IRISH GARDENING. 



75 



Notes for Novices. 



Dwarf French Beans. — Two sowings of this 

 vegetable may be made during this month. 

 Choose a sunny spot, sheltered from north winds. 

 The ground must be in good condition. Dust the 

 surface with soot, and fork over as finely as 

 possible. Draw out drills 2 inches deep, and 

 place the seeds along the drill at 4 inches apart. 

 If the seeds germinate well, every other plant 

 may be drawn out as soon as the first i"ough leaf 

 is made, in order to avoid overcrowding of the 

 plants. 



, Runner Beans. — Seeds that were sown in 

 3-inch pots last month and placed under glass to 

 germinate, shoidd be sufficiently rooted and well 

 hardened off, to be planted out in the open 

 towards the end of this month. The soil for this 

 crop cannot be too deeply dug or too richly 

 manured. A good plan is to take out a trench 

 IS inches wide and 12 inches deep, and place 

 :! inches of rich, well-made farmyard manure 

 along the bottom of the trench. Cover the 

 manure with 4 inclies of soil, breaking it up fine, 

 i'lant out in double lines at one foot apart each 

 way, and place a good ring of fine cinder ashes 

 round each plant, to protect the young plants 

 from the ravages of slugs. To support the plants 

 moderately strong stakes should he procured and 

 fixed in position before the runners begin to twine. 

 These runner beans will come much "earlier into 

 bearing than those sown in the open. 



Cabbage, Cauliflower and Sprouts. — Early 

 plants of these that have been growing on in 

 frames can now l)c jilanted out safely, provided, 

 of course, thcx ha\ f ln-en well hardened. With a 

 trowel lift eacli |ilaiit with a ball of soil attached, 

 and plant the cabbage and caulifiower in rows at 

 2 feet apart each way and the sprouts at 2| feet. 

 Water the plants if necessary, and frequently 

 hoe between the rows to encourage active 

 growth. 



Beetroot. — Sow the main crop early this 

 month. Select an open position, and one that 

 has been deeply worked and having a fine tilth, 

 so that the roots can push straight down for 

 preference. For this crop wood ashes are most 

 beneficial, and should always be worked into the 

 soil when available. Draw out drills a good inch 

 in depth and at 18 inches apart. Sow the seeds 

 tliinly and cover with fine soil. When the seed- 

 lings "have grown 2 inches high, thin out the plants 

 to G inches apart. This operation is best done 

 when the soil is moist. 



Celery. — It is now time to prepare trenches 

 for the earliest batch of plants. Trenches 18 

 inches in width and 12 inches in depth should be 

 taken out. Turn over and break up the soil in the 

 bottom. Over this place 4 inches of rich farmyard 

 manure, and tread moderately firm. Immediately 

 above the manure place 4 inches of the excavated 

 soil for the reception of the young plants. Choose 

 a moist day for the planting out operation. It 

 is very important when lifting the young plants 

 to retain with the roots as much soil as possible. 

 Plant one row in each trench at 9 inches apart 

 in the row. Never allow celery plants to become 

 dry at the roots, otherwise they will run to seed 

 prematurely. It is beneficial to the crop if the 

 foliage is damped over during fine weather, late 

 in the afternoon. To ward off attacks of the 

 celery fly, dust the foliage frequently with fresh 

 soot. 



Vegetable Marrows. — During the third week 

 of the month plant out in mounds of soil on an 

 old hot bed or in specially prepared trenches. 

 At first shelter the plants from cold winds by 

 means of a hand-light, or a few evergreen boughs 

 stvick in around and hanging over each plant 

 will answer the purpose equally as well. In 

 bright weather spray the foliage morning and 

 afternoon with tepid water, but do not apply too 

 much water to the roots until signs of active 

 growth is well advanced. Pinch out the points 

 of the leading shoots from time to time to en- 

 courage lateral growths. To ensure a good set, 

 pollinate the female flowers when fully expanded 

 by means of a rabbit's tail. Mid-day is the best 

 time to do this operation, when the atmosphere 

 is dry. 



Tomatoes. — A sheltered position facing south 

 and fully exposed to the heat of the sun is the 

 ideal spot in which to plant outdoor fruiting 

 tomatoes. The soil should be of a light rich 

 texture, and well pulverised at the time of plant- 

 ing. Plant out at 15 inches apart and insert a 

 6 foot bamboo cane behind each plant in readiness 

 for support as growth advances. Water must be 

 applied frequently. When 4 or 5 trusses of fruit 

 have been formed pinch out the point of the 

 leading growth. All laterals emerging from the 

 main stem should be broken clean oE before they 

 have grtown 1 inch long, so that the feeding 

 properties may be directed towards the fruiting 

 trusses. As the fruits are developing, mulch the 

 surface soil with well-decayed farmyard manure, 

 and thoroughly water it in. 



Fruit Notes. — Continue to spray plum and 

 cherry trees with Quassia Extract once a week, 

 so that the aphis pest may be kept in check. 

 The slug-worm is another common pest, and one 

 that'is most difficult to dislodge by means of an 

 insecticide. It is generally to be found well fixed 

 between two leaves. Hand-picking or squeezing 

 the grub between the finger and thumb is the most 

 satisfactory method to get rid of them. Young 

 shoots that have made 8 inches of growth should 

 have their points pinched out in order to swell 

 up the fruit. Suckers emerging from the roots 

 must be entirely removed. Peach and nectarine 

 trees may yet require a little more disbudding. 

 Sometimes an extra strong shoot here and there 

 takes the lead. These shoots should be cut clean 

 out, so that vigour may be more equally imparted 

 to the whole of the tree. When biishes of the 

 gooseberry are overtaxed with fruit, thin out the 

 larger fruits for kitchen use, leaving those to 

 remain 2 or 3 inches apart. In dry weather water 

 and feed with farmyard liquid manure. All fruit 

 trees in general that are growing in warm and dr.v 

 situations should be given due attention to 

 watering and mulching to conserve moisture at 

 the roots and to preserve the ground from 

 cracking. 



Flower Garden. — Towards the end of the 

 month and during favourable weather the 

 bedding out of flower beds and borders will be 

 one of the chief operations in hand. The beds 

 should be prepared in nice working order before 

 commencing to plant — neither too wet nor too 

 dry. Previous to planting, see that the plants 

 in pots, boxes and frames are sufficiently moist 

 at the roots. When the bedding out is completed, 

 everything should be left trim and tidy, so that 

 the immediate surroundings will present a neat 

 and flnished appearance. Mostly all kinds of 



