.une lor T\ Icr's 

 Kernel, wliiilr does 

 well irr other- ilisti ii'Is, 

 birl «:.rrinot be r-ecoin- 

 ineruletl irr this ioc,-ilily. 

 Cox's Pomona is ,-i 

 heavy cioppei- and ,-i 

 vrsefnl keeping ,-ipple, 

 .md with the Oueen, 

 Lady Strdeley, GoUlerr 

 Spire, Met-e tie INIeriage 

 and Lord Burleigh, 

 look splendid in the 

 bright sirnshine. 



Loddington's Seed. 

 lirrg is car ryirrg large, uell-lornied fnrit, is now seven 

 years old, and evitlently will do well in this district. 

 I'lowei' oi Herts is likely to come into favour also, 

 iis il is growing well, and, as a ilessert fruit, comes 

 into season about ten days before Worcester Pe.-ii- 

 main. Cox's Orange Pippirr does uell, and Charles 

 Ross has evidently come to stay ; il is carryirrg 

 a fair crop of rricely-coloitred fruit. One can see 

 tiolden Noble and Golden .Spire, with Ciloria Mundi, arc 

 attractive at a long distance. \\\ these tr-e«*s show the 

 great benefit of rool-pritning. 



.-\mong pear trees for heavy cropping " Conference " 

 takes the lead; abotrt 400 Ir-ees of this kinil aliMre are 



[H.lkc.rs 



t.I.M. 

 v.ici Dalili; 



