112 



IRISH GARDENING. 



teen inches apart. Protect the seeds from birds. 

 Flower of Spring and Early Offenham are good 

 sorts. 



L,fct:,KS. — The earliest batch are growing well and 

 they should not be allowed to suffer for want of 

 water. Give liquid manure from the farm-yard. 



CoLEWORT. — This vxseful vegetable should be 

 planted towards the end of the month. Choose 

 rich ground and allow the plants a space of sixteen 

 inches each way. Water if necessary. 



Broccoli.— Where old Strawberry beds have 

 been cleared off the ground may be planted with 

 late sown plants on April Queen and Victory Broc- 

 coli. After the Strawberries have been removed 

 hoe the soil well and rake the surface, but do not 

 dig the beds, as firm soil is best to produce strong 

 plants to withstand the winter. Make the holes 

 by means of a small crowbar. In dry weather 

 water the roots until the plants take hold of the 

 ground. 



Winter Greens. — Continue to plant winter crops 

 as the ground becomes vacant. 



Early Potatoes. — These should be lifted as soon 

 as ready in order to prepare the ground for some 

 winter crop. 



Onions. — Spring-sown Onions should, during dry 

 weather, be well watered with liquid manure, and 

 occasional light dressing of artificial manure. 

 Watch for any signs of the Onion grub and be 

 prepared to spray with paraffin emulsion. 



Celery Leaf Blight. — This fungoid disease has 

 been very prevalent in some districts for some few 

 years past, and it is almost impossible to save 

 them once they are badly attacked. Spray with a 

 mixture of copper sulphate 1 lb., lime fresh, 1 lb. 

 to 10 gallons of water. Spray at intervals of three 

 weeks during growing period. Where plants have 

 been attacked burn all leaves removed from the 

 plants. 



Parsley. — Make a sowing of Parsley to provide 

 plants for use during the winter and spring. Do 

 not sow in rich soil but on poor ground, as the 

 I)lants will be better able to withstand the cold 

 winter. A sheltered position is best. Plants from 

 this sowing may be transplanted to sheltered 

 positions. 



Lettuce. — Continue to make frequent small 

 sowings of Lettuce where a constant supply is re- 

 quired. Transplant as soon as the plants are fit 

 to handle. 



Peas. — As soon as the late sown ones are suffi- 

 ciently advanced stakes should be placed in posi- 

 tion and made secure. 



Carrots. — Younc^ Carrots sown last month will 

 soon be fit for i binning. Dust frequently with 

 soot. -Keep free from weeds by frequent use of 

 the hoe. 



Vegetable Marrows. — Give a liberal supply of 

 liquid manure at the roots during dry weather, 

 and cut the Marrows as soon as fit for use. 



Shallots which are full grown should now b,' 

 taken up. The leaves begin to wither when the 

 bulbs have attained their full size. Place them on 

 a hard surface where they will get full benefit of 

 sunshine to ripen the bulbs; when ripened place 

 in a cool shed where they will get plenty of light. 



PtEMARKS. — All ground vacant by the removal of 

 crops should be immediately re-cropped. If pits 

 are available they should be filled with French 

 Beans as soon as possible to furnish a Int'^ supniv. 

 T[io seeds should be sown in rows, and the seed- 

 lings afterwards carefully thinned to give light and 

 air. Apply water freely as soon as the plants are 

 well through the surface. During fine weather 



keep the hoe going among growing crops and 

 attend to weeding. Asparagus beds should be 

 kept free from weeds. 



The Flower Garden. 



Flower Beds. — Give attention to the flower 

 beds and remove faded flowers, dead leaves and 

 seed pods, that the plants may have a long sea- 

 son of blooming. Keep the surface stirred with 

 the hoe until the surface is covered with the 

 plants. 



Dahlias are now growing fast and will need 

 attention. Strong stakes should now be placed in 

 position. All weak growths should be cut out,, 

 especially from old plants, the young shoots being 

 tied in. During dry weather they require plenty 

 of water or weak liquid manure. Keep the sur- 

 face well stirred with the hoe. 



Pinks should now be propagated. Trim the 

 lower leaves of the pipings and insert the cuttings 

 into a shallow frame, using a light, sandy soil. 

 Water with a fine rose and keep close. Shade the 

 frame from strong sunshine. 



Violets. — If the plants are on a warm border 

 red spider often attacks them. Syringe occasion- 

 ally with some insecticide. Runners should be 

 pinched back to within two eyes. Keep the plants 

 growing so as to make good crowns for planting 

 in frames later on. 



Early-flowering Chrysanthemums should now 

 be staked before the plants become knocked about 

 with Avind and rain. All pinching should now be 

 discontinued. Keep the yoiuig shoots neatly tied 

 to the stakes before they become too large. 



Herbaceous Borders will now require frequent 

 attention. All dead flowers and foliage should be 

 removed. Any plants requiring stakes should be 

 attended to. Keep the borders hoed and weeded. 



The Hardy Fruit Garden. 



American Gooseberry Mildew. — Keep a careful 

 watch for any signs of mildew; the fungus is 

 usually found on the tips of the young growths. 

 Cutting off the ends of the mildewed shoots and 

 burning them is to be recommended. After the 

 fruits are gathered spray the bushes with a solu- 

 tion of Liver of Sulphur, 1 lb. to thirty-two gallons 

 of water. But in bad cases burning the bushes is 

 the only remedy. If unable to burn wliere grow- 

 ing, spray with a strong solution of Liver of Sul- 

 phiu', 1 lb. to each gallon of water, and after a 

 few days the bushes may be grubbed out and 

 burned. 



Fruit Picking. — This requires daily attention 

 at this time. Advantage must be taken of fine 

 days to gather any ripe fruit for preserving. Rasp- 

 berries must be pulled every few days, as they 

 quickly get bad if allowed to become over-ripe. 



Apples and Pears. — The summer pruning of these 

 still require attention. Pyramids and bushes 

 should have all gross growth removed where pos- 

 sible. Trees that are carrying light crops of fruit 

 are making strong growth, which will require 

 severe pruning later on. 



Strawberries. — When the _ fruit has been 

 gathered remove the net when dry and store away. 

 Beds that are to be kept for another year should 

 be cleared of the runners, except those required. 

 Remove all weeds and hoe the ground. Straw- 

 berries can now be layered. The best layers are 

 obtained from year old plants. No plants should 

 remain in the ground more than three years. 



