\y6 



IRISH GARDENING 



been trenched some weeks previous to the actual 

 time of planting. However, given good weather, 

 the ground can be prepared and planted during 

 the month. As to the application of manure 

 while trenching is being done, a great deal depends 

 upon the nature of the soil — whether heavy, 

 medium or light. If of a heavy, reteni i\ <■ nature, 

 it should be arranged in trenching the ground 

 that the tup spits be always kept on the top. 

 To throw it down in the bottom of the trench 

 means that the roots of young trees will have a 

 great tendency to reach this good soil, instead of 

 being kept near the surface. The result is that 

 vigorous wood-producing roots are formed, con- 

 sequently the tree will bear little or no fruit 

 until these roots are cut or pruned back and others 

 prevented from going downwards. Light soils 

 should be heavily manured, distributing it evenly 

 as the work of trenching proceeds. The ground 

 having now been prepared, open out holes at 

 least one foot broader than the roots will cover. 

 Before planting replace some of the finer soil in a 

 mound in the centre of the hole and set the tree 

 upon it. If the roots are in any way jagged or 

 torn cut the ends clean off with a sharp knife 

 and shorten back all downward roots. Spread 

 out the lowest roots carefully on the mound and 

 scatter a little fine soil over them, then another 

 layer of roots, adding a little more soil, and so on, 

 giving the tree a small shake now and then to 

 let the soil run between the fine roots. This 

 having been done add a little more soil, tread in 

 firmly, and fill up slightly above the surrounding 

 soil. Each tree should be fixed to a stake to 

 prevent it being damaged by winds. Be careful 

 that the stake does not chafe through the bark. 

 Pot Fruit Trees. — If the potting of trees has 

 not yet been done every effort should now be 

 made t<> complete that operation. It will then 

 be desirable to have the pots arranged in their 

 winter quarters. Do not remove any leaves that 

 still cling to the trees, but use the syringe every 

 morning, and this practice will suffice both as 

 regards helping t he leases to la'l and also as:-istin£> 

 the development of the blossom buds. Coveiing 

 material should be got in readiness in case of 

 severe frost occurring. 



The Vegetable Garden 



By J. G. Toner, County [nstructor in 

 Horticulture, Co. Monaghan. 



Jerusalem Artichokes. This excellent white 

 vegetable fills the bill admirably in the way of 

 variety during winter and spring. Good cooking, 



to be sure, will go along way in making it 

 popular: and no! only does it form a good dish 

 when served with white sauce as a vegetable, 

 but if also helps largely to make an enjoyable and 

 nourishing soup, .lust now the tubers may be 

 dug out in the same way as the potatoes, and if 

 convenient stored in a pit. Where only a small 

 quantity remains to be dealt with a box of sand 

 will serve to keep them in good condition. Intense 

 cold does not usually harm them, but on t he of her 

 hand exposure to air and light spoils the colour. 

 which will be quite dark when cooked. Intending 

 planters should give the preference to the white 

 variety. 



Rhubarb. — If is quite a common practice to 

 allow rhubarb to look alter itself. In the course 

 of some years it begins to Tail, t he stalks are rather 

 thin and tough, and not at all of the best flavour 



This also takes place sometimes even when top- 

 dressings are occasionally given. The reason is 

 due to its voracity. Any plant that possesses 

 such a vigorous constitution and makes such 

 large leaves and stalks, or should do so. requires 

 an almost unlimited food supply. To afford this 

 periodical transplanting and division of the 

 crowns are very necessary. It can be done at any 

 convenient time from the present until February, 

 provided the soil is in good working order. 

 Needless to say the new site requires to be deeply 

 trenched and manured beforehand. The outside 

 portions of the old crowns ought to be selected 

 for planting. 



Asparagus. — Now that the grass, as the 

 growths are called, have ripened, they may be 

 cut down and removed. The opportunity can be 

 taken also for cleaning and top-dressing. In 

 regard to the former operation some little extra 

 patience and care will be well expended on the 

 complete removal of bad weeds, such as dande- 

 lions, crowfoot, and the like. They are not so 

 easily dealt with as the annuals, but must be 

 entirely removed, for in the case of the dandelions 

 every little particle of root left behind will set up 

 a nourishing colony on its own account. The 

 persistency of the " buttercup " — as we called it 

 when we were young and innocent — is too well 

 known to gardeners all. As a rule, rank manure 

 is not always suitable, but in this case no harm 

 will rasult, but rather the reverse. So when the 

 clearing process is finished a liberal covering of 

 rich dung will prove most helpful. Seaweed 

 where procurable is an excellent addition. In 

 its absence a few handfuls of salt will prove of 

 great value. It is applied before the manure is 

 put on. 



Cleanliness. — At the present season it is no 

 easy matter to keep the vegetable quarters clean 

 and tidy. In accordance with the time of year 

 and the partial cessation of growth, dead and 

 dying leaves other than those of deciduous trees 

 appear on all sides : broccoli, Brussels sprouts, 

 and many others contribute their quota in making 

 the appearance of the vegetable plot anything 

 but smart. The tidy gardener and most 

 gardeners are tidy, and all should be — will easily 

 find an hour to collect and dig them into those 

 plots that are being prepared for next year's 

 crops. 



Alterations and Repairs. A certain amount 



of depreciation is always taking place in the 

 permanent features of the garden, and, of course, 

 require looking after. One of these is the edgings, 

 especially living ones. A wonderful variet \ of 

 plants is used for this purpose: Boxwood. 

 London Pride, Double Daisies, Vio'as, straw- 

 berries, and even Parsley. Rarely will they be 

 perfect, and an air of carelessness pervades that 

 garden, be it large or small, where the hounds of 

 the cultivated portions are not well marked off 

 from the passages. Now is the time to remedy 

 this and other delects that one so easily finds it 

 willing to look for them. Did you observe how 

 very easy it is to see such in your neighbour's 

 gardens? And how glaring they were too! 



MORE DIGGING. When this has been done 

 plenty of work in the way of preparing plots for 

 ne\t season's vegetables remains to occupy the 

 busy and far-seeing ones. If is such who in- 

 variably have the best returns to show; and 

 when spring comes if brings its own tasks ; 

 therefore, the forwarding of the initial stages 

 will have a most beneficial effect on gardener 

 and garden during the coming year. 



