IRISH GARDENING 



187 



Wheat Experiments at the Albert Agri- 

 cultural College Farm, Glasuevin. 



SliASON 191 1-12. 



IN ordiT 10 lesl the yielding capacities anil i|iialily ol 

 seveial l'"reiu"hi«ini;i certain other varieties ef wiieat, 

 the DepHrlmenl carrieil out a series ol field lesisat 

 the Albert Agricultural College I'arm.Glasnevin, Dublin, 

 in 1911. The results of these tests were published in 

 the Department's Animal Report on Wheat Experi- 

 ments for that season. The tests ha\ c been repeated 

 this year and the list has been supplemented by foin- 

 other varieties. Three of these were Danish wheats 

 imported by the Department from Copenhageii, and 

 one a variety grown to some extent as a spring wheat 

 in Counties Carlow and Kildare. 



The yields foi- iqij are, with one e.xception, con- 

 siderably below those for irjri. The average yield ol 

 wheat on the 

 farm for a nuui 

 ber of years past 

 has been about 

 twelve barrels 

 per statute ;icre. 

 .\11 the French 

 wheats show a 

 large decrease, 

 and the only in- 

 creased yield for 

 the whole series 

 is that t:*t' Red 

 Fife, the seed ot 



which was ob- 

 tained from the 

 produce of some 



hand-select e d 

 ears grown by 



the Department 



in 1910. 



The three Da 



uish varieties, 



C}ueen W'ilhel- 



mina. Tvstofte 



Small \V heat 



a n d Danish 



St|uare Head, 



gave very good 



yields. In point 



of quality Red 



I'ife was un- 

 doubtedly t h c 



best wheat of tl 



j^oyne's Fife 



The Month's Work. 



FIdwer Garden and Pleasure Grounds. 



\U A. 



(.' AMi'iiULl., Gardener to Lord .\rdilaun, 

 .St. .Anne's, Clonlarf. 



(.'Assldl'E 1' 



series, ne.xt in lU'der coming Hur- 

 Oueen Wilhelmina, a white wheat, may 

 be placed next, and then, a long way behind. White 

 Marvel. 



Tvstofte .Small Wheat and Danish Squaie Head arc 

 varieties of the .Square Head Master type, but not so 

 coarse. The French varieties, with the exception of 

 White Marvel, are very poor quality, Dreadnought and 

 I'erfection being wholly unsuited for inilling require- 

 ments. The partial failure of Perfection this year was 

 in large measin-e tlue to bad germination vif the sei'il. 



Regarding the two new hvbriil wheats. Little Joss 

 iind Hurgoyiie's I'ife. while the ioi nu'r is undoubletlly 

 the heavier yielder, in quality it is greatly inferior to 

 Burgoyne's Fife. Other things, such as quality ol 

 straw, being equal, there is nothing to recomnientl 

 Little Joss in preference to Tvstofte .Small Wheat, a vai 

 iety which by reason of its productivity and generally 

 acceptable quality is grown extensively in Demark. 



Of all the varieties tested, Oueen Wilhelmina, on 

 account of its yielding capacity and quality, appears 

 at present to be the most desirable wheat, and certainly 

 merits the attention of Irish wheal growers 



WE are now drawing near the close of another 

 year, and it will be well to glance back and 

 note any weak points in the garden arrange- 

 ments during the past summer and autunu]. .Alterations 

 or improvements can now be made, should it be de- 

 sirable, add some new or choice plants to the herba- 

 ceous beds or borders, which would certainly make 

 them more interesting; remove any duplicate clumps 

 10 make room for such. 



All Roses can now be planted, and the soil must be 

 I lioiou_;hly prepared for them if we expect gciod results 



When pl,-inting, 

 spread out their 

 loots and make 

 li r m. Stake 

 where neces- 

 sary, and mulch 

 to protect their 

 roots and pre- 

 vent evapora- 

 tion. 



r rune an d 

 regulate shrubs. 

 .Some of the 

 stronger grow- 

 ers, such as 

 Laurels, Bays, 

 Laurestinus.&c, 

 are apt to over- 

 power their less 

 vigorous neigh 

 hours. The y 

 should be freely 

 cut back so as to 

 admit light and 

 air to the weaker 

 plants, but care 

 must be taken 

 to leave sufli- 

 cient to afford 

 t h e necessary 

 protection for 

 . jj^i, the weaker or 



more choice 

 varieties. Trees or shrubs required to be removed or 

 planted should now be attended to. Stake, water and 

 nuilch ;is the work proceeds. Rampant Roses and all 

 climbing plants should be carefully examined. Roses 

 should liaxelheold and weak wood thinned out, and 

 ■ ill their strong shoots which have grown and matured 

 during the summer and autiniin laid in full length ; these 

 will tlowei- freeh" early next siunmei". 



Clematis of the Jackmanni type should now be cut to 

 within one foot from the ground and receive a good 

 dressing of decaved cow manure, worked in about their 

 roots ; ihey will then grow freely and co\er their allotted 

 space before svmnner with healthy shoots and foliage. 

 .md flower profusely. Clematis, like C. tlorida and Lanu- 

 ginosa, should only be thinned and regulated, as most 

 of their bloom is produced from the previous year's 

 growth. .All creepers when tied in should have a good 

 dressing of decayed manure worked in at their roots. 

 The more tender varieties should be mulched with a 

 dry, light material, and later on protect their growths 

 with spruce branches as a guard against cutting, harsh 

 winds. 



The garden .md pleasure ground should be kept neat 



:\sriGi.\T.\. 



