Southern and Western Counties. 



By W. Campbell, Head Gardener 

 Castletown, Doneraile Court, Co. 



The Kitchex Garden. 



to Lord 

 Cork 



This will be a busy month in the vegetable 

 garden. If weather conditions are favourable, 

 ]?lanting and seed sowing will commence in real 

 earnest. 



Potatoes. — The main crop can now be got in, 

 30 inches between the rows and 12 inches between 

 the sets will be ample space for most varieties ; 

 strong growing sorts may be allowed 6 inches 

 more between the rows. No doubt stable 

 manure gives the best results for the Potato 

 crop, but, if this is not to be had in sufficient 

 quantities, use a little of some good artificial 

 manure. 



Peas. — Sow Peas at regular intervals, accord- 

 ing to the demand that may be expected for them. 

 If one plot is given up to Peas, six feet should be 

 allowed between rows of tall growing varieties. 

 A line or two of summer Spinach or White Turnips 

 can be sown between the rows. If rats or mice 

 are troublesome means must be taken to destroy 

 them at once. I have seen whole rows of Peas 

 destroyed in a couple of nights. 



Broad Beans. — Sow long-pod varieties on well 

 prepared ground, in double rows, 9 or 10 inches 

 apart, allowing G inches between the seed ; 

 measure off 3 feet before drawing for the next 

 row. 



Cabbage. — Sow Cabbage, for late summer and 

 autumn use, in drills 9 inches apart. It is very 

 important that the ground is dry when sowing 

 seeds in the open ; if wet and cloggy when 

 trampled on it will crack and become caked as 

 soon as a dry spell sets in. Harbinger, Daniel's 

 Defiance, and Enfield Market are good sorts to 

 sow now. 



Salsify. — Sow in drills 15 inches apart in 

 deeply dug ground. Fresh manure nmst not be 

 used for this crop ; like the Parsnip, it causes 

 forking of the roots. 



Parsnips. — As early in the month as the 

 ground can be got ready sow the full crop of 

 Parsnips. Draw drills 15 inches apart, drop 

 3 or 4 seeds every C inches ; these can be thinned 

 out to one when seedlings are strong enough to 

 handle. 



Tripoli or Winter Onions. — Plant those out 

 where they are to mature. ]Make the ground firm 

 by treading, and plant with a dibber, taking care 

 not to plant too deeply, in rows one foot apart 

 and inches between the plants. 



Spinach. — Sow summer and also Spinach Beet; 

 the latter of late years has become a very popular 

 vegetable, and is now grown in most gardens. 



Beetroot. — Sow a few drills on a warm border 

 for early use of the Turnip-rooted varieties. 



Turnips.— Make sowings of Early Snowball and 

 strai)-]eaved varieties. 



Seakale. — Where it is intended to make new 

 plantations of Seakale, the ground must be 

 deeply dug or, better still, trenched, at the same 

 time working in a liberal supply of manure. 

 Plant the sets with the crown slightly below the 

 surface. 



Cauliflower and Broccoli. — Sow Yeitch's 

 Autumn Giant Cauliflower and early Winter 

 Broccoli. Late winter and sirring Broccoli will 

 be time enough to sow next month. 



Tomatoes for Planting Outdoor. — Sow 

 some of those varieties reconunended for this 

 l^urpose. Place in heat until the seedlings are 

 large enough to prick off into small pots, then 

 gradually harden off until the end of May or 

 early in June, when they can be planted out 

 against a south wall. 



Sow Vegetable Marrows in boxes, and pot oft' 

 singly when the seedlings have made a pair of 

 leaves. 



Hardy Fruit Garden, 



If any pruning still remains to be done it should 

 be attended to at once. Clean up all j)runings 

 and burn them. All trees on walls should be 

 carefully examined to see that all ties are secure, 

 especially on old and heavy trees. Sig trees are 

 usually the last to be taken in hand. If the tree 

 is getting overcrowded, remove one or two large 

 branches, this will allow the remaining branches 

 room to be spread out. Cut back newly planted 

 canes of Raspberries and Loganberries six inches 

 from the ground. Peaches coming into flower 

 must have nets or other protecting material 

 hung over them at night, a very slight frost might 

 ruin the whole crop. 



I^LOWBR Garden. 



Gei^aniunis will now require to be potted oft" 

 singly into small pots. Those who have not 

 sufficient pots to spare for this purpose might try 



