8o 



W \i.i. I'ltiiT Ti;!:!;-. .\.miI> ..II Um.U ..I 

 tiaimd tn-fs will if<|iiirf at ttiit ion diiriii^i tlii> 

 iiKintij. hisliiuiiliii^; and stoppinK' the ^'lowtlis 

 ai-f operations that will not lnook »lfla> if trro 

 ait' to \h' niaintain*'(i in health and fi iiit fulru-ss. 

 .Moii-lh> fluTiifs. pcai'lu's and ticctaiinrs fiuit 

 on the y«)unK' ^'lowth of tin- picvions season, 

 therefore provision should lie made for joiinji 

 shoots to replace those fruiting this \ear. and 

 all snpeilhious shoots .it her pinehe<l hack or 

 ruhhed out entirely. I,ea<lin^' shoots can lie 

 stopp.-d at the fourth leaf if not r.'.piired to 

 exteinl the tree. My eliiiiinat inv: tiiese un- 

 necessary ^'rowths. those h-ft will have .% er> 

 eiu-ouraK«'>in'nt to develop and foiin h<alth> 

 folia^:e and w cll-riju-ned wood, the former liein^: 

 essential to the developm.nt ol thi- yeai's 

 fiuit crop, whilst tlie latter will en-~iire the 

 future well-heinj: of the tr.'e. Outdoor li^s also 

 fiuit on the jJH'vious year's K't>wth. so that the 

 ahove renuirks apjily e(|ually to these. I^ess 

 dishuddin^ is require<l with apricots, plums and 

 pears, as these are eiu-ouiaK<'«l f<» form fruiting: 

 spui-s. so that all that is necessarv with these 

 is to ruh olT any l.adly j)laced shoots, such as 

 tliose j^Mowin;: at the hack of the hranches. ami 

 Ihin out the icmaimlei'. leavitm those that arc 

 placed to the hest advanta-e. Th.-s.- shoul.l 

 he stopped at the fourth leaf, excej)!!!!^ tin- 

 leading: shoots if the wall space is not (illed. A 

 Koo«l shoot should also h.- left unstopped when-ver 

 a new hranch is ri'<|uired. It is a j;ood piactice 

 wlu'ii dishuddiuK and stopping to do the top 

 lialf of tlie tree first, leaving the lower half till a 

 few days later. Trees are always inclined to 

 fjrow more stion;;Iv at the top. so tliat hv ])inch- 

 iuK the upper half'lii-st tin- sap is diverted to the 

 lower shoots to tlu-ii- j;i-eat advanta^'e. 'riiinnin^^ 

 of the fruit can he cariied out com urnnl 1\ with 

 dishuddin^^ At the lirst sta^'' "nh llir l)a(llv 

 l.laced fruits should he removed. .\ furtlier 

 thinnin^^ can he elTt'cted a few days later, hut 

 with stone fruits the final thinuinK must he 

 tleferred until after the stoning period, as these 

 often thin themselves only too well at that time. 



(iK.NKHAl, l{i;.MAHKs.— The constant use of the 

 hoe amongst fruit trees and l)u.shes during; dry 

 weather is mo.st heneficial to them, conservin^^ 

 the moi.sture in the soil and promoting steady 

 and active growth. All suckei-s should he 

 lemoved while doinji this, a.s their development 

 is at the expense of the tree. The first si^tJi of 

 aphis should he the sitjiuil foi- an immediati- 

 sprayint? with an insecticide. These ijisects 

 increase rapidly, and it is almost impossihie to 

 com hat them once tlu-y have caused the leaves 

 to curl up. If peach or nectariiu; trees ai'e 

 afTected with the leaf hlislei' (Kxoasis d.-formaJis) 

 the alTect.-d leaves or j.ortions of leaf shoidd he 

 cut o)T and hurnt. afterwards s])rayiii^ the trees 

 with Sulphide of I'otassium at i-o/.. to the 

 gallon of soft water, (irafts that are giowinit 

 stronfjly should have the clay removed and the 

 ties loosened, hut caie must he taken not to do 

 this prematurely, (irowths ])roceedinK frtuii the 

 stock should, at this tiiuo, he ruhl)ed olT : the 

 union heing complete the scions will he well ahle 

 to utilise all the sap availahle. Remove all 

 materials vised for protectinji tlur trees from 

 frost immediately all danger from this cause is 

 past. Any delay in doing this tends to weaken 

 the trees hy promoting soft growtli. which is 

 easily injured by the first cold wind or heavy 

 shower. 



iin-11 (;.\in)E.M.\G. 



The Vegetable Garden. 



U> .1. H. Tow. (i.ird.ii.r I.. I.mi.I Itunsaiiv, 

 huns.inv (".tstle. Co. M.ath. 



May. a v.r> hus> month in Ih.- M-getahle garden. 

 Thinning and transplanting will take up nunh 

 lime during the next few weeks. Weeds are 

 .tjipeaiing. Till- use of the hoe during dr> 

 w rather- will help to suhdiie the weeds and give 

 much heni'lit to the voung crops. The free use 

 of nitrate of .soda, .ipplied at the rate of 1 oz. to 

 till' s(|uaic >ard. will l)e very hi-m-ficial to the 

 \oung crops. Suli)hate of ammonia mav he used 

 ;it the same rates if pr.'ferr.'.l. hut it tak.-s longer 

 to act on veg.-tahle life. 



Mhoai) liKANs. It is not too late to make a 

 sowing of hroad heans. Ivarly .May.agan may he 

 sown up to the end of Mav. Heans sown last 

 autumn will soon he in llow.^r : 1 lie poiids should 

 he pinch.-d out to l-rrvcril lllr ;.ttack of h|;.rkil> 

 and hasten podding. 



Fni;.\( II Hi;\\s. huarf he.ms ma\ he sown 

 ev.-rv fortnight. l»r.»w out the <lrills 2 feet apart 

 and M inches de.p. place the heans tolerahly thick : 

 as soon as up. carefully thin. an<l slightly earth 

 up to i)revenf the wind hlowing them ahoul. 

 Kunner heans mav he sown again ahout tin- 

 middle of the mont h. .Sow the rows from Tito 11 

 feet apart, aiul cr()p the ground hetween with 

 other vegetahles. If preferred they can he grow n 

 on ground without stakes. I'nder this tn-atmeiit 

 they must havi- their tops pinched olT when ahout 

 IS inches high. If this plan is ailopted tin- rows 

 ma\- h(- sown :! fi-it ajiarl . 



I'i-:as. ("ontinu.- to sow mid-s(-ason varieties 

 everv ti-n (lavs. Do not omit to earth ami staki- 

 |)eas early, as if tlu- plants once fall over they 

 will never take to tlu- su|)ports. 



I'oTAToKS. Karth up early potatoo: late 

 varieties may still he ])Ianted. 



To.MAToKs. Plants grown under glass for 

 l)lanting outside shouhl he grown uiidei- coolei- 

 conditions hv this date, and he lit for i)lanting 

 out hy the end of the month. When grown in 

 till- open gi-ound tomatoes re(|uii-e a warm 

 position. They may he trained to stakes 1 fe.t 

 liigh. and the .side shoots kept well thinned, to 

 allow all the strength to pa.ss into the fruits. 



Spinach. — Sow spinach in deep rich soil, thin 

 out the j)lants to (5 inches apart. 



Onions. — The main crop of onions is now o\(-i 

 gi-ound. Dust hetween the lines with .soot (iuriii_' 

 the month of Mav. a1 iiit .-ivals. to ward olT the 

 onion fly. 



('AHHA(il-;. .Sow a pimli of soiiu- lat <-kr(-ping 

 vaiieties. Carter's Cliiistmas Di-umhead is one 

 of the best keeping sorts I have sown this i)ast 

 s<'ason. Salsaf\ and .S(-oi-/,onera may he sown 

 at the (list oppr.ituiiit v : draw the drills I.', 

 feet apart, and thin out the j.lants to 1 fool 

 asunder. 



Cahuots. Thin during showery weather, and 

 give a dressing of soot. A sowing of Karly Horn 

 or Scarlet Horn may he sown at intervals to keep 

 uj) a supply of young fresh roots. 



Salads. — The fir.st sowing of chicory may be 

 sown in deep rich soil. Sow in rows I foot apart. 

 When the ])lants are stiong enough, thin out to 

 (> inches in the lines. .Mustard and cress should 

 be sown frequently, and radish every fortnight. 

 Lettuce may be sow'n every three weeks. 



