IRISH GARDENING 



83 



Notes for Novices. 



Vegetables. — The principal work in tin- vege- 

 table garden now will be t lie digging and trencliing 

 of all vacant ground. The manure required for 

 the various plots should, if possible, be wheeled 

 on to the ground during hard, frosty weather. 

 Before commencing to dig or trench." the alleys 

 around the plots should be cleared of all weeds by 

 means of the spade, at the same time making the 

 path level as the work proceeds. Take out a 

 trench at one end and wheel the soil to the 

 opposite end of the 

 plot, emptying it out 

 just beyond where the 

 last opening will be 

 made. In digging one 

 spade deep always 

 keep a sufficiently 

 wide opening in front 

 of the spade, so that 

 the manure which is 

 being spread out in 

 the trench can be 

 covered with at least 

 six inches of the soU. 

 otherwise the manure 

 may be interfered wit h 

 during planting opera- 

 tions in the spring. 

 Where trenching is 

 being carried out, say 

 two to three feet deep, 

 spread out the rankest 

 of the manure in the 

 bottom trench and 

 above this a layer of 

 the more decayed 

 manure between each 

 layer of soil. The 

 bottom spit should be 

 turned up on the 

 surface, as roughly as 

 possible, so that the 

 influences of the v.inter 

 weather will pulverize 

 it before spring time 

 arrives. Never dig 

 when the soil is over 

 wet or in a pasty con- 

 dition. Make ;i sdiviiig 

 of cabbage IctliKc in 

 a warm greenhouse. 

 After germination 



takes place, remove 



the boxes on to a shelf near the glass, so that t he 

 plants will not become unduly drawn. 



According to requirements, seakale crowns may 

 ))(; brought in and planted in !)-inch pots. Stand 

 the pots underneath the greenhouse stage and 

 apply a thorough good watering with a rose-can. 

 Khubarb crowns intended for forcing should be 

 exposed to tlie weather for a few days after being 

 dug up. Beside the warm piping in the green- 

 house will be found a suitable place for forcing. 

 Water each crown with tepid water and entirely 

 exclude from light. The ])resent is a good time 

 to trench and pi-epare ground for new plantations 

 of rhubarb in the open. As the plants are 

 likely to remain in th(* same plot for several 

 seasons, the soil should be trenchcul two feet 

 deep and two layers of manure applied. The 

 bed should then be left exposed to the weather 



kept 



AkbUTVS FCIl 



Phot. 



until March, when the plants should be put 

 out in rows five feet apart, learving four feet 

 between the plants in the row. A careful 

 examination of all onions in store should 

 be made, so that bulbs which are becoming 

 soft or growing out may be removed for 

 immediate use. The remaining bulbs should 

 be given plenty of ventilation and 

 as dry and cool as possible. 



Fruit. — Continue to plant and fill vacancies 

 amongst wall trees unless very cold weather 

 renders the work impracticable. Trees that 

 are uniiroductive or in any way unsatisfactory 

 should be carefully 

 examined and, if 

 deemed necessary, 



lifted, the drainage 

 made perfect, favour- 

 able soil added to the 

 border, and the trees 

 replanted. It is pre- 

 ferable in every respect 

 to do this work now 

 rather than defer it 

 until the spring. Take 

 advantage of every 

 favourable o p p o r - 

 t unity to forward the 

 work of pruning and 

 tying in both pears 

 and plums, and also, 

 if necessary, to dress 

 1 he trees with an 

 insecticide. The prun- 

 ing of orchard trees, 

 whether standard or 

 bush, should now be 

 begun. Trees that 

 have been carefully 

 trained for several 

 years and. are in fruit- 

 ing condition will not 

 require much attention 

 beyond the removal 

 of a shoot or branch 

 here and there, but 

 standard trees that 

 have not been regu- 

 larly trained mav 

 require a good deal of 

 pruning. Kemove all 

 shoots or bi-anches 

 that cross each other 

 and thin any that are 

 overcrowded, particu- 

 larly in the centre of 

 th<' tree, which should be kept well open. Shorten 

 and thin the spurs retaining the jjlumpest and 

 best buds. When these are near the base of the 

 spur they should be retahied in preference to buds 

 nearer the end. Keep the atmosphere of the 

 fruit-room as fresh and buoyant as ])ossible by 

 the free admission of air in favourable weather. 

 Flower (Jahden. —Plants of Lily of the \alley 

 nuiy be lifted and i-eplanted. When once estab- 

 lished these plants grow and fiower well for years 

 without much care or attention. In gardens the 

 plants are fre((uently neglected, thoughboth the 

 foliage and the flowers are much finer on well 

 cultivated specimens. After four or five years 

 the plants become overcrowded, and should then 

 be lifted, sorted into sizes and rejjlanted. It is 

 a good plan to lift a quarter of the bed each year, 

 then a portion of the plot will always l)e in "good 



liXS FMCm ROSTKEVOI! HoUSE 

 l)v II. M. I'ullock. 



