96 



IRISH GARDENING. 



planting. If the earlier plants require watering 

 let them have a good soaking to keep them 

 growing freely. 



TiiiNxiXG Crops. — -The work of thinning should 

 be completed while the soil is moist. Examine 

 all seedlings frequently, and dust them with soot 

 or lime to protect from slugs. 



Peas. — ^In some gardens it is not too late to 

 sow mid-season Peas. Alderman or a variety of 

 the same type should be chosen. Sow in deeply - 

 cultivated soil. 



Leeks. — ^This wholesome vegetable well repays 

 the time and trouble bestowed on its cultivation. 

 To produce large, well-blanched Leeks the subse- 

 quent treatment may be identical with that of 

 Celery. Choose a cool site. Shallow trenches 

 should be prepared. A liberal quantity of rich 

 manure should be worked into the soil. Form 

 wide, deep holes with tlie aid of a dibble, about 

 () inches apart in the row and 12 inches between 

 the rows. Into each drop a plant. The foliage 

 should not be buried, and no fixing is reqviired 

 beyond watering if the weather is dry at the time 

 of planting. 



Beans, Kidney, may be sown until about the 

 middle of the month. These will furnish a supply 

 of pods until the frost cuts them down. 



Paesley. — Old plantations should be carefully 

 picked over and the seed stems removed while 

 young. As soon as the spring-sown plants are of 

 sufficient size, the old plants should be dug out 

 and the ground prepared for another crop. 



Broccoli. — Towards the end of the month 

 Broccoli may be planted out. Let the ground be 

 well prepared by giving a sufficient quantity of 

 manure, and let it be deej)ly dug. Two feet is a 

 good average distance each way between the 

 plants. In ijlanting, take care not to bury the 

 hearts of the plants, and firm well. If the weather 

 be dry, give a good watering, and repeat until the 

 plants take hold of the ground. 



Borecole and Savoys should be planted out 

 according as the ground becomes vacant. 

 Brussels Sprovits should also be iilanted ovit. 



Vegetable Marrows may now be planted on 

 prepared sites. Any spare plants may be grown 

 on old rubbish heaps or other unsightly places. 

 Make large holes, and fill with manure: j)lace on 

 the manure some soil on which to plant the 

 Marrows. 



Spinach, — -In very dry weather the seed is best 

 sown as follows : — Draw the drills about 12 inches 

 apart, water the soil through a rose, sow the seed, 

 cover, and water the surface through a coarse rose. 

 In hot neither the plants jun to flower so soon 

 that it is better to make sowings thicker than 

 usual, as t! e leaves grow so sn^all. 



Asparagus. — Beds that were planted this 

 spring will need attention, as young Asparagus 

 shoots require staking to prevent them being 

 damaged by winds. Established beds must be 

 kept clear of weeds and the surface carefully 

 stirred with the hoe. In exposed places support 

 the shoots with stakes. 



Beet. — This is ready for thinning : the seedlings 

 should be thinned to one in each group. Stir the 

 soil between the rows with the hoe. 



Turnips. — Make a sowing of Turnips, choosing 

 a cool situation during the hottest part of the 

 summer. As soon as tlie plants are large enough 

 thin them before becoming drawn. 



Lettuce. — Make sowings in succession. 

 Radishes should be grown in shaded situations. 



Mustard and Cress may be sown in a shady 

 corner. 



Potatoes. — Continue to earth-up the maincrop 

 I'otatoes. Let the ground between the rows be 

 deeply stirred witli a fork before earthing-up. 



Onions will now require regular attention. 

 Stir the soil between the rows with the hoe. 

 During showery weather a light dressing of 

 Nitrate of Soda will be found beneficial. Where 

 the onion grub damages the crop, spraying every 

 ten days with a weak solution of paraffin 

 emulsion is a certain remedy. 



The Flower Garden. 



Staking Herbaceous Plants. — Place stakes 

 to plants that are growing and need support later. 

 The simplest way is to use pea sticks, placing 

 se^'eral sticks around each plant. The sticks may 

 be trimmed off at the top, according to the height 

 of the flowers. Keep the borders and beds well 

 stirred with the hoe to keep down weeds ; this is 

 one of the best ways of saving watering. 



Dahlias. — Young infants raised from cuttings 

 may now be planted with safety. In planting, 

 make deep holes and mix well-rotted manure 

 with the soil. Plant in rows 5 feet apart each way, 

 placing a stake to each plant and tying them to 

 prevent their being broken. 



Bedding. — Such plants as were placed in 

 frames last month to harden off may now be 

 planted out in the beds and borders prepared for 

 them. During dry weather they nust be kept 

 watered until well established 



Hardy Annuals. — Let all hardy annuals 

 which may have come up too thick be thinned out, 

 so that each plant may have room to grow to its 

 full size. 



Drying Bulbs. — As soon as the flowering of 

 Anemones is over lift the roots carefully and dry 

 them for storing. Tulips and Narcissus are now 

 ready for lifting. The bulbs must be well dried 

 before removing the foliage and loose skin. Store 

 them in a cool place. 



The Fruit Garden. 



Cordon Pears and Apples. — The nuruerous 

 side growths on the trees should be stopped 

 towards the end of the month, pinching them 

 back to the fourth leaf. If the trees have not 

 reached the height of the wall, allow the leader on 

 each tree to remain its full length for the present. 

 To t)btain fruit of good quality thin them to a 

 moderate number. In dealing with other trained 

 Pear and Apple trees, train in the shoots required 

 for extension, and stop the remainder as recom- 

 mended. 



Red and White Currants. — The bushes may 

 be summer-pruned with a view to the fruit and 

 growth receiving the full benefit of sunlight and 

 air. Stop the side growths at the fourth leaf and 

 shorten the leaders. Let the soil between the 

 bushes be well hoed before placing the nets in 

 position to protect the fruit. 



Black Currants. — This crop also should be 

 protected by nets, which should now be jilaced 

 in position. In the case of Black Currants, 

 summer pruning is not necessary. 



Strawberries. — Those requiring straw to 

 protect the fruit should have attention as soon as 

 possible. Clear off all weeds before placing the 

 net in position. 



