72 



IRISH GARDENING 



Hints to Amateurs. 



By R. M. Poixch k. 



Sweet Peas sown in the open will have to be 

 carefully Wat el ted and protected agaiasl slugs 

 and birds. Lime and soot mixed can be spread 

 r«mnd the clumps, bul an expedition towards 

 evening on a damp day will lie more satisfactory, 

 as then the >nemies can be caught and disposed 

 of. The Sweet Pea- raised in pots will be ready 

 for plant in-- out. if not already done and this 

 should be done carefully, disturbing the roots 

 a- little as possible when taking them out of the 

 pots. These will, of course, already have their 

 lirst stakes, hut the stronger and permanent 

 supports must now be given. This can he done 

 in various ways, hut where obtainable the 



Photo by 



i M in-; \ \i \( in > ! ■] I VI. i. \. 

 (See page 73. 



ordinary branched pea stake cannot he beaten, 



and look less formal and stiff than netting, lor 

 pri vat e garden w ork. 



The first lot of hardy Annuals sown in the open 

 ground will he ready lor thinning, which should 



he done with discretion, and done in i WO seel ions. 



Give one thinning now. taking out small weak 

 seedlings where thej are obviously too crowded, 

 and later on. if necessary, remove a Eevt more. 

 Annuals for flowering in late Augusi and 

 September may he sown in the open -round. 

 Sometimes a few extra patches of brigtvt colours. 



especially reds, are a relief among the \ellow 



which predominates among the late summer and 

 early autumn flowers. 



Towards the end of the month biennials, such 

 as Wallflowers, Sweel Williams, Canterbury Bells, 

 Honesty, Columbines (Aquilegias), Foxgloves, 

 &c, may he sown in the open, lor transplanting 

 in the autumn. Any Antirrhinums and Sweel 

 Williams raised iii boxes may he planted ou1 

 in their permanent quarters Hardy outdoor 

 Chrysanthemums may also he planted out. 



These should, as far as possible, be grouped in 

 colours, as then a far better effect can be got 

 from a comparatively few plants. If there is 

 no room for them in the holders, any spare 

 corner with some good manure mixed with the 

 soil will do for them, and they will lie invaluable 

 for picking in the autumn. 



Dahlias may be put out in their flowering 

 quarters too, and here asain good rich s () ji j s a 

 necessity, as Dahlias are gross feeders. It is 

 advisable to place a stake in the hole when plant- 

 ing, as this prevents any injury to the tubers, 

 and a good strong stake is essentia 1 . Watch 

 these young plants for earwigs, slugs, or snails. 

 as they have a particular weakness for the young 

 green shoots and leave-. 



Where Daffodils are planted in beds for the 

 purpose of cut flowers, and width are not lifted 

 regularly every year, these beds can be made 

 quite brighl by sowing or 

 planting Annuals between the 

 line-, which thus prevents the 

 dull appearance of empl y beds 

 during the summer months. 

 It is a good plan to note what 

 varieties are wanted, or where 

 they are too crowded in the 

 borders. Any worthless varie- 

 t ies should he removed as soon 

 as they go out of (lower, as it 

 is very difficult when 1 he busy 

 season of autumn comes round 

 to remember where a clump 

 was wanted, or where a wort h- 

 less one was that was only lit 

 for » he fire. This remark not 

 only applies to Daffodils, but 

 also, and more so. to Tulips. 

 where t he colours are far more 

 vivid, and where they are 

 more likely to clash. In t he 

 rock garden too a not "hinds 

 is essent ial. No plant should 

 he plant ed out in any part id' 

 the garden unless its height. 

 colour and habit are known. 

 Work done without such in- 

 formal ion may with luck t urn 

 out all right . hut i! may also 

 remain an eyesore all t he 

 summer, and have t o he re- 

 done hit er on. 



may lie st art ed as soon as t he 

 beds can he cleared of the spring stuff. The 

 scheme of colour should have heen arranged 

 months ago, and whatever material necessary, 

 grown on for the purpose, which should now he 

 hardened off and lit to transplant. It is best to 

 Choose a dull day for Starting work, and the actual 



planting will he made much easier if the beds 

 are given a thorough watering a short while 

 before operations commence, as it is much easier 

 to linn the plants in the ground when the soil is 



damp. Wherever the bedding is done in beds 



winch are cut in grass, the latter should he saved 

 as much as possible. All pots, boxes, pans. &c., 

 in which the plants are mi gill he [•laced on hoards 

 or matting put down I'm the purpose, and the 



same mighl also he put down round the beds; 

 this would save the mass and avoid the very un- 

 sightly appearance of mud-stained and trampled 

 edgings which, if on poor soil, and if 1 he month 

 of .\|a\ should turn out dry. take a Ion-' tune to 



recover. When planting, remember thai to make 

 bedding oul really effective and a pleasure to look 



C. /••. /; 



All beddins: 



