112 



IRISH GARDENING 



Melons. — Seeds which were sown about the 

 middle of May will have produced plants that 

 are now setting their fruits. Admit air early in 

 the day and pollinate the flowers when the 

 atmosphere is fairly dry. The chief aim should 

 be to fertilise as many flowers as possible on our 

 plant at one time. The more flowers fertilised 

 at one time, the more chance these fruits will 

 have to swell away evenly. Others that are set 

 later usually turn yellow and drop off. When 

 the crop has been set. continue the syringing of 

 the plants, morning and afternoon, damping down 

 paths and all bare spaces several times during tin- 

 day. .Maintain a night temperature of 70 and a 

 day temperature of 80°, rising to 90° with sun 

 heat. Melons require abundance of water and 

 frequent syringings when growing freely. It 

 should be carefully seen that the water used for 

 both purposes is warmed to the temperature of 

 the house. Pinch all laterals at the first leal 

 beyond the fruit. Owing to overheated pipes or 

 too dry an atmosphere, red spider is commonly 

 the most injurious insert to deal with. Examine 

 the leaves separately at frequent intervals, and 

 if any insects are detected sponge off very care- 

 fully. The leaves are very brittle, therefore be 

 cautious that the sponge and forcible syringing 

 does not injure the foliage. 



VlNERIES. Mid-season vines will now have 

 commenced to ripen their fruits. At this stage 

 the last dose of liquid manure should be given. 

 Continue the stopping of growth until the grapes 

 are ripe, at which time all t lie side growths should 

 lie permitted to make two or three leaves before 

 being again stopped. Maintain a warm, airy 

 atmosphere throughout the day, but close up the 

 house as usual in the afternoons until the time 

 arrives that the grapes have well finished their 

 colouring. A cluck of air by means of the top 

 ventilator should, however, be put on about six 

 o'clock and kept on all night. In houses that 

 contain Madresfleld Court grapes, particular 

 attention must be given at all times that a 

 damp, stagnant atmosphere be avoided. Where 

 grapes are, grown in greenhouses, it is wise tohave 

 the bunches well thinned, because they will keep 

 much better when ripe where moisture is con- 

 tinuous through the constant watering of plants. 

 If the roots are growing in the outside border, 

 keep a look out with regard to drought.. A great 

 amount of water is taken up by the vines during 

 long days of blight sunshine, much of which is 

 evaporated by the Leaves. When allowed to suffer 

 in this respect, an attack of red spider will soon 

 make its appearance, and will be found most 

 difficult to eradicate. 



The Vegetable Garden. 



I Jy .1. <b TONER, County Instructor in llorti- 

 cull lire, ( ''i. Monaghan. 



CABBAGES. A very important detail of I lie 

 month's work is the sowing of cabbage seeds to 

 produce an early spring crop. I'suallx a piece of 



poiato ground is chosen for this purpose. In any 

 case the preparation must be good, so that the 

 young plants may be lit for their final quarters 

 during September. bale planting, needless to 

 say, does not make lor an early crop. About the 



second last week of the month would generally 

 prove a, good 1 ime to sow. 



TUKN1P8. — Is it not paradoxical that many of 



the white turnips are quite yellow ? The latter 

 are decided favourites for winter and spring use. 

 They are uncommonly hardy too. The lover of 

 juicy mutton and boiled turnips who has not 

 tasted the tine flavour of the Jersey Navel aird 

 Orange Jelly varieties has a treat in store. Along 

 with rich ground very early thinning is the main 

 factor in ensuring tender turnips. Every gardener 

 does not seem to recognise this. Amongst the 

 whites it would be very difficult indeed to select 

 a better variety, taken all round, t ban Snowball. 



Parsley. The mention of mutton boiled 

 naturally brings parsley to mind, it being a com- 

 ponent of the proper sauce, at least it used to be. 

 Sow seeds now in a dry and sheltered position 

 for winter use. If a glass-covered frame can be 

 spared for protective purposes later on. a. special 

 bed of the pi'oper size might be sown also. Later 

 the frame can be placed over it. 



Broccoli. — These must be planted out as 

 ground becomes available, so that winter and 

 spring may not find the pot or table disli empty. 

 Quite reliable varieties are offered to come in 

 during the different dark months. Rather firm 

 ground, not over rich, is the thing, and if a space 

 of two feet be allowed between the plants they 

 will do themselves justice. 



Potato Onions. — These are favourable with 

 many owing to their immunity from attacks of 

 the onion fly. Immediately the leaves have 

 withered they ought to be lifted and thoroughly 

 dried in the sun. They will not keep well unless 

 the ripening process is well attended to. When 

 left in the soil after maturation a second set of 

 roots is often made and a new growth begun. 

 It is not good for them nor for the grower. Be 

 wise and prompt . 



Spinach. — If the spinach beet is not looked 

 upon with favour, the prickly spinach ought to 

 be sown now. In stiff heavy soils there will not 

 be full success unless raised drills are made. 

 More spinach plaids die off during winter from 

 excessive moisture than the frost ever kills. 

 This remark is particularly true of recent years. 

 The drills may be a foot and a half apart, and 

 eventually the plants are thinned to half that 

 distance. Hence Large leaves are developed as 

 plent >• of room is given. 



Brussels Sprouts. — These may, of course, be 



planted still. For many a long month they 

 supply one of the most tasty green dishes. As 

 they grow fairly tall, moulding up must be done. 

 Otherwise the wind will turn them over wholesale, 

 and as many roots are broken much harm is done. 

 LETTUCE. — Seeds may be sown now in quantity 

 to produce a winter crop. It will be allowable to 

 transplant the youngsters. This, however, does 

 not pay in summer — that is. if summer weather 

 prevails. All-The- Year-Round variety is as 

 good as any, but the Cos varieties stand rather 

 more hardship. These, it should be noted, reiplire 

 to be tied lor the purpose o I' blanching. 



Outdooe Tomatoes. Rigorous treatment will 



be necessary in the training and disbudding of 

 these. The term disbudding is used advisedly. 



For it is quite a silly proceeding to allow large side 

 shoots lo grow, and iii numbers ton. and then 

 when the spirit moves the tomato grower, he, 

 armed with knife or other weapon, proceeds to 

 remove them wholesale. That is just waste, 

 double waste. bather should the tiny side 

 shoots be taken away when they can be handled, 

 by using the linger and thumb. 



