32 



IRISH GARDENING. 



Midland and Northern Counties. 



By 1']. HUTllKKFOHD, (iardeuci' (o C. W. Duiihar 

 Hulk-r, Esq.. D.L.. Wolnini, Donaghaclue. 



The Kitchen Garden. 



liKTTUCi!:. — Sow on a warm border. Plant out in 

 mild weather towards the end of montli any that 

 are fit from frames, but l^e sure tliey are weli 

 hardened. 



Brassica. — Cauliflower and Brussels Sprouts 

 should be sown on a mild liot bed or in boxes; the 

 l)lants should be pricked out in a bed j)repared in 

 a frame as soon as fit. 



Potatoes. — A small quantity may be planted for 

 early use when the ground is dry. A warm, 

 sheltered border should be selected. May Queen 

 and British Premier are very early sorts. 



Peas. — Sow early sorts in quantity according to 

 probable requirements. On the first appearance 

 of the Peas a slight dusting of lime or soot will 

 be necessary to protect them from slugs. 



Cabbage planted out in the autunni will require 

 to be examined at this time, and all deficiencies 

 luade good. The ground between the rows should 

 in dry weather be stirred with the hoe to destroy 

 weeds, also to encourage the growth of the plants. 

 Make a fresh plantation as soon as the weather 

 permits. 



Shallot. — Plant as soon as the ground can be 

 got into good working order. Choose ground that 

 has been well manured. Plant in rows one foot 

 apart and the bulbs three inches apart. Press 

 them into the earth deep enough to hold them 

 firudy. 



Parsnii'. — Sow towards the end of month on 

 ground that has been well numured for a pre- 

 vious crop, and that has been deeply dug during 

 the winter. A fine seed bed should be jjrepared. 

 Sow in shallow drills eighteen inches apart, 

 dropping the seeds in twos and threes six inches 

 apart, cover lightly and touch over with the rake. 



Parsley. — A sowing should be made on deep, 

 rich soil in lines fifteen inches apart. It should 

 have plenty of room from the first; get the 

 thinning done as soon as it is ready. 



Mustard and Cress. — Make a sowing of these 

 salads in heat and keep up a constant succession 



Broad Beans. — Make sowings for succession in 

 rich, deeply-cultivated ground. 



Spin.\ch. — A sowing may now be uuide of the 

 round or summer Spinach in succession. The 

 early sowing should be made on a sheltered 

 border. Sow in drills fovu'teen inches apart and 

 one inch deep. 



Continue to get all spare ground dug over and 

 keep the place clean. Many weeds, groundsel 

 especially, will now be coming into flower; if 

 allowed to seed will give a lot of trouble later on. 

 Frame ground should be kept tidy. Many things 

 in frames will now require watering, but it should 

 not be carelessly given, and give plenty of air on 

 fine days. 



The Flower. Garden. 



Half-hardy Annuals may be sown in seed-pans 

 or bo.xes, using a compost of loam, sand and leaf- 



soil. Sow the seed thinly, cover very slightly, and 

 lay glass or paper over the pans to keep moist. 

 Care should be taken if watering not to wash the 

 seeds out. As soon as the seedlings appear reiuove 

 the glass and jilace seed-pans close to the glass 

 to keep from getting drawn; and when fit prick 

 off into boxes and keep shaded from strong sun- 

 shine for a few days and gradually harden off. 



Bedding Plants. — Geraniums in boxes may be 

 shaken out and potted singly in 4-inch pots or 

 mossed and placed in boxes. All plants from 

 which it is intended to propagite should be 

 placed in heat to encourage the growth. Dahlia 

 roots may be placed in heat for propagating froui; 

 place the roots close together, shaking in some 

 light sandy mould between the roots; they should 

 be occasionally sprinkled with water. When the 

 shoots are about three inches long the cuttings 

 may be taken off and inserted in small pots in 

 light sandy soil. The pots should be phuiged in 

 brisk heat and kept close rnitil rooted. 



Sweet Peas. — Make a sowing in pots or troughs 

 and place in heat. 



Grass borders and lawns uuiy be laid or sown 

 where required; roll lawns when the weather will 

 permit. The grass edgings of gravel walks and 

 the sides of all grass borders should be now gone 

 over with the edging-iron and cut as straight as 

 possible. 



Hardy Fruit Garden. 



Spraying Fruit Trees. — This ^ihou'd b.' done 

 soon as possible, using some of the recommended 

 sprays; choose a fine calm day. The operator 

 should use rubber gloves in order to protect his 

 hands. 



Fruit tree Borders. — Let all the fruit-tree 

 liorders be forked over as soon as the pruning and 

 nailing are finished. In turning up the borders 

 care should lie taken not to fork too deeply for 

 fear of injuring the roots of the trees. 



Strawberry Beds. — Thoroughly clean all plan- 

 tations, but do not dig between them. Apply a 

 good mulching of farm-yard manure; the sap will 

 wash to the roots with the rain; the litter will 

 keep the ground moist about the roots during the 

 summer, and keep the fruit clean. 



Rainfall. 



Rain fell on 12 days of the month. 

 ,, 1<» 

 ,. 20 



10 

 20 

 21 

 16 



36.38 



Showing a total fall of 30.38 inches and 208 

 days on which rain fell. 



.T. .M.\TTHE\vs (Cappoquin). 



