IRISH GARDENING. 



23 



(Sultoii). lii'si.staui .Snou(liM[) (i)()l)bit')- I'-il/''!! 

 IJliie, rcconiiUL'iided for gardens and alio! ineids. 

 Second h]arlit'.s — King (icoif^e (BiiUer), (ileal 

 Scot (.M'Ali.ster), Southanijtton Wonder. Main- 

 crop vaiieties — Abundance (Sutton), Jiui-nhouse 

 lieauty and Langworl liy. 



In the white lound oi' oval section we note The 

 l.ocliar and Leinster W'ondei' anion;:; otliei's. and 

 in the eoloui'cd round or o\al section Jiisli (^uecii 

 and Siianii'ock ai'e fairly well known. 



Food I'roduction Leatiet Xo. 21 gives I'uii 

 details of the trials and can he had gratis and post 

 free from the Secretary, Boai'd of Agricidture antl 

 Fisheries, 3 St. .James's Square, London, S.W. I. 



Mr. Drew concluded an excellent lecture witii 

 advice on the proper storing of Potatoes, 

 emphasising tlie need for nil- and protection fi'om 

 Irosl. 



Earliest Spring Sown Peas- 



even tiien the,\ smU oi.( distur])ed, and trapping 

 should bc! done. Wiietiier sown outside or 

 pia nt ed, staking sl\ould be done as soon as possible 

 and at the same time a few spruce branches or 

 something similar placed on the easterly or 

 exposed side. Never attempt to sow or plant 

 unless the ground is in good order, and then avoid 

 treading the sui-face by using boards to walk 

 upon. Sowing should not be done; too deeply, 

 ratlier draw up a little soil to tlie j)lants before 

 staking. Takeout a siiallow. but wide, diill two 

 inches deep, and sow moi-e tliickly than for main- 

 crop supplies. Encourage a fine^tiltii by forking 

 over the ground and allowing the surface every 

 opportunity to dry. Slugs are very troublesome, 

 and are best kept at bay by the sprinkling of a 

 small barrier of coarse cinder ashes beside the 

 I'ows, and dustings of soot or lime will help to ward 

 them off as well as helping to stimulate growth. 

 Wood ashes incorporated into the surface at the 

 time of sowing or planting is of the greatest 

 maiaurial assistance. 



E. B. (Fota.) 



N'kkv few indeed are tliosc who do not eagerly 

 await the first dish of Peas, and, thanks to the 

 untiring efforts of our leading seed houses, 

 varieties are now catalogued that will, under 

 favourable conditions, yield j)lentiful sup])lies of 

 delicious Marrowfat Peas early in the month of 

 June from spring sowings. There are several 

 varieties to be found in every list, varying in 

 lieight from one to four feet, but for the earliest 

 crop I pin my faith to a variety known as Early 

 or Little Marvel, a Pea growing about two feet 

 liigh, and which conies to maturity quickly and 

 produces a heavy yield of Peas n ostly in pairs, 

 and, if carefully gathered, will provide several 

 pickings. 



Such a variety as the above is eminently suited 

 for the narrow south border, and, in my estima- 

 tion, one that should appeal especially to amateurs 

 and others who sometimes experience difficulty in 

 securing support for the taller kinds, whereas this 

 variety is almost self-supporting, in fact it may 

 be grown and perfected without the aid of 

 supports, but I would strongly reconmiend the 

 use of a few twiggy sticks, af-^ the keeping of the 

 growth in an upright condit ion not only econo- 

 mises space, but must help to secure a greater 

 yield and renders tlie gathering of the crop much 

 more easy and affords protection from vermin. 



A capital plan to adopt is to sow in rows ten 

 feet apart and crop in between with other early 

 vegetables, such as Potatoes, Carrots, Turnips, 

 Spinacii. \:c., wlien the Peas will form natuial 

 shelter for the intervening crops. Sowing may 

 either be done in boxes or pots and raised under 

 glass and gradually hardened off prior to planting 

 out, or they may be sown direct into the ground 

 as soon as the soil is in workable condition, and 

 if the protection of a few odd lights or plant 

 protectors is given them, germination will he 

 quicker. The latter method entails less labour, 

 but the crop will hardly he ready as soon as by 

 sowing and raising under glass even in a cold 

 frame. Whichever practice is adopted protection 

 must be afforded from mice, and damping red 

 seed with a little linseed oil and coating with the 

 lead will usually prevent destruction, although 



Allotment Observations, 



By ,J. Hurley, Superintendent, Corporation of 

 Dublin Land Cultivation Committee. 



The work on the allotment during the past month 

 consisted chiefly of manuring, digging and double 

 digging the ground. It is pleasing to have to 

 record that plotholders now realize the advantage 

 of leaving the soil rough when they throw it off 

 the spade. There are many ways by which an 

 allotment may be treated at this time of year, 

 but drilling, which is so easily done, does not 

 receive the attention which it deserves. Whether 

 the ground drilled be required for Potato growing 

 or not it is beneficial work, more especially on 

 land which is inclined to be wet and heavy. The 

 drill helps to keep the soil dry, and by so doing 

 it provides for its earlier working, which may 

 consist of its preparation for seed sowing or early 

 transplanting. 



Last year the purchase of seeds, the cultivating 

 and manuring of the allotment were carried out 

 in a rush ; this should be avoided this year. If 

 Potato " seed " has not been secured by the plot- 

 holder he should immediately set about buying 

 his supply, no matter whether early or late 

 varieties are required. To have some tubers 

 ready for digging early in .Tune, plant about a 

 stone of " Duke of York "' or " Sharpe's Express " 

 in February, and depend on " British Queen " to 

 give a succession with a good yield. It will be 

 remembered by those who grew " British (^ueen " 

 last year that tliey were a good second and a much 

 better crop than those called first earlies. It 

 will be interesting to plotlioldeis to note that the 

 Corporation have taken steps to secure a supply 

 of " seed " Potatoes for the coming season. 



Hopes are entertained by 1,200 intending plot- 

 holders that the Corporation Land Cultivation 

 Committee will be able to supply sulTicient land 

 to provide them with ^-acre each, as a result of 

 the recent Local Government Board inquiry. 



