IRISH GARDENING 



ill opL-i-ation at every opportunity wlieii the 

 weather is favourable. In ijruning one of the 

 main objects is to keep the centre — of bush trees 

 in particular — quite open, so that when the tree is 

 bearing a crop, sun, light and air can reach the 

 fruits. In training the outer shoots of the tree 

 try and keep them at least 15 inches apart. 

 From each branch cut clean away all knobs and 

 unripened growth. Shorten back the ripened side 

 shoots to three or four buds and reduce the leader 

 to two-thirds of its length. Should the^P be a 

 surplus of fruit buds situated along any given 

 branch, it is well tt) thin out the weakest, thus 

 giving the others, when in flower, a better chance 

 of setting and developing larger and finer fruits. 

 During last sensor's 



growth, trees that were 



infested with caterpillars 

 and other i)ests that 

 secrete themselves in 

 the soil at the base of 

 the tree in winter should 

 have a couple of inches 

 of the surface soil re- 

 moved and burned. 

 Apply a good dressing 

 of soot and cover over 

 the surface roots with 

 some good rich soil. 

 All bush plants of goose- 

 berry, black currant. 

 &c., ought to be pruned 

 by this date and the 

 prunings raked up and 

 cleared away to the 

 burning heajj. Fork in 

 a fair supply of rotten 

 manure around each 

 bush, but not too near 

 nor too deep to damage 

 the roots. Examine 



strawberry i)lants in 

 beds. Remove all dead 

 and decaying leaves. 

 Lightly rork over the 

 soil a couple of inches 

 deep between the rows, 

 and cover the surface 

 with a thin layer of farm- 

 yard manure. 



In the flower garden 

 any alterations that are 

 still intended to be done 

 should be done now 

 with the least possible 

 delay. Vacant ground 



shoi Id be manured and dug up to the pulverisin^^ 

 influences of the weather. Keep wallflower and 

 other beds trim and tidy, and stir the soil 

 frequently among the plants. Borders that con- 

 tain bulbs may have the surface soil lightly 

 pricked with a fork, and afterwards the surface 

 mulched with 2 inches of short rich manure. 

 Rose beds will require attention occasionally. 

 It is important to see that none of the plants have 

 become loosened at the neck by heavy gales. If 

 the roots have become broken and damaged, the 

 plants when they commence to grow will 

 assuredly suffer a severe check, and probably 

 make all the difference between success and 

 failure. Insert a stake beside each pdant bearing- 

 vigorous shoots and loop them to the stake with 

 tarred twine. At the same time fill in any 

 opening at the neck with soil and make firm with 

 the heel. M. D. 



The Draining of Garden Paths 

 and Roads, 



The moi'tli of .January is a most suitable time 

 to ])ut into repair any part of the paths of the 

 garden which may require it. This work is often 

 neglected, and the weather conditions of .January 

 often make this work possible, especially in 

 gardens where the soil is heavy and retentive of 

 w-et. and other work is more or less at a standstill. 

 There is nothing which makes for comfort in a 

 garden, and adds so much to its beauty .as well made 

 paths which is half the work of well kei)t jiaths. 



If at all ])()8sible have a system for draining off 



the surface water when heavy rains come. The 



work should be com- 



menced at the lowest 



])oint in the garden, 

 where the outlet will be, 

 and worked i;p, finishing 

 at the highest point. By 

 this method an easy 

 gradient for the fall of 

 the water will be found. 



The pipes — common 

 field ijipes, three inches 

 for a small garden and 

 four inches in diameter 

 will do for the largest 

 garden — should be laid 

 down the centre of the 

 walk, so that both sides 

 of the ])ath are served 

 equally. These mains 

 should be placed not less 

 than eighteen inches 

 below the surface of the 

 Ijath, and a fall of not 

 less than one inch in ten 

 feet run of i^ipe will give 

 a good flow. 



Traps to catch the 

 water, nine inches square 

 at the top and eighteen 

 inches deep, should be 

 made alternately on op- 

 posite sides of the ])ath, 

 and a distance of thirty 

 yards between each trajj 

 would make on level 

 ground an efficient means 

 ot taking oft" the water. 

 On sharp inclines 

 twenty yards apart is 

 a better method, and 

 prevents the gravel 

 washing up in the i^aths. These trajjs should be 

 covered with iron gratings. The outlets, which 

 connect up with the main drain in the centre of 

 the walk, should be half way between the grating 

 and the bottom of the trap, then you have nine 

 inches to collect sand or leaves which may wash 

 down with the rains, and these can be taker up 

 at any time, usually it is only necessary after a 

 heavy thunderstorm. 



Make a point of having iron gratings, which can 

 easily be taken up. These are very cheap, and 

 can be bought for a small sum. 



Where conditions prevail which do not allow 

 an outlet for the drainage, a large hole could be 

 dug and filled in with a few cartloads of stones or 

 rubble to make a soak pit. The space provided 

 by the stones takes off the surface water, which 

 soaks away at leisure. This is especially applic- 



able to small gardens. 



C. C. 



