IRISH GARDENING. 



lo: 



Tlic iippei- pait of the tn-c only should ]n- done 

 first, because fhis will have the tendency to 

 direct the sap into the lower shoots, which as a 

 iide. are the weakest. Tie in the leadinjj; c;rowth 

 securely wheie there is space for extension. 

 Attend to watering and feeding, especially to 

 those trees planted against walls. Thin out 

 suri>lus shoots on plum trees, so that plenty of 

 light and air can more readily reach the young 

 growths that are to be retained for next season. 

 Shorten all laterals to within four buds of the 

 base. Supply liquid manure to gooseberry 

 l)ushes in order to provide large fruits for des- 

 sert and exhibition p\n-]>oses. (iooseberries 

 enjoy rich cultivation, and iio fruit responds 

 more rearlily to it. As soon as the earliest crops 

 of strawberries are cleared, cut off all rimners, 

 if not required for layering purposes, and re- 

 move the weeds. Feed the plants with farm- 

 yard liquid manvire to encourage stixing and 

 robvist crowns. Plantations that have begun 

 to decline in fruitfulness should be heavily 

 manured and dug up at once, preparatory for 

 some other crop. Now is the time to commence 

 the layering of runners for pot culture under 

 glass, and also for the planting out of new beds. 

 Tn set about the work of layering methodically, 

 liist. procure the desired quantity of clean 

 llncc-inch pots and prepare a light compost of 

 line soil in fairly dry condition. In comnu'ncing 

 to layer, take the runner in one hand and bend 

 it to the bottom of the pot, and with the other 

 fill in with the soil, so that when the operation 

 is completed the little rootlet plant will be 

 securely fixed on the surface in the centre of 

 tlie ])ot. Keep the roots well supplied with 

 moisture in order that root formation may be 

 lapid. In a few weeks the runners can be 

 severed from the parent plant. Place the 

 y)lants in a partial shady position for a week, 

 afterwards planting out in beds specially pre- 

 jiared some time previovisly. Water the young 

 ])lants until well established, and stir the soil 

 frecjuently between the rows to induce active 

 growth. 



Flower Garden. — Bulbs of early-flowering 

 I'ulips that liaA'c finished growth should now be 

 taken up and spread out in a cool airy shed to 

 dry off slowly before being stored away. As 

 soon as Narcissi have lost their foliage they may 

 be lifted also, selecting the largest and most 

 ])lumb for foi-cing puriioses. Commence to 

 layer border Carnations whenever the flowering 

 ])criod is over. Prepare a compost of fine sandy 

 soil and procure the requisite quantity of pegs. 

 A sharp knife will be esserdial for this operation. 

 Remove several leaves from the lower part of 

 the shoot to be operated on ; cut through a 

 joint, making the incision a good half inch long. 

 I 'eg this down carefully, cover up with one inch 

 of soil, and water in well with a rosed can. 

 Atti'iition to watering will be very necessary 

 uidil the plants are sufficiently rooted, at which 

 liinr cul off from the ])arent plant, lift, and jiot 

 up into Ihr.-e-inch ]K)ts. When the pots have 

 become filled with roots, plant out in the autumn 

 in light rich soil, but if the ground is of a heavy 

 texture it will be well to retain the plants under 

 the shelter of a cool frame until the following 

 ■firing. Do not overwater during the winter, but 

 give plenty of air on all favourable occasions 



M. I). 



Hibernation of Phytophthora infestans 

 in the Fresh Potato, 



It is clear from the author's experiments that 

 the mycelium of Phytojihthora infestans spreads 

 in the tissues of the potato tuber and Anally 

 reaches the sprouts. The growth of the fungus 

 is retarded when diseased tubers are held in dry- 

 soil or at temperatures below ii C. Infected 

 tubers rot rapidly Avhen placed in warm wet 

 soil. A temperature of 2.3 to 27" C. and a well 

 watered soil are found to be most favourable 

 for the mycelium to spread in the tuber and 

 grow out into the sprouts, both when partially 

 and when wholly covered with soil. Under 

 these conditions the sprouts may become in- 

 fected from four to twenty days after ])ianting, 

 regardless of their size and age. The time re- 

 quired is doubtless influenced by the proximity 

 of the mycelium to the buds and by external 

 conditions. The mycelium of Ph. infestans niay 

 remain alive in seed tubers planted in the soil 

 for at least forty-five days, and even longer if 

 soft rot has not deteriorated or destroyed the 

 tissues. 



Contrary to what ^lassee has stated, the 

 author absolutely denies the latent existence of 

 the potato fungus in the stems and leaves of 

 plants growing from diseased tubers. 



Laboratory tests show that the mycelium is 

 capable of reaching the aerial portions of the 

 plant where it develops and sporulates, causing 

 foliage infection. Infected potato tubers used 

 for seed purposes and planted under field con- 

 ditions may cause the development of an epi- 

 deniic. Ten such cases were found and followed 

 in Northern Maine during the growing seasons 

 of 191.3 and 1914. Conidia of P. infestans may 

 be borne on cut surfaces and on sprouts when 

 planted under field conditions. As the cut sur- 

 face corks over or the tuber decays, the fructifi- 

 cation of the fungus decreases. Spores taken 

 from tubers two or three weeks after they were 

 first planted showed only limited germinating 

 capacity. 



No evidence was obtained tending to show 

 that the conidia Ijorne in the soil arc^ instru- 

 mental in starting foliage infection. — liiill. of 

 At/. Inielliqence anrl Plant Diseases, .Januarv. 

 191(5. 



The Pear and Cherry Sawfly. 



The extremely repulsive larva of this saw(l>' is 

 frequently most destructive to pear and cheriy 

 trees. It also infests apple, plum, damson, and 

 peach trees, and is occasionally seen upon oak, 

 birch, and other forest trees, as well as on some 

 species of thorns. In the dry seasons of 1S99 

 and 1901 cases occurred where nearly all the 

 leaves fell from pear trees in consequence of the 

 continuous attacks of larva^ of this sawHy, 

 which are sometimes called slugworms or snegs. 



Il'^at and drought are. without doubt, favour- 

 able to the multiplication and destructive 

 activity of this insed. while cool, showers- 

 weather interferes not oidy with the hatching 

 of the eggs, which aic laid upon the upi)er and 

 under surfaces of the leaves, but also with the 

 growth and health of the larva^. It is geneially 

 found that the larv.i- do not cause serious harm 

 in wet seasons. 



