IRISH GARDENING 



»59 



become dry, as lliis often proves fatnl to >;eniiiiiation. 

 Hence failiire. When llie little seecUiiijjs show their 

 first roufjh leaf they shoiiUI he carefully transferreil to 

 boxes or pans in a similar compost, placing them two 

 inches apart ; water with a line rose can and place 

 them in a frame, which must be kept closed to maintain 

 a mjist atmosphere till the little plants h;ive taken 

 possession of the new soil. During this period close 

 attention must be paid to shadinj^. also to attacks of 

 aphis. Should the plants become infested, fumigate 

 lightly at intervals of two or three weeks. .Vs growth 

 advances .ind the plants have made a few leaves, 

 potting will be necessary into pots four inches in 

 diameter, adding a little rough tibrous loam to the 

 previous mixture. To obtain good, healthy specimcTis 

 they should never be allowed to fill the pots with roots 

 inilil the lin.il potting. II the plants are neglected ;it 

 this stage they will llower prematurely, consecjiiontly, 

 inste.'id of the beautiful heads ol handsome llowers, a 

 poor, sickly specimen will Iv liu' result. The final 

 potting is the most important. I'ots ranging from 

 seven to nine inches are quite large enough for the 

 exhibitor or the amateur's conservatory. The potting 

 material this lime should consist of good, rough fibrous 

 lo.'im and old, spent mushroom bed. If this is not 

 obtainable leaf-mould should be used in equ.il p.uls 

 with sand, also a six-inch potful of soot to the barrow- 

 load, and the same <"imoimt of an approved fertiliser 

 thoroughly mixed. Clean washed pots, well drained, 

 should be used. Care must be l.'iken not to |iot the 

 plants too firmly cir the large, fleshy roots will have 

 ilifliculty in finding their way through the soil. When 

 all are finished a good room\' frame in a shaded posi- 

 tion will suit Lhem atlmirably. Care must be taken 

 with regard to ventilation and watering till the roots 

 have occupied the soil. By this time plenty of air can 

 be admitted. .\.t the commenceMient of llowering 

 weekly app.ications of diluted farm yard manure water 

 will greatly benefit the plants. With regard to varie- 

 ties, each section has improveil considerably of late 

 years. The large-fiowered are still favourites. o( 

 which many delightful colours can be obtained sepa- 

 rately. Others, which should find a place in every 

 conservatory, are the charming Cactus and the 

 Stellata types, also one of the most decorative is callcil 

 \'llmorin lilue. 



The Month's Work. 

 I'lciwer CJardeii and Pleasure CIrouiuis. 



l!y .\. C,\Ml'l;[;i.i., C.ardener to Lord .\rdil;uMi, 

 .St. .Vrme's, Clontarf. 



Till-; cold nights and shortening d.iys will now 

 cause the foliage of many deciduous trees, 

 shrubs and plants which have been green to 

 change and become tinted with gold, crimson, 

 purple, brown and Intermediate colours, so that for 

 a short time a beautiful eflect is maintained, especi- 

 ally if some of the lovely berry-bearing plants are 

 used for effect, such as Crat.-vgus Lelandii, Cotoneaster 

 frigida. The .\IonnI.iin .Ash and several of the Herbcrls 



are beautiful just now, and add much to the beauty of 

 the llowtu' gariien .'tnd pleasure gromids at this season. 

 This chiinge of scene also reminds us thai m.'iny of 

 the plants used for summer .and .'lutumn displays must 

 soon be lifted and prepared for their winter quarters. 

 Salvia patens, tuberous-rooted Hegonias, &c., sliouKI 

 be taken up as soon as touched by frost, gradually 

 dried, and stored in a cool, airy room or shed until 

 they .are required in spring. 



Pelargoniums, of which a sullicieiit supply of 

 cuttings coidtl not be i>btained last month, can now 

 be lifted and placed in pots or boxes in a warm 

 greenhouse. They will supply plenty of cuttings next 

 spring. IVepar.'itions can now be made for planting bulbs 

 .and tubers for next spring and early summer display. 

 Beds and borders cleareil of their summer occupants 

 should be dressed with decayed manure, worked into 

 a depth of not less than one fool. If the soil is at all 

 heavy a little s.ind shouUI lie added. I'l.ant early- 

 tlowerint; Tulips, such as Due \'an Tliol, Kei/ersUroon, 

 \'ermllion Brilliant. I'ottebakker, white and red. .and 

 Tournesol. These are decided colours, and will bi' 

 verv bright in spring. Plant the bulbs seven or eight 

 inches ap.irt and from three to four inches deep. 

 Hyacinths and Narcissus can also be planted. Towards 

 the latter part of the month plant .Xiicnionies, Turban 

 K.aiuuiculuses, Crocuses, and Snowdrops. Persian 

 R.iiiunculuses ought not to be planted till spring. 



Hods of Tulips and Hyacinths can be planted over 

 with Pansles. Daisies, .\lyosotls or Polyanthus, which 

 will furnish the surface until the bulbs are up, and will 

 keep the beds gay ail through May, when the early 

 Tulips and Hyacinths will be past. CiUtings of N'eronl- 

 cas, Pentstemons and Calceolarias can be inserted In 

 cold IV.unes. If not already done : w.iler when the 

 cuttings are put in ; keep close and shade from the 

 strong sun. Keep walks and grass clean by sweeping 

 off fallen le.ives, also remove ilecaycd flowers .iiul 

 shorten back plants in borders which are quite past. 

 Bv doing so it will add to the appearance of the 

 autumn flowering plants, which will still be biiglil. 



It is a good time to note .any alteration in the 

 arrangements of the herbaceous borders. .Many of 

 the stronger-growing plants often are inclined to i^ver- 

 power their weaker neighbours. This sIumiUI be 

 rectified later on. 



The Fruit Crarden. 



r.v [,. Cmili'-, (iardcner lo the K:\v\ of Me.itli. 



Killrudiiery, P.ray. 



Al'PLKS .\ND PK.ARS.— .\pples oi first-rate 



f\ quality are very scarce this year, con.sequently 



everv possible care should be taken in gather- 



Icil; and storing them. Pears and apples ought to be 



examined on the trees about thiee times a week. I're- 



quentlv serious mistakes are made in gathering all the 



fruits from a tree at the one time. If they are not in fit 



condition for picking you need not expect that they 



will keep in a nice eating state for a long period when 



placed in the fruit room, and it is quite certain that good 



apples will command a big price in the market from 



November to .April. 



You can easily ascertain when they are ready for 

 g.itherlng. If lifted gently to one side a ripe fruit will 

 p.ui freeiv from the wviod,'then handle them carefully, 

 placing all sounil fruit in baskets to keep them from 

 getting bruised ; then place them all in single layers on 

 shelves or compartments. They do not need much 

 light in tin- storeroom, though some .air shouKl be given. 



