64 



IRISH (iARDKMNC 



(list ((> >u«Ti'i- from tliis .aiiM'. It is a ^,'..,..1 plan 

 to mulcli all wall fiuit I r.-.-s afl.-r tli.- mi.l.lU- of 

 April. Hy that tiiiu- thr lu.r.l.i- will ha\ .• alisuilxd 

 smiif waiiiitli from tin- sun's rays w liilc still 

 rctaiiiiniT plriity of nioisturc. wliirli tin- imilrliiii^' 

 will ronsiTVf. .MorroN t-r. wln-n' a iiiulcii of ^;<io(l 

 stiJiwv litter lias lu-.-ii applicil, the wall tn-fs «aii 

 III- at"tcii(li"il to (lining' tin- w.-tttst wcatlx-r 

 la-twi-fii tlif slio\M-rs without tliscomfoit to the 

 workt-r or tlct riincut to the hordcr. If manure for 

 this purpose is not to he ha«l. short Ki""^"^ clippinvrs 

 from the lawns make an exeelletit suhstitute. 



Newly (,'rafleil trees should he examined, and 

 where elay has heen used replae»> any that has 

 fullen o!T. It is advisahli- to hind ilamp moss 

 round «-lay-c-overed grafts in times of diouL,'t>t or 

 l>arehin,i: winds. 



Disiu-DniNi;. Tlu- lirst t liinnini: of the u'rowtlis 

 on peaeh and n«'etarine trees slioultl he tarried 

 out as soon as tiie shoots aie ])ushin^^ Me c.mi lui 

 to leave a stronj: K'"«\vtl» i>t t'x' ^nxsv of the fiuitin.u 

 wood to replace the latter when it is eut away 

 after fruiting. Also leave a good shoot at the end 

 to encoiuaKe the How of sap. The intervenin;,' 

 shoots ean he ruhhed out. a few at a time, takinj,^ 

 care nt)t to denude the tree of too much jj:i()\\11) 

 all at once. 'Pile shoots on apricot trees slu ndd 

 he thinne«l out. leaving those that are the l>.s( 

 placed for forming fruit s})urs. 



(ilONEKAL Hk.marks. — Continue to protect trees 

 that are in llowei- on frosty nights, and take cart- 

 that the material used is not forcing the growth 

 unduly, or the trees will suffer when it is removed. 

 Keep a sharp look out for the first signs of aphis on 

 Morrello cherries, and if any are seen spray the 

 trees with (juassia extract or some other good 

 insecticide. On wet days stakes can he prepareil 

 for the strawherrv nets, and anv necessary repairs 

 to the latter executed. Thesi- will lie je(|uired 

 next month, and should he quite ready when 

 needed, as .May is a husy month in the fruit 

 garden. Any new nets tlu't are re(|uired slioultl 

 be ordered at once. It is much easier to net fruit 

 quartei"s now that nets can be obtained, of the 

 square mesh type, to exactly fit the piece of 

 ground to be covered. If a good framework of 

 larch posts. ."> feet higli, with wires strained from 

 jiost to post, is jjrovided. it is a simple matter to 

 hang the net on or take it olT. and the framcwmk 

 will last as long as the strawberries (neup> llie 

 ground. 



The Vegetable Garden. 



l}y .1. li. Pow. (iardeuer to burd Dunsany, 

 Dunsany Castle, Co. Meath. 



Pe.VS. — If peas are intended to be picked early in 

 July a sowing should be made about the middle 

 of the month. It would be difficult to give precise 

 dates for putting the seed in the ground, as so 

 much depends on the soil and situation. It is a 

 good practice to sow a second early and a mid- 

 season variety for the first sowing in April. 

 Should pea rust attack the crop, the plants or 

 line affected should be burned as soon as possible 

 to prevent the disease fiom spreading. There are 

 no other direct means for destroying this fungus. 

 Carrot.s. — The main crop of carrots should be 

 sown this month. Carrots require a soil of a 

 good depth and, if possible, rather light, (iiound 

 that has been manured for a previous crop will be 



found -iiilahle. It -^lioidd \»- h<<- from wire worm 

 and oilier iiijmioii^ ^;iiil»>. Itefme sowing the 

 seeds give the ground a good dressing of soot oi- 



w I ashes, an<l rake the ground level. iMiiw 



the drills from one foot to foiiileen inches apart, 

 aeeoi-ding to the sort grown. Aftei' sowing cover 

 in the seed lightly, and lake over the grounil to 

 remove sttuies. and leave the soil even. 



\'i:(ii;TAMIJ-: .MaIJHoW. Sow a few see<|s in pots 

 ;ind place in heat to germinate. Moor's Cream 

 .ind Table Dainty are two good varieties. 



Mhuam Ukans. At the first opportunity the 

 main crop of broad beans shouhl be sown. .Select 

 ground that has been heavilv manured. Draw 

 the lines about four inches deep and three f.-et 

 .ipaif. Tile >.ee(| ina\ lie sown six inches upait 



in the lilies. 



Ki{i;n( II Hi;ans. l-'rench beans mav be sow n in 

 boxes about the niiddh- of the monlh'for jilanting 

 on a sheltered border early in May. Sow the se.<| 

 about twii inches apart and place in cool house 

 to geiininati-. When the seedlings are well over 

 the gi'ound. harden off the plants, and |>lant out 

 on a sheltered border at the first opportunity. 

 A sowing of runner beans may be made about t lie 

 end of the month. Open a trench about four 

 indies deep, sow the beans about six inches apart . 

 and lill in the trench with dry st^il from th.- 

 ])otting shed. When the iilants come through the 

 soil protect with evergreen boughs. 



Potatoes. — Potatoes in iiots and frames will 

 retjuire attention, (iive jileiity of ventilation to 

 Ill-event the ])lants from becoming drawn, but 

 never expose them to cold draughts. Have |)lent y 

 of protective material handy to cover iiji the 

 early border potatoes, as they will soon be making 

 theii- apjiearance through the soil. 



TruNiPs. — Make a sowing of Early Snowball 

 or White (iem. Sow the lines one foot apart and 

 (haw the drills one inch deep. Sow for succession 

 every three weeks. To ward olT slugs, dust be- 

 tween the lines with soot tmce or twice a week. 



CArLlFLowKH. — Plants wintered in cold fi-anies 

 or sown under glass in the early spring should now 

 be planted in the open. To give the jilants pro- 

 tection, draw drills aliout two feet ajiarf and four 

 inches deep. Plant tiie caulillowers one and a 

 lialf feet apart in tiie diill . 



Hkkt.— Sow on a wanii !.< M-der eai'ly t his monlii 

 a sf)wing of ('rinison Hall (>]• any good i-ouml 

 varietv for suniini'i- use. Tlic main ci-op mav be 

 sown by the end of tills inontii. l-'or early "bee- 

 diaw the lines fouiteeii inches ajiait. Later beet 

 sliovdd be sown one and a half feet apait in the 

 lines, anil thin the plants out to nine inches 

 asunder. 



Pakslky.- IManl out paisl.-y that has been 

 sown in boxes early in the season. A sowing may 

 now be made in the open. When the seedlings are 

 well advanced thin out to a foot apart. 



(iKXKKAi. Pk.mahks. — Duiiug the past month 

 fh(- weather has made it almost impossible to get 

 the month's work in the kitchen garden com- 

 ]deted. At the first opportunity, get all seed 

 sown as advised last month, clean asparagus 

 beds and topdress them with rich old manure. 

 New beds may be planted at any time during the 

 month. Prepare celery trenches. Broccoli will 

 now be forming their curd part: if not required 

 when fit. remove the plants to a cool shed, where 

 they will keep in good condition for a fortnight. 



