IRISH GARDENING. 



91 



hidden from view, will be ample support. Loop 

 the plant to the stake with fine tan-ed twine, but 

 do not draw the twine too tightly, otherwise the 

 symmetry and balance of the plant niay be 

 spoiled. Many plants, such as Phloxes, Michael- 

 mas Daisies, Arc, should • have all weak and 

 spindly growths removed, leaving only the 

 stroimt'st ;unl hrsi lo form a 1 \i)ical plant. Hoc 

 the holders liv,|uciitly lo -vt rid of small weeds 

 and give copious supplies of water during spells 

 of drought. As soon as Rose plants commence to 

 form buds, farmyard liquid manure, at the rate 

 of one gallon to three gallons of water, should be 

 applied to the borders at least once a week. 

 These applications will greatly assist in developing 

 flowers of large size and good substance. Keep 

 the surface soil in a free and friable condition by 

 the constant use of the Dutch hoe. Pull up 

 entirely any briar suckers that appear growing 

 from the roots. The " worm in the bud " will 

 prol)ably make its appearance soon, therefore an 

 observant eye must be kept on the look out in 

 order to detect its whereabouts. It will soon do 

 iri-eisarable damage if not found at once and 

 destroyed. Seeds of spring flowering plants, 

 such as ^^'alltlowers, Myosotis, Polyanthus, 

 Violas, &c., may be sown early this month. An 

 east or west border that is not over-rich, but in 

 nice working order, will make a suitable medium. 

 Draw out drills, one inch deep and nine inches 

 apart, and sow moderately thin. Cover lightly 

 with fine soil, and name each sort distinctly by 

 means of a painted wood label. If dry weather 

 prevails, water the seed bed with a fine rose can 

 to hasten germination. Stir the soil between 

 the lines as soon as the seedlings appear through 

 the surface. 



M. D. 



Hints for Amateurs. 



Lift and divide Primroses which are now out of 

 flower. Strong growing plants can be easily 

 broken up and two or three made from the one 

 original, but where any are weak, only lift and 

 replant. Give them plenty of good soil and leaf- 

 iiunild, and ])lant them in a shady, damp place, 

 and theit' will be no difficulty in obtaining good 

 l)looiiis. and plenty of them, next spring. Polyan- 

 tlniscs also may be divided and replanted, but 

 lu-re seedlings give the best results, and if it is 

 possible to obtain a good strain of young seed- 

 ling plants, they should be planted instead of 

 the divided plants. These notes are especially 

 written for those who only have a small garden, 

 and in some cases with no accommodation for 

 growing on seedlings, which, to do them jus- 

 tice, require plenty of care and space. For such 

 gardeners it is as well to mark specially good 

 old plants and divide them : if well watered and 

 attejided to they will give very good residts. 



In small gaiciens. too, staking plants, especi- 

 ally slaking Sweet i'eas. is often a difficulty. 

 This yeai-. for some unknown i-eason, in th(> 

 neigh])ourh()od of Dublin ordinai-y pea stakes 

 are impossible to obtain, and some other method 

 must be resorted to. Wire netting answers the 

 purpose well if good stout stakes are used to 

 to support it. I'ea trainers are also sold at a 

 reasonaVjle price, which are excellent. Both the 

 netting and the pea trainers are a permanency 

 once obtained, and they are also much more 

 easily stored than pea stakes in the very poor 



accommodation for storage supplied in the 

 modern villa house. Other plants will also be 

 ready for some sort of supports — Oriental 

 Poppies, Delphiniums, Lupins, Arc, and the 

 sooner they get their stakes the better. Tarred 

 twine is by far the best material for tying, as it 

 stands the wet and strain of the plants for the 

 whole summer, and one shilling is well spent 

 for a l)all. 



Cut over all plants that have ceased to flower, 

 and in the case of Violas cut off all faded blooms, 

 and so prolong the flowering season. If the 

 weather has been dry and the surface of the 

 soil has got hard, use the hoe to open and loosen 

 it, and so let in moisture to the roots of the 

 plants, and at the same time conserve the mois- 

 ture below. Thinning of annuals sown in the 

 open may be gone on with, but where directions 

 for t/hin sowing have been attended to, very 

 little of this should be necessary. Watch for 

 slugs and caterpillars and all leaf-eating insects. 

 The evening is the best time to find these enemies 

 on theii- rounds, especially after a shower or a 

 mild, damp day. Old carbide from motor or 

 bicycle lamps is a good thing to spread round 

 choice seedlings : slugs and snails will not cross 

 it, but on no account should it be put close to 

 any plant in case some of it was still fresh. 



Scarlet runner beans may now be planted, 

 and why should these not be grown for orna- 

 ment as" well as for use ? Sown now a few inches 

 deep and a few inches apart they will very soon 

 cover poles or walls or arches, or unsightly wire- 

 jnetting. The flowers are more ornamental than 

 many\vall plants about which there is far more 

 trouble growing, and they have the advantage 

 of having an edible fruit. 



Now is the time to sow the Wallflower seed 

 for next spring's beddinc;. There are many new 

 shades, and the all seem to come true from seed. 

 Among these new shades may be mentioned 

 Euby Gem, a beautiful deep purple, which when 

 grown beside a pale yellow makes a splendid 

 show : Primrose Dame, a soft primrose : and 

 Ellen Willmott, an attractive but indescribable 

 shade quite worth growing. 



On dry, hot soils during the month liquid 

 manure will be an advantage to Roses, Shrubs, 

 Sweet Peas, &c., but the great thing to re- 

 nu-mber is not to give it too strong, and to give 

 it aftei- heavy watering with fresh watei- or 

 after lain. Dahlias may be planted, and the 

 sooner now the better. They require rich, deep 

 soil, and they will also require constant watching 

 for earwigs and other grubs. There are many 

 different varieties of these, and all gardenei-s 

 have their favourites. There is the old-fashioned 

 single, seldom seen now : the Cactus, the Pom- 

 pom, the Pai'ony-flowered. and the large show. 

 Wherever they are planted it nuist be remembered 

 they require space and they require staking, and 

 sta!:ing strongly. 



Chrysanthemum alpinum. 



Tins is a v.Tv pr.'tiv dwarf al])iue. growing only 

 three or foui' inches high. Tiu^ flower heads are 

 quite an inch across, with a yellow disk and pure 

 white rav florets : the glossy dark green leaves are 

 deeplv toothed, the upi^er ones chiefly towards 

 the apex. A tviiical plant of the alpine pastures, 

 it is W(^ll fiiiured in Thompson s " Alpine Plants of 

 Europe.- ^_ 



