IRISH GARDENING 



when cut. The .smaller groAvers only should be 

 chosen for a small garden, notably K. corallina, 

 with spikes of coral red flowers in July and 

 August ; Nelsoni, coral scarlet and orange ; and 

 MacOwani, with coral red flowers of great beauty. 

 Average height 2 to 3 feet. 



The above selection would, I believe, provide 

 flowers in the garden and for cutting for quite six 

 or seven months, and as all are ijerennials there is 

 no reason why the smallest garden should not 

 be gay through summer and autumn and the 

 house well supplied with flowers. 



HOBTUS. 



Notes for Novices< 



Vegetables. — The stems of Celery plants shovild 

 now be earthed up finally, selecting dry weather 

 conditions for this operation. Be very careful to 

 prevent the soil reaching the hearts of the plants. 

 I'lantations of cabbage should be examined and 

 blank spaces in the rows made good. Use the 

 lioe freely between the plants to destroy weeds 

 and promote health\ i^row th. If sluus aic ( rouble- 

 some, sprinkle lime liicly aldiii^ the lows. I'lants 

 that are still in the seed hcd may \>r 1 iaiis[)laiilt'(i 

 carefully in nursery beds, with the object of 

 making fresh plantations in the spring. Choose 

 a sheltered position and ground that is not ex- 

 cessively rich. Allow a space of 6 inches each 

 way between the plants. These late seedlings 

 will prove valuable for a succession to those in 

 plantations already made. Cauliflower plants in 

 cold pits niust be ventilated freely, both night 

 and day. This is very necessary to keep the 

 plants stocky. Parsley growing outdoors will 

 require protection from severe frosts. The over- 

 grown foliage must be removed in order to 

 encourage young leaves to develop, because these 

 withstand the winter better than those which 

 have fallen over and are in contact with the soil. 

 In fine weather stir up the soil between the rows. 

 All the stems of Asparagus will now be ripe and 

 ready for cutting down to the ground as closely 

 as possible. During frosty weather a dressing of 

 short stable manure should be placed thickly over 

 the beds. 



Fruit. — All kinds of fruit trees may be planted 

 now in fine weather. Gooseberries are always in 

 request, and as with cvirrants, it always repays 

 to top-dress the roots with rich manure eacli 

 autumn, allowing the litter to remain on the 

 surface until early spring, wlien it may lie lightly 

 forked into the ground. Both these kinds of buslx 

 fruits should be planted 5 feet apart each way, 

 and for preference the rows should lun north and 

 south. Black currants will thrive ij' almost any 

 situation. A north aspect is the most suitable for 

 obtaining late black currants, and in point of 

 botii flavour and size of berry, the fruit on bushes 

 in a north aspect is eqiial to that from those in 

 wariiu'r positions. The work of pruning fruit 

 trees may be commenced this month, provided the 

 wood is sufficiently matured. Karly varieties, 

 planted in the most favourable situations, should 

 be operated on fiTstly. As both Uie (lierr\ aiul 

 the j)lum fi'uit on s])ui'S as well as on tlu- young 

 shoots of the previous year. Iheii- methods of 

 pruning are similai-, and ma> be considered 

 together. Fan training is as a lule preferable to 



any other method for these stone fruits, and the 

 branches should be (j to 8 inches apart according 

 to their strength and the size of the foliage of the 

 particular variety. If the trees are in a healthy 

 condition, and have plenty of fruit buds on the 

 young wood, the largest of the spurs may be 

 removed or very much thinned, as fruit produced 

 on the young wood is usually superior both in 

 size and flavour to that produced on spurs. The 

 morello cherry fruits chiefly upon the young 

 shoots of the current year or on close spurs 

 formed on the two-year old branches, and should 

 be pruned and trained much in the same manner 

 as peaches and nectarines. The gooseberry fruits 

 on spurs, the young shoots, and those of two or 

 three years. The best fruits, however, are usually 

 obtained from the shoots of the previous yeai'. 

 A sufficient number of young shoots should be 

 retained at equal and moderate distances, and 

 for their full length, unless they are unduly long. 

 The bushes should be open in the centre to allow 

 the sunlight and air to enter. Svickers proceeding 

 from the stem or roots shoidd be removed. Bed 

 and white currants may be jiruned in almost a 

 similar manner to the -oosclicrry, the dift'erence 

 being that the leading slioots slvould be shortened 

 about one-third, according to tlieir strengtli and 

 l)(>siti()ii. Black currants require little, if any. 

 pinning beyond thinning the older branches. 



Flower Garden. — When the soil is in a good 

 condition, take the opportunity to forward the 

 work of planting Koses, For new beds thorough 

 drainage is essential. The ideal soil for these 

 flowers is a rich loam of a greasy nature, and it 

 should be dug 2 feet to 3 feet deep. A heavy clay 

 soil may be improved by incorporating with it 

 burnt earth, wood ash and mortar rubbish. If 

 the soil is of a light texture remove the bottom 

 spit and replace it with good turf — the top-spit 

 from a heavy pasture land for preference — and 

 well-rotted cow-manure. The soil of established 

 beds visually becomes sour in time, and after 

 three years the plants are benefited by being- 

 lifted and replanted. In this case the beds should 

 be deeply dug. removing a portion of the old soil 

 and replacing it with good turfy loam. Place 

 well-decayed manure in the bottom and sprinkle 

 basic slag or bone meal on the surface. Before 

 repla/iting shorten the strong roots that are de- 

 ficient in root-fibre, and also cut back the long- 

 growths, for these would be liable to damage by 

 high winds and in swaying have a tendency to 

 loosen the plants in the ground. Plant firmly 

 and just deep enough to cover the junction of 

 stock and scion with soil. Appl\ a mulch of 

 short litter to keep out frost and to ictaiii the 

 greater amount of wai-mth iu the soil. 



M. 1). 



Beekeeping. 



The temperature during tlie first half of October — 

 although for the most part a wet and windy 

 period— enabled bees to secure a good supply of 

 pollen from ivy. and on sonu' of the warmest days 

 nectar was also procured fiom the same source. 

 This has re-started breeding in many stocks that 

 were broodless at the end of September, and it 

 also afforded a favourable ojjportunity to give 

 syrup to stocks that were still baj-e in winter 

 stores. 



The season has been a I'lMuarkaijle one in many 



