36 



IRISH GARDENING 



extremely excitable, and, therefore, amateurs 

 need not be afraid of cutting right back, even 

 into the old wood, if they find shoots damaged 

 by the frost. In regard to the true Tea Rose of 

 the spreading branching habit like Marie Van 

 Houtte, after the removal of weak and sappy 

 growths and dead wood. 1 would recommend 

 rather light pruning for this type, and try and 

 keep a well balanced bush. 



I would also extend the same class of treat- 

 ment to the Cochet class of Tea. This class, as 

 is well known, throws up strong shoots from 

 the base late in the previous summer. The only 

 precaution necessary is to examine these shoots 

 very carefully, and if they are not well ripened. 

 then do not spare the knife. 



The Harry Kirk, Freiherr von Marschall and 

 Molly Sharman Crawford type are a section that 

 I would recommend being pruned more after 

 the fashion of the Hybrid Teas, pruned 

 moderately hard. 



China Roses are very accommodating, and 

 do fairly well with hard and light pruning. 

 Personally, I think they are ruined by hard 

 priming, and the majority of them are such free 

 growers it is much better to give them space 

 and let them run. If treated this way they will 

 begin to flower in May, and continue up to 

 Xnias if the weather keeps mild. 



The pruning of the Poses popularly known as 

 the Ramblers, such as the Wichuriana, Multi- 

 flora, &c., I have already treated on. Whether 

 they are grown as weeping Standards or let 

 ramble over pergolas or dead trunks of trees, 

 treat them all the same way. 



There is one other class perhaps it would be 

 as well to touch on which every Rose grower 

 should find room for at least one large bed. 

 ami that is the dwarf Polyantha. Some of the 

 varieties that are on the market now are quite 

 gorgeous, though treated as I think they oughl 

 to be, I cannot pay that they arc; of much use 

 for cutting purposes. 



I would recommend dwarf Polyanthas being 

 pruned hard. I pruned a, long bank of these 

 last year very lightly, and they have certainly 

 got very leggy and unsightly. I think 1 1 1 < ■ \ 

 look best when kepi to about one foot to eighteen 

 inches high. 



Remember, when you have finished your 

 pruning, to collect and burn carefully all 

 branches and cuttings. They are sure to con 

 tain a. great many pests and fungoid disease. 

 I would also recommend, immediately after 

 pruning, the Rose beds being almost covered in 

 soot. The first shower of rain will sufficiently 

 cleanse the stems, and besides being an excellent 

 manure. 1 have found it, especially if the 

 treatment is carried on through the winter, 

 quite a good preventive of mildew. 



Cultural Hints on Growing Tuberous 

 Begonias for Exhibition. 



By P. Flanagan, Moyne Gardens, Durrow, 

 Queen's County. 



Tin-; tubers should be started from February to 

 April in a cool house near to the glass, so that 

 the young growths which appear will be short 

 jointed and hardy. When the shoots are about 

 one inch long, pot the tubers into small pots, 

 according to the size of each tuber, using a fight 

 compost consisting of two parts loam, one part 

 leaf-mould, one part rotten manure with a little 

 coarse silver sand and some crushed oyster 

 shells. 



Keep a nice moist atmosphere in the house. 

 and as soon as the roots reach the side of the 

 pot and before they get pot-bound give the 

 plants their final shift — this will be about May 

 to the middle of June — using pots from seven, 

 eight or nine inches in diameter. Pot the plants 

 firmly, but be very careful not to use too large 

 pots. The soil for this final shift should consist 

 of equal parts loam, leaf-mould, rotten manure, 

 peat and sufficient sand to keep it open. Plenty 

 of crocks for drainage should he placed in the 

 bottom of the pots, covering these with moss 

 or fibre to prevent the drainage getting 

 choked. Newly potted plants require careful 

 watering until the roots have taken hold of the 

 new soil. 



From this time onwards the plants should be 

 ventilated freely, avoiding strong draughts. 

 When the pots are tilled with roots they should 

 get an occasional watering with diluted liquid 

 sheep or cow manure. 



The atmosphere of the Begonia house should 

 he. kept moist by damping the stages and floors, 

 and the plants should lie watered over the 

 leaves with a tine rose on bright mornings until 

 they begin to bloom. The house should he 

 shaded lightly, only just enough to prevent the 

 plants being scorched 



As the plants cease (lowering, water should he 

 given sparingly and withheld alter the stems 

 have fallen off. The tubers should he 

 allowed to rest from the end of October to 

 February. 



The safest way to keep tuhers is to shake the 

 soil from them and then store in pots of sand 

 on a shelf in a dry house or under a greenhouse 

 stage. 



1 attribute my continual success at the Royal 

 Horticultural Society and other shows to the 

 fact that I rely upon young plants from oik; 

 to three years old to produce exhibition 

 (lowers. 



