26 



IRISH GARDENING. 



Dublin Corporation Land Cultivation 

 Committee. 



Annual iiEroRT, 1917. 



This document is now before us and contains 

 much interesting reading. The report comprises 

 a complete record of the work done by the 

 committee from its inception. The difficulties 

 which had to be surmounted were considerable, 

 and it retJects greatly to the credit of the members 

 and staff that in the short time at their disposal 

 they were able to i^rovide such a large number of 

 allotments in and around the city. A standard 

 rent of lG/8 was charged for each allotment of 

 one- eighth of an acre : in a few cases this was 

 modified to sviit exceptional circumstances. The 

 largest areas acqvured v, ere Marino, 50 acres : 

 Island Bridge, 34 acres, and at the Model Farm, 

 Glasnevin, 29 acres. Various other areas, varying 

 from one-half acre to 10 acres, were obtained in 

 various parts of the city, and thus a large number 

 of applicants obtained plots fairly convenient. 

 It is most satisfactory to be able to announce, as 

 stated in the report, that the Board of Public 

 Works has ari'anged to provide an additional .'^0 

 acres at Island Bridge. This action of tbo Boar.l 

 will be much appreciated, and shows an excellent 

 example to private owners, who, it is to be hoped, 

 will show an equally generous spirit in letting 

 available land for svich a laudable object. 



The Department of Agriculture, in order to 

 encourage the movement and to ensure the Plot- 

 holders being able to get the most out of their 

 plots, offered to bear the cost of salary and 

 travelling expenses of a qualified instructor. 

 The offer was accepted, and our friend. Mr. 

 James Hurley, who bad been doing similar work 

 for the Vacant Land Cultivation Society, was 

 appointed, and we can eidorse the committe'^'s 

 appreciation of Mr. Hurley's efforts ; he worked, 

 as we know early and late, week-day and holiday, 

 to help all who required assistance and 

 advice. 



Later on ]Mr. Thos. Mvirphy was appointed to 

 assist in the allotment ol' the plots, in distributing 

 seed Potatoes and in spraying during tb.c summer. 

 Six temporary instructors, to act on Saturday 

 afternoons and holidays, were also appointed, as 

 it was impossible for one man to get over all the 

 areas, which were very much scattered, A great 

 deal of credit is due to the City Treasurer, who 

 acted as secretary, ably assisted by Mr. Murphy. 

 Owing, however, to the enormous amount of work 

 devolving on the seci^etarial staff it was found 

 necessary to provide a clerk, and this was effected 

 ))y the transfer of Mr. Patrick Brophy from the 

 City Engineer's Department. The surveying of 

 the land and the setting out of the plots were 

 cari'ied out by the Engiiieer's staff, and we have 

 previously commented on the excellent way in 

 which this was done, facilitating easy access 

 through and among the plots. 



The local administration of the various plot 

 areas was entrusted to CouTmittees of the Plot- 

 liolders themselves, who were responsible for the 

 collection of the various charges. The Land 

 Committee procured about SO tons of seed 



Potatoes for sale to Plotholders at a price just 

 sufficient to coverjicost, carriage and cartage. 

 Sprayers and spraying materials were also pro- 

 vided, and the Cleansing Committee provided a 

 large quantity of manure to the various areas. 

 To stimulate interest among the Plotholders the 

 committee conceived the excellent idea of offering 

 prizes, and a sum of £94 lis. was subscribed by 

 various public men and firms. An account of the 

 couTpetition has appeared in a former issue of 

 Irish (tArdkxing. The plots were inspected in 

 .luly, and the judges reported very favourably on 

 them. The prizes were distributed in the Round 

 Room of the Mansion House, as reported in this 

 Journal. 



Quite recently an Irish Plotholders' Union has 

 been formed similar to those already existing in 

 Scotland and England, and the Local Govern- 

 ment Board has sanctioned the appointment of 

 two members of the Union to act on the Land 

 Cultivation Committee. 



About 2,000 additional applications have been 

 received for plots, and an earnest endeavour is 

 being made to satisfy the applicants. We wish 

 the committee every success in their quest for 

 additional land. 



Owing to the amount of work devolving on the 

 City Treasurer, it Avas found necessary to transfer 

 Mr. Berkery, of the Accountant's Department, to 

 perform the duties of Secretary to the CoiiLmittee, 

 and as such he is now acting. ]Mr. Berkery is a 

 qualified accountant, and will bring expei-t know- 

 ledge to bear on the miscellaneovis work of the 

 committee. 



The charges on the committee for the season 

 amounted to £2.620 14s. 7d., there being a deficit 

 at the end of the year of £^09 Os. 5d. This is not 

 to be wondered at considering the initial difficul- 

 ties to be overcome and the present high cost of 

 necessary materials. For the comfort of all, 

 however, we hope to see this wiped out ere the 

 next annual report appears. The report is signed 

 by Dr. Sherlock, Chairman of the Committee. 



Irish Food Control Committee, 



Sir Thomas Stafford, Bart, of Rockinghan^, 

 Boyle, and Mr. Martin McDonagh, of Gal way, 

 have been invited to join the lood Control Com- 

 mittee for Ireland, and have accepted the invi- 

 tation. 



Tropaeolum tuberosum. 



This is a bright, tuberous-rooted, climbing plant 

 from Peru. Old established plants are often seen 

 in mild and sheltered places, but it is not hardy 

 everywhere, and where it shows signs of tenderness 

 it is best to lift the tubers after the stems have 

 died down and replant again in the spring, ll 

 flowers late in the season, often if vmtouched 

 by frost, well into November. Tlie leaves aie 

 roundish, and sligh.tly bold, dark green, and the 

 flowers are bright orange and scailet on iong 

 rJender stems. A poor soil suits it well, and it 

 only asks a liUle support !'< r its shoots. 



P. Al. V 



