IRISH GARDENING. 



^59 



llicir fullcsi extful. Avoid dct-'p plaiiliug. 

 Cuttings of Uoo.seberrie.s and Currants that were 

 put in last autumn and winter should now be 

 transj)lanted, giving theui more room. They 

 shoidd make nice useful stutt" for planting next 

 autumn. 



The i<'i,()Wjou (Iaudkx. 



xV start must be made early this month to get 

 all haU'-liardy l)edding plants under glass. All 

 j'.ir possible should be given for the present. 

 exce])t there is frost, when the ventilator should 

 he elosed at night. To prevent damping piek 

 ail dead foliage off Tieraniums, and see tliat the 

 soil does not get too wet. 



Wat,lft,()\ver8, Myosotts. and other autumn 

 bedding plants can be got oid this montli. As 

 soon as the summer bedding begins to look un- 

 sightly pull it up, dig a barrowful or two of 

 short rotten manm-e into each bed, level over 

 and plant with a good ball of earth attached to 

 the roots. 



Dryixc; off Bkcoxia Kiijjs. — It is important 

 that Begonia bulbs should Ije carefully dried and 

 ripened before storing for the winter. Carefvdly 

 lift the tubers with a fork, knock off some of 

 the soil with the hand, wring off the tops of the 

 growths with the fewer stems, and dry off on 

 the floor of a vinery or in a dry frame ; tl\e 

 tops will part from the bulbs of their own accord 

 when properly ripened. Continue to plant 

 Xarcissus and Tulip bidbs : lift (dadioli bulbs 

 and tie them in bunches : hang them up in an 

 open shed to dry. 



Midland and Northern Counties. 



By l<]uwAHO lluTiiEEFORD, Gardener to Lord 

 Farnham, Farnhani House, Cavan. 



The Kitc'uex Gardex'. 



Celery. — Continue to earth up the main crop 

 of Celery whenever the foliage is dry. Keinove 

 all side growths previous to giving the plants 

 a good soaking of water. In earthing up hold 

 the foliage togetlitr carefully with some soft 

 material until the soil is worked round the plants 

 with the hand, breaking it as finely as possible. 

 Take care no soil falls between the leaves in the 

 centre of the plants. 



Latp: Potatoes. — I^et there be no delay in 

 lifting this crop. If the tubers are allowed to 

 remain on the ground for a few hours after they 

 are dug the skins will become hardened and the 

 danger from heating reduced. If sheds are 

 available they may be placed under cover until 

 they can be sorted : if unable to store in sheds. 

 place in heaps in the garden and cover with straw 

 previous to protecting them with a layer of soil 

 8 inches deep. 



Carrots.- — Roots which have grown to their 

 fuU size should be lifted and stored. Store them 

 in a cool, dry shed in dry sand. Carrots raised 

 from seed sown in July are still growing freely. 

 and may be left in the ground while tlu' weather 

 is favourable. 



FjiExcii Beans in pits should be given 

 freciuent waterings of liquid manure and abund- 

 ance of air both night and day while the weather 

 is nuld. I'ick the pods as soon as they are large 

 enough, whether they are required for immediate 

 use or not. or the plants will become exhausted 

 before their season is over. 



Uhubarb and Seakale. — As soon as the 

 foliage has died down Rhubarb intended for 

 forcing should be lifted and left exposed to the 

 weather until required. Roots which have been 

 planted for five or six years are large enough. 

 Tlie roots may be forced in a ^lushroom house, 

 or under the stages in the greenhouse, but light 

 must be excluded. Place the roots close together 

 and fill the space with soil. If the roots are dry 

 give a watering before placing the soil around 

 the roots. Seakale should not be forced before 

 the crowns are ripe. It is one of the easiest 

 vegetables to produce in winter, provided good 

 roots are to be had. Where a small supply only 

 is i-e(iuired they can be forced in pots or deep 

 boxes : they can be placed thickly in the boxes 

 or pots filled with soil, and afterwards watered, 

 so that very little water will be required until 

 growth commences. To thoroughly blanch the 

 growth other pots of the same size should be 

 placed on the top and all light excluded. The 

 pots can be placed in heat as recjuired. Where 

 larg(> supplies are recpiired make a gentle hot 

 bed in a deep frame, which should be covered 

 with mats or litter to keep dark. 



Beetroot. — The earliest plants should be 

 lifted as soon as possible, or the roots may 

 l)ecome too large for serviceable use. Store them 

 in a cool shed, or they may be placed behind a, 

 Willi with a north aspect, placing a. sufficient 

 amount of covering to protect them from frost. 

 The latest roots should be lifted and stored before 

 frost sets in. A cool dry shed, and sand placed 

 among the roots is best to keep them in a plump 

 condition. 



Latk Cauliflower and Autumn Broccoli. — 

 Examine the plants frequently, and cut any that 

 are sufficiently developed. Those approaching 

 maturity should be protected by bending some 

 of the leaves over them. This Avill prevent 

 injury from frost and rain. If the plants mature 

 faster than they can be used, lift them with the 

 roots and hang them in a cool shed. 



Mustard and Cress. — Seeds may be sown 

 weekly in heat, if a small supply is only neces- 

 sary. Mustard and Cress may be grown in boxes, 

 but the seed should be placed in a heated pit or 

 house. 



Turnips should be lifted as soon as the 

 roots are of sufficient size for use, and placed in 

 a cool position where the rain will not reach 

 them. Do not place in too large quantities or 

 they may heat and start into growth. Late sown 

 Turnips may be left in the ground for some time. 



Sprixc; Cabbage. — The second plantation of 

 Cabbage should be made as early in the month 

 as possible in order that the plants may become 

 established before cold weather sets in. Let 

 rich groimd ))e chosen for this crop, but no fresh 

 numure should be applied, as it makes the plants 

 tender and unable to withstand a sever winter. 



