124 



IRISH GARDENING 



Hints to Novices. 



By R. M. Pollock. 



During this month cuttings can be put in of a 

 great many garden plants, as well as trees, shrubs 

 and roses. Such plants as Pentstemons, Pansies, 

 Violas, Alyssum, Pinks and Carnations, if not 



already done, can all be propagated by cuttings, 

 and put into a shady border, well firmed into 

 the ground and a hand Light, cap glass or cloche 

 put over them until they are rooted. Water if 

 accessary, bu1 where thesoil \\ as well moistened be- 

 fore the operation began water will not be needed 

 for a day or so. If the Pentstemons have not 

 go1 suitable growth for making cuttings of — that 

 is to say. if strong, short, hcalt hy side shoots have 

 not been given off freely, cut a few plants hack. 

 taking out all flowering shoots, and before very 

 long, nice strong growths will come away, which 

 will make suitable cuttings before the end of the 

 month. The hand lights, cap glasses or cloches 

 will have to be shaded, so as to keep the bright 

 sun off the cuttings. Almost any form of 

 covering will do — old nets, old matting, or even 

 paper will answer the purpose, but nothing looks 

 as neat and tidy as a thin coating of white-wash 

 pui on the inside of the glass. This can be easily 

 washed off when shading is no longer necessary. 

 In the case of shrub cuttings, they should be of 

 the well ripened wood of this year's growth, and 

 they will be much more certain to root if they 

 are pulled geoitly off the main branch, bringing 

 with each cutting what is called a " heel " tli.M 

 is. a small portion of the old wood. There is 

 another form of cutting known as " Irish cutt Lug," 

 which can often he got from plants which send 

 up growths from the base below the soil level, 

 and these are certain to root, because they are 

 pulled from the base of the plant with a few 

 root-- already attached. 



Where annuals have gone out of flower they 

 should be removed at once, as they look untidy 

 and the seed is of little use. as seed so saved 

 cannot be relied on. It is better and more 

 satisfactory to buy fresh reliable seed each year. 



Those who sowed a late batch of annual- will now 



find what an advantage they are in keeping up 

 the succession of colour in borders. 



If t he dry weal her conl inues wat er I horoughly, 

 and where possible give liquid manure to shrubs 

 growing on shallow lighi soil. Hoses will also 

 greatly benefit by this, and the climbing section 



Wichurianas and Ramblers should not be 

 Stinted, as it is on the wood these make this 

 season that the llowers will com.- for nc\l year's 



display, therefore the stronger and the aiore 



numerous the shoots made the better, and these 

 • an only be had if the plants are well nourished 

 Biennials -own in the open or in pans ma\ he 

 pricked out. such as Sweet Williams. Canterbury 



Bells, Wallflowers. & C . 



The annual Delphiniums, Candytufts. Cheiran- 



thus Allioni, Clarkia, &c, may be sown in the 

 open ground for flowering in the summer. This 

 saves all handling, such as pricking into boxes or 

 pans and protecting during the winter. Sown 



direct in good ground they will only require 

 thinning, or pricking out into their flowering 

 quarters, if they cannot be sown there direct. 

 Those who prefer and who have the means of 



sowing indoors need not do so for anot her ni h, 



when directions will be given. 



Dahlias. — More shoots will come from these 

 than are necessary, and the weaker ones should 



be removed altogether. Those remaining should 

 he carefully staked, and the stake must be strong 

 enough to support the heavy llowers and the 

 targe strong foliage. Watch the plants carefully 

 for earwigs and other insects. 



Lavender may be cut and dried either in the 

 sun or in a warm room. Loosen the bunches 

 and lay them Hat on a sheet of cardboard or paper. 

 Never dry Lavender in tight hunches: if this is 

 done only the outside dries, and the inside gets 

 musty and is of no use. 



Some of the lirst flowering spring bulbs ma\ 

 now be planted; these include The Crown 

 Imperial (Fritillaria imperialis); of t his there are 

 two colours, a, clear, beautiful yellow and a very 

 nice terra-cotta. They grow from two to three 

 feet highj and should therefore he kept about 



half way back in a border. Fritillaria Meleagris, 

 the "" Snake's Head," of which there are several 

 colours, is also useful, and the white variety 

 planted with deep red Polyanthus makes a very 

 nice combination. The Grape Hyacinth Muscari 

 Heavenly Blue is a beautiful sight when seen 

 near anything white. The Winter Aconite 

 (Eranthis hyemalis), yellow, and only three 

 inches or so high, is another spring (lower which 

 should not be omitted. 



Violets that were planted in April should not 

 want for water. Neglect in this quarter now 

 will mean weak plants and poor flowers in the 

 winter and spring. 



Greenhouse. Towards the middle of the 



month the lirst potting of Freesias and Roman 

 Hyacinths should take place. If not already 

 purchased, an order for these bulbs should be 

 placed immediately with the bulb merchant, so 

 as to ensure getting good bulbs, and not only the 

 refuse after others have had their pick. From 

 ten to twelve Freesia bulbs will be sufficient to 

 place in a 5 or 6-inch pot. When potted they 

 should be placed in a cold frame, and when they 

 have made an inch or more growth they can be 

 removed to the greenhouse. The Roman 

 Hyacinth bulbs being larger, fewer of them will 

 be required to a pot. 



Mignonette makes one of the most delightful 

 pot plants that could be grOwn. This may he 

 sown now in the pot in which it is to flower. 

 It is a bad subject for transplanting, and it is 

 better to sow thinly, and when the seedlings are 

 lit to handle to thin out to two or three plants 

 in a 6-inch pot. 



Cinerarias. Calceolarias and Primulas raised 

 from seed w ib be ready for a pot. keep them cool 

 and moist, and attend carefully t<> watering. 



August is the gardener's holiday, therefore, 

 hints are short. If the weather keeps line the 

 garden will need little care save watering, ami 

 those on holiday will enjoy themselves the more. 



An Englishman's Visit to 

 some Irish Gardens. 



"Ci>i> kXMiGHTi first planted a garden," as 

 Lord Bacon said, and it now seems certain to me 

 that He must have fashioned that part of His 

 garden which we call Ireland with the care lhat 

 comes of special love. An invitation to spend a 

 fortnighl in paying visits to some of the Irish 



demesnes that are most celebrated for their 

 collections of trees and shrubs and plants had been 

 eagerly accepted, but 1 did Tiot know that 1 was 

 going to pass through a land so fair, that I should 

 conn: to look upon the pleasure Riven by its 



