IRISH GARDENING. 



19 



Polyanthus and Primroses should be broken up 

 into nice sized pieces and transplanted carefully 

 into a corner of the kitchen garden, which is 

 usually reserved for them. Narcissus and other 

 bulbs when lifted should be placed together and 

 covered with a little earth; this will ensure the 

 foliage dying off gradually. 



Hardy Annuals sown in April will require thin- 

 ning out. It is important to remember when thin- 

 ning annuals that to get the best results the 

 ])lants need plenty of room. Sweet Peas will re- 

 quire good soakings of water if the weather is dry. 

 An occasional watering with weak liquid manure 

 will benefit them. If slugs are troublesome dust 

 the plants with fresh slacked lime and soot mixed 

 in equal parts. 



No matter how good the weather conditions may 

 be do not Ise tempted to i^lant out such tender 

 things as Heliotrope and Begonias before the last 

 week of the month or the first week of June. Stocks 

 and Antirrhinums and the hardier bedding plants 

 can be planted out from the middle of the month 

 onwards. 



Sow seed of Wallflowers, Sweet William, Canter- 

 bury Bells and other biennials. Hoe between 

 ])lants in the lierbaceous borders and stake any 

 plants requiring it. Keep ii sharp look out for 

 green fly on Roses; directly the fly makes its 

 appearance syringe with soft soap dissolved in a 

 bucket of rain-water; 2 oz. of soap to the gallon 

 of water will make a good wash. 



Midland and Northern Counties. 



By E. Rutherford, Late Gardener to C. W. 



Dunbar Buller, Esq., D.L., Woburu, 



Donaghadee. 



The Kitchen Garden. 



Peas. — Sow main crop varieties. Sow the seeds 

 thinly in well prepared ground, and allow plenty 

 of space between the rows. Peas will now require 

 staking. Draw up the soil to the plants before the 

 sticks are placed in position. 



Brussels Sprouts. — The plants for the main 

 crop should be planted in rich soil, which should 

 be made firm. Plant in rows 30 inches apart and 

 the same distance between the plants. Water lui- 

 til the plants catch hold ot the ground. 



Parsnips. — These are ready for thinning. Allow 

 a space of lU inches between the plants. Stir the 

 soil between the rows with the hoe. 



Cauliflowers. — Continue to plant out Cauli- 

 i lowers as soon as the plants are large enough, 

 allowing them a space of 2 feet each way; plant in 

 strong ground. 



Pot.\toes. — As soon as the plants are well through 

 Uie ground stir the soil deeply with a digging fork, 

 and earth up as soon as fit. Some provision should 

 be made for protecting them during frost. 



Celery. — Make trenches 12 inches deep and 

 15 inches wide and 4 feet apart from the centre 

 of each trench, at the bottom of the trenches place 

 a thick layer of manure, and cover with a few 

 inches of soil. Place two rows of celery 10 inches 



apart, allowing 14 inches between the plants in 

 the rows. Celery must never be allowed to become 

 dry. 



Seakale. — The plants of fresh plantations require 

 disbudding, leaving only one on each crown. It 

 is necessary to get it done early as the shoots be- 

 come weakly if left too long without being done. 

 Old plantations can be treated in the same way, 

 and cut away with a spade under the surface any 

 shoots which are likely to throw up flower spikes. 

 Keep the ground free from weeds. 



Spinach. — Make fresh sowings of summer Spinach 

 in succession throughout the summer. New Zea- 

 land Spinach may be sown in rows 1\ feet apart 

 in a sunny position. 



Beet. — Make a sowing of Beet Root for the main 

 croj) on ground which was manured for a previous 

 crop. Sow the seeds in drills 15 inches apart, 

 placing the seeds in groups of three about 1 foot 

 apart. 



Onions. — Spring sown Onions will be ready for 

 thinning towards the end of the month. Where 

 moderate sized bulbs are desired a space of 

 3 inches between the plants will suffice; the work 

 should be done carefully in moist weather. Plants 

 which were raised early in frames and planted 

 out last month will be well established and will 

 now benefit by a light dressing of artificial 

 manure. Stir the soil between the rows with the 

 hoe. 



Runner Beans may be sown in well dug, richly- 

 manured ground. Sow the seeds in single rows 

 and thin the seedlings to 10 inches apart in the 

 rows. They require to be well staked as they are 

 liable to be damaged by strong winds. 



Turnips. — Make sowing in succession through- 

 out the summer choosing a cool situation. Attend 

 to the thinning of early sown Turnips and stir 

 the soil between the rows with the hoe. 



Mustard and Cress. — Make a sowing of these 

 salads in a shady corner as the produce will be 

 more tender. 



Asparagus. — In cutting the shoots take care not 

 to injure the crowri. Apply a dressing of salt to 

 the beds during showery weather. Tlie shoots of 

 fresh plantations nuist not be cut; keep the beds 

 clear of weeds. 



Lettuce. — Make sowings fortnightly throughout 

 the summer to furnish plants for succession. 

 Dickson's Monument and All-the-Year are good 

 varieties. The Lettuces must be transplanted as 

 soon as fit to handle. Choose showery weather. 



Kidney Beans may be sown in quantity. Where a 

 constant supply of French Beans is required sow- 

 ings may be made fortnightly. 



Cabbage. — Plant out from seed beds at every 

 opportunity, choosing if possible showery weather. 



CoLEWORT. — Make a sowing of this useful vege- 

 table towards the middle of the month. 



Hoeing and Weeding. — Keep the hoe at work 

 among growing crops. The value of hoeing is 

 not sufficiently understood by amateurs and is not 

 practised enough; and attend to all weeding. 



Young seedlings coming up must be protected 

 from slugs. A little soot or lime dusted over the 



