September 



The Month's Work 



Southern and Western Counties. 



By W. Campbell, Head Gardener to Lord 



Castletown, J.)uncraile Conrt, Co. Cork. 



The Vkgetablei Garden. 



CABBAciK. — Plants from the .Jiih' sowing will 

 now be ready to plant out. (iround I'roni which 

 the Onion crop has been lifted, or the Potato 

 plot, will both be very suitable for planting 

 winter Cabbage on. All that is necessary is to 

 clear the ground of weeds and level over. The 

 smaller plants, and also those from the August 

 sowin, gshould be. transplanted thickly into a dry 

 and airy piece of ground to winter. 



Tbipom Onions. — If from any cause the 

 August sown Onions have not done well, another 

 sowing can still be made on a warm bordei-. 

 Spring sown Onions will be ready to lift during 

 the month. If the weather is fine they can be 

 spread out on the ground where they were 

 growing to dry, or if the ground is required 

 immediately for other crops spread them out on 

 a sunny walk, where they can be turned occasion- 

 ally, if the weather is very wet they must be 

 removed to an open shed to be thoroughly 

 ripened before storing. 



Lettuce. — Sow a little more seed for planting 

 under glass next month ; also sow some more 

 Cauliflower seed in a frame, or where a frame 

 can be i^laced over them, before frost can harm 

 them. 



Potatoes. — Lift all Potatoes that liave 

 finished their growth. See that they are dry 

 before covering them, whether they are stored 

 in houses or in pits in the open. If they are 

 covered while wet they will probably heat, and 

 so spoil the lot. 



Brussels Sprouts.— Keep the Dutch hoe 

 going through these whenever possible, and draw 

 up the earth to the lower part of the stems : 

 it will help to keep them from being blown about. 

 Some of the lower leaves can be removed if they 

 appear too crowded, to admit more light and 

 air. 



Celery. — Continue to earth up main crop 

 Celery. Leeks planted in trenches will also 

 require to have the earth drawn ui) to them. 

 Lift carefully and store Globe or Turnip-rooted 



Beet. Do not cut, but just twist the tops off 

 with the hand. If a frame can be spared lift 

 some J'arsley roots and plant them in it ; when 

 there is a shortage of Parsley in the spring- 

 time, it will come in very useful. 



Tomatoes. — The foliage should be well cut 

 back to expose the fruit to as much sun and light 

 as possible. About the end of the month, if 

 there are any signs of frost, remove all the 

 foliage, cut the stems below the lowest truss and 

 hang them up in a greenhouse or any dry warm 

 room, where most, if not all, will ripen. 



There is u.s'ually a fine crop of seedling weeds 

 making their appearance at this season of the 

 year ; these can best be destroyed by hoeing 

 and rough-raking on fine dry days. All rows of 

 Peas and Beans that have finished bearing should 

 be cleared off and burned ; they look unsightly 

 if left standing. Any sound pea stakes should 

 be put one side for next season's use. 



The Jruit Garden. 



Since the rainfall which commenced the latter 

 part of July, there has been a great improvement 

 in the Apple crop as regards size, which will 

 help to compensate in some measure for the light 

 crop which appears to be general all over the 

 country. Some of the early sorts will now be 

 ready for gathering. Get the fruit room 

 tlioroughly cleaned in readiness for them. Those 

 who have not had much experience in pulling 

 Apples are sometimes puzzled to know when a 

 tree is ready to gather. The fruit should part 

 readily from the spur without any force being 

 used : also when the pips or seeds are beginning 

 to turn a brown colour. But it is a great mistake 

 to pvdl apples before they are quite ready ; they 

 soon shrivel and loose their value either for table 

 or market use. 



Strawberries. — Finish planting Strawberries 

 as early in the month as possible, so that they 

 may get firndy rooted into the ground before 

 frosts come. Keep old plantations free from 

 weeds and all runners cut off. 



Peach trees that have been cleared of their 

 fruit should have some of their smaller shoots 

 loosened out, to admit more air and light to the 

 tree. If red spider is troublesome a few good 

 syringings will clear it off. 



Cut away all old Canes of Raspberries and 

 Loganberries, and tie up the young canes in 

 their place. 



