IRISH GARDENING. 



143 



■ Now is a good time to look around the fi-uit 

 garden and make a note of any tree that may 

 require to be root-pruned. II: there are any trees 

 or bushes of poor quaUty or showing signs of 

 decay, it is just as well to condemn them at once, 

 so that better sorts may be ordered to take tiieir 

 place when planting time comes around. 



The Flower (iARUEX. 



Finish propagation of all sunuuer bedduig 

 ])lants. Calceolarias are best rooted in a cold 

 frame. Heliotrope, Salvias, and the more tender 

 subjects should be rooted in boxes and placed in 

 a, warm greenhouse. Any plants that have been 

 l)lung('d out in the beds and will be required again 

 for the greenhoue shoidd be lifted before any 

 frost catches them. Keep all bedding plants as 

 hardy as possible by admitting air on all favour- 

 able occasions. 



Carnations. — Those layered in .July sliould 

 now be ready to sever from the i^arent plant and 

 transferred to their own flowering quarters. The 

 ground should be well prepared for them by deep 

 digging; at the same time work in some half- 

 decayed leaf-mould and plenty of old lime rubble. 

 Lift the young plants carefully with a hand fork 

 or trowel, and plant them on ground that has been 

 made firm by treading. This is a good time to 

 ]dant bulbs of Narcissus in the grass. Forced 

 bulbs do splendid for this purpose. I piefer to 

 mix the bidbs (before planting) — early, late and 

 intermediate sorts altogether — and plant rather 

 thickly. This gives a long season of flower. We 

 have here several acres planted in this mannei-, 

 and there is a continuous bloom from early in 

 March, when Princeps starts bloonung. until the 

 latter end of May, when Ptuticus grandiflorus 

 (Giant. Pheasant's Eye) finishes up the season. 



Midland and Northern Counties. 



By E. RuTHKiiFOKU, Gardener to Lord Farnbam, 

 Faruham House, Cavan. 



Kitchen Garden 



CABBAtiKS. — The first plantation of Cabbage 

 for an early spring crop should be made as soon 

 a.s the plants are large enough. They may follow 

 Onions, merely breaking the surface of the soil 

 with a digging fork. Plant in rows 18 inches 

 each way. As soon as the growth starts hoe the 

 surface between the plants, it will encourage the 

 growth and destroy any weeds. Dust the plants 

 and ground with lime to destroy slugs. 



French Beans. — Growing in cold pits should 

 be ventilated freely, while the weather is favour- 

 able. Water with weak liquid manure, and 

 syringe the foliage with clear water. If slugs are 

 troublesome, dust with soot or lime. 



Lettuce. — Seedling Lettuces should be trans- 

 planted from the seed-bed as soon as fit to handle. 

 Plant in rich soil, and allow plenty of space at 

 this time of year, so that the hoe can be used 



among them. Another sowing of a good hardy 

 variety may be made to stand the winter. 



Parsley. — In order to provide a supply of 

 Parsley during the winter, sufficient plants to 

 maintain a supjjly should be lifted and planted 

 in a frame ; lift with as large a ball of soil as 

 possible, which will prevent the leaves turning 

 yellow, (iive a good soaking of water. 



Celery. — Take advantage of the dry weather 

 to add more soil to the early batcli of Celery, as 

 advised to be done last month. Late-planted 

 Celery should be carefully gone over and all side 

 growths removed as well as discoloured foliage ; 

 give a good soaking of liquid manure ; keep the 

 ground among the I'ows free from weeds ; 

 pulverise the soil thoroughly before earthing it 

 up, and firm it well about the plants. 



Spring-sown Onions. — Let the bulbs be dried 

 thoroughly before they are stored, place them on 

 a hard clean surface and turn them frequently 

 until they are quite dry, afterwards place them 

 in a dry airy loft or tie up in hanks and hang 

 up in some suitable place. 



I'OTATOES. — Second early varieties should be 

 now lifted, as there is nothing to be gained by 

 leaving them in the ground after the skins are 

 set. Lift carefully, and allow them to remain 

 exposed to the sun for a few hours before storing 

 them. Any required for seed should be kept 

 separate and placed in boxes or shelves in a cool 

 airy shed. 



Winter Spinach. — This is a very important 

 crop, and the plants should be thinned as soon 

 as they are large enough to handle, and if recpiired. 

 the thinnings may be transplanted. If the 

 weather be dry, water until the plants catch 

 hold of the ground. 



Herbs, such as Thyme and Sage, that 

 require renewing, may be done now by means 

 of cuttings, and the present time is suitable to 

 propagate by means of cuttings. They root qiute 

 freely from side shoots about 4 inches long, 

 (iive them the protection of a cool frame, and 

 prick the cuttings into a shallow bed of soil 

 4 inches apart. Water and keep the frame 

 close. 



IIemarks. — Hoe the soil between all growing 

 crops, for it is important that the surface be 

 thoroughly broken up and all the weeds be 

 destroyed before the days become short. All 

 weeds grow rapidly during this month on account 

 of heavy dews at night. Clear all ground of 

 crops that are over. 



Pea stakes should be removed as soon as the 

 crop is pulled ; they are very unsightly if left in 

 the ground once the crop is past. 



The Hardy Fruit Garden. 



Apples. — Early cooking sorts, such as Lord 

 Grosvenor and Lord Suffield, are ripening rapidly 

 and are fit to gather, and no time should be lost 

 in doing so, as when the fruit falls and becomes 

 damaged it soon rots. In the case of other 

 varieties be sure they are ripe before gathering. 

 A good test is to examine the pips of a few 



