Southern and Western Counties. 



H\ W. Campbell, Head (iaidencr to lord 

 Castletown, I)<inerai!(! Couit, Co. Cork. 



Vegetabli: Garden. 



Till-: niouth of Febrviary sonietiines comes to us 

 with a rusli of sunshine and nice warm weather 

 wliieh may tempt one to start seed sowing on too 

 liberal a scale. We nuist not forget that there is 

 sure to follow cold, wet weeks when at least the 

 smaller seeds would be sure to jjerish owing to 

 there not being sufficient heat in the ground to 

 germinate them. 



Potatoes. — Towards the middle of the month 

 plant early varieties on a south or west border. 

 ])(! not cut the seed of early-planted Potatoes; 

 they woukl very likely rot in the ground should 

 we have a prolonged si)eil of cold, wet weather. 

 I prefer to plant early varieties on the flat. By 

 so doing more earth can be drawn up to the stalks 

 as they appear above ground to protect them from 

 late frosts. 



Peas. — Make one or two sowings of Peas during 

 the month. If the earlicM- sowings are appearing 

 above ground draw the earth well up both sides 

 of the rows to protect tliem from cutting winds. 



Onions. — Plant shallot and autumn sown 

 Onions on well prepared ground. The main crop 

 of spring sown Onions can be got in about the 

 last week of the month if the ground is in good 

 workable condition. The ground for this crop 

 should be deeply dug and well manured; if this 

 was done in the autiunn so nnich the better. 

 Make the surface fine })y forking over, and then 

 tread the whole of the ground evenly and firmly 

 rake over and draw the lines one foot apart and 

 about one and a half inches deep. 



Broad Beans. — Good sowings of Broad Beans 

 can now be made. 



Spinach. — Sow Victoria Spinach on a warm 

 border for early picking. Hoe between autunni 

 sown Spinach. 



Cauliflowers. — As a succession to those in 

 frames sow a box of early FiOndon or snowliall 

 Cnnlitlnwer, rjlace in a cool house, and when large 

 cniiiitili to handle prick off into a frame. 



Cahbage. — Plants that h.ive been ke])t in stock 

 during the winter should now be ])lanted out, 

 first making good all blanks in those i)lanted in 

 the autumn. 



Tomatoes. — Sow Tomato seed in pans in heat. 

 Sunrise and Ailsa Craig are good varieties. 



Hardy Fruit Garden. 



Rasi'heriues. — The Raspberry being surface- 

 rooting cannot l)e dug betv.'een. Hoe the ground 

 between the rows and give a dressing of farm- 

 yard numure. New canes when planted should 

 he cut down to 8 or 9 inches from the ground. 



Loganberry. — The same remarks apply to tiie 

 Loganberry as to the Raspl)erry. Gooseberries, 

 and Currants. A little well-rotted numure forked 

 in lightly around Gooseberry and Currant bushes 

 will imi)rove both the size and quality of the 

 berries. 



Peaches and Aimucots on walls should now be 

 tied or nailed neatly, taking care not to over- 

 crowd the young wood; if disbudding was carried 

 out at the proper time there will be very little to 

 do now as regards pruning except to remove any 

 dead wood or a misplaced branch. See that none 

 of the old ties have' got too tight. After tying is 

 all finished give the border a light forking over, 

 and give a mulch of good cow manure if possible. 



Spraying. — Every advantage should be taken, 

 on calm days, of carrying out this most important 

 operation. 



The Flower Garden. 



Sweet Peas.— Sow Sweet Peas in pots, five or 

 six seeds in a 6-inch pot for general purposes. If 

 large specimen blooms are required, sow singly in 

 .'{-inch pots. Place in a cool frame or greenhouse, 

 ancl protect from rats and mice. 



Carnations. — Where those have been wintered 

 in frames they can now be planted out in their 

 ])ermanent quarters. When preparing ground for 

 Carnations fork in a good dressing of lime rubble, 

 wood ash and soot. Pinks that have been raised 

 from pips or cuttings can also be planted now. 

 Place Dahlia roots in heat to start to get cuttings. 



Pelargoniums, Geranium, and all half-hardy 

 bedding nlants will now root freely if cuttings are 

 inserted in a gentle hot bed. 



Herbaceous Beds and Borders. — Many l)ulbs 

 will now be coming through the ground, and 

 wliere any forking or alterations still remain to 

 be done care must be taken not to trample the 

 young growths just appearing above gromid. 



RocKERTES. — liOosen the surface soil around rock 

 ])lants with hand fork, and give a top-dressing of 

 well-rotted loam, leaf-mould, and sand well mixed 

 togetlier. 



