34 



IRISH GARDENING. 



Iris Vartani (p. 36). 



sf)ot niglitlv will ward them off, or an apiDlica- 

 tion of salt to their hiding places (but not over 

 the plants) will prove effective. Make sure 

 that the young plants get plenty of light and 

 air, because such conditions will produce strong 

 plants. When the seedlings are strong enough 

 and hardened sufficiently for planting outdoors 

 tlie turves naay be lifted and carried to their 

 growing quarters. A fine dry day should be 

 chosen for the purpose ; a flat shallow trench 

 of 4 inches deep and 6 to 8 inches in width will 

 suit admirably for planting the turves in, and, 

 of course, the most sheltered position in the 

 garden sliould be selected, with a south ex- 

 posure preferably. The soil may be drawn to 

 the necks of the plants, made fairly firm, and 

 little shelter sticks placed on both sides to p)ro- 

 tect and encourage growth. 



Peas grown in tliis fashion will ripen their 

 crops quite as early, in many cases, as Nov- 

 ember sowings. The giving of shelter is at times 

 a problem, for cold N. and E. winds in March 

 and April are usually prejudicial to tender 

 vegetable growths. I have used small wicker 

 hurdles as protective fences with good results, 

 these are made by interlacing hazel or other 

 twigs, or common rush grass, on stouter up- 

 right growths. These hurdles w'orked into 4 

 or 5 feet lengths, and 2 to 4 feet high, can be 

 taken about to any point and driven into posi- 

 tion, and will serve the purpose of protecting 

 other crops besides early peas. 



Another good protecting wall, if of a more 

 l)ermanent nature, is one made of thick turf, 

 raised to a height of 18 inches or 2 feet. It 

 makes a fine shelter, and when finished with 

 may be broken down and incorporated \\'ith the 



soil, or used as potting material, as one may 

 care to do. 



Another method for growing early croi)s 

 where neither frame nor greenhouse is avail- 

 able, is to sow close u}) to the bottom of a 

 south wall, the peas will progress in such a 

 site at a rai)id rate, and produce a fair crop. 



It should l)e understood that podding is 

 accelerated by pinching out the point of the 

 growing shoot or haulm as soon as the floM'ers 

 show, and tliat is the best time to assist witli 

 a light stimulant in the shape of artificial 

 manure, if the weather is w^et, or liquid manure 

 from the farm tank if the weather is dry. Or, 

 if neither of the above is obtainable, give 

 plenty of surface cultivation with the Dutch 

 hoe or Buco cultivator. 



The foregoing may be taken as sound prac- 

 tice for early crops, and the maincrops are 

 produced more naturally, and consequently 

 easier. 



They require the same limy soil, well worked, 

 rich and free ; plenty of room sliould always be 

 given, especially between the tall varieties. I 

 have grown early potatoes between the lines 

 of maincrop peas, with good results to each 

 crop, and propose this year to grow all main- 

 crops 12 feet apart with 3 lines of early pota- 

 toes between, to be followed by celery. This 

 space permits of 2 trenches of celery taking the 

 place of the potatoes wdien lifted, and botli 

 peas and celery benefit by a continuous work- 

 ing going on throughout the summer months. 

 The ridges between the celery also carry a crop, 

 generally lettuces. 



The peas should be sown thinly — 1 quart will 

 sow 120 to 140 feet — in shallow trenches of 

 about 3 inches deep and 6 inches wide, and 

 then covered to the depth of 1 inch, and pressed 

 firmly by the foot. 



The first week in March is early enough to 

 sow the first of the maincrops, and this sowing 

 should be followed by other sowings through- 

 out the season at intervals of a fortnight or 

 three weeks to maintain a succession. After 

 June it is risky to sow further, unless on the 

 chance of getting a late dish, and then only 

 first earlies should be used. Of course, every 

 grower must be a law to himself, as he alone 

 knows his table needs, and no one should sow 

 more than his ground will permit him to crop 

 with profit, and an eye to other sorts of veget- 

 ables must be sharply kept. 



When the peas are from 3 to 6 inches in 

 height sticks of the required height must be 

 placed in position ; the ground on both sides of 

 the row must first be forked over, working in 

 a little lime if required, then draw the soil by 

 means of a draw hoe closely to the neck of 

 the young plants, and press the stakes firmly 



