IRISH GARDENING. 



165 



spray regularly with potassium sulphide, 2 ozs. to 

 3 gals, of water ; this article can be jsurchased 

 ready to dissolve. Bordeaux mixture, as used for 

 Potatoes, is also to be recommended and, as noted 

 above, can be bought ready to mix with water. 

 Probably lime-sulphur solution would be even 

 more effective owing to its adhesive qualities. 



For Celery Leaf Spot the best remedy is to 

 soak the seeds for two hours in a one per cent, 

 solution of Formalin and in case of the disease 

 subsequent I3' appearing spray with dilute 

 Bordeaux mixture. 



For Carrot Fly and Onion Fly the best pre- 

 ventive is to constantly hoe between the rows 

 all through the season and so expose the eggs 

 and grubs to birds. Spraying with paraflfine 

 emulsion during the early part of the s'eason 

 also helps to keep away the fly. 



It should never be lost sight of that deep 

 cultivation of the soil in winter and early spring, 

 coupled with constant surface cultivation with 

 the hoe all summer or untd the crop matures, is 

 the best preventive of all, for, as a result of such 

 cultivation, the plants grow vigorously and are 

 in a great degree able to resist and overcome 

 attacks by insects and fungi. 



The Fruit Garden. 



Here the need for spraying is imperative. 

 Probably more than half of the Apples grown in 

 Ireland are comparatively worthless for want 

 of spraying in winter and spring, while the loss 

 caused by American Gooseberry Mildew is 

 considerable, and in any case every means should 

 be taken to prevent its' occurrence. 



Hitherto caustic washes have been largely 

 used for fruit trees in the dormant season, the 

 object being to clear the bark of moss and lichen 

 and to destroy eggs of insects and winter spores 

 of fungi. Lately, hoM^ever, there has been a 

 suspicion that spraying too often with caustic 

 wash has a burning effect oa the bark not 

 altogether favourable to the growth of the trees. 

 Recent experiments tend to show that a more 

 satisfactory spray fluid is that known as lime- 

 sulphiu- solution. This is a combination of lime 

 and sulphur with water and can be home made, 

 but it is hardly worth while making it at home 

 unless on a large scale, when 10 and 20 gallon 

 drums of the solution can be bought ready for 

 dilution according to directions. This is not 

 altogether a new idea, for the older school of 

 gardeners were quite familiar with the benefits 

 to be derived, particularly from the use of lime- 

 wash and the cleaning properties of sulphur 

 were well known to them. 



As a winter spray lime-sulphur solution is 

 excellent, adhering readily to the bark, forming 

 when dry a whitish film, which effectively seals 



up insect eggs, preventing them from hatching, 

 and likewise destroys fungus spores ; moss and 

 lichen are equally got rid of, the lime, no doubt, 

 being the chief agent in destroying them. In 

 early spring, when the leaves are unfolding, it is 

 valuable in a more dilute form in preventing the 

 occurrence of Aj^ple and Pear Scab on the 

 foliage and young fruits. To prevent attack by 

 the Codlin Moth it is only necessary to add 

 arsenate of lead to the lime-sulphur solution and 

 spray when the flowers are opening and thus a 

 first-rate combination wash is obtained, which 

 destroys insects and fungi at one and the same 

 time ; this is a great gain and renders easy the 

 work of keeping orchards and other fruit gardens 

 clean and healthy. For American Gooseberry 

 Mildew there is nothing better than lime- 

 sulphur solution, having regard, of course, to the 

 time the fruit is required for use. In fact for 

 fungus diseases generally there is probably 

 nothing better at present on the market. 



For attacks of Aphis in season the time- 

 honoured quassia extract still holds Sway, and 

 in many cases nicotine preparations are equally 

 effective ; in fact there is nothing to beat tobacco 

 water for killing Aphis when it can be procured 

 cheaply. Where tobacco waste can be obtained 

 it is an easy matter to place a quantity in a bag 

 and immerse it in a barrel of water subsequently 

 diluting the fluid if necessary ; a few small 

 experiments will soon tell the strength required 

 to be effective. 



In all cases of spraying food crops, such as 

 fruits and vegetables, the greatest care must be 

 exercised when using poisons, such as arsenate 

 of lead, and spraying iuust be discontinued some 

 weeks before their u^'e is contemplated. All 

 such ]X)ison8 should also be properly labelled and 

 stored under lock and key, where none but 

 responsible persons can reach them. 



The Flower Garden. 



In the open less trouble is experienced with 

 insects and fungi in this department than in the 

 others. There are troul)les, of course, with snails 

 and slugs eating young seedlings of many kinds, 

 tender young growths of herbaceous plants and 

 choice alpines, dusting diligently with lime, soot 

 or tobacco powder is useful. Roses, of course, 

 are subject to attacks of Aphis, which may be 

 killed by spraying with quassia or tobacco water. 

 Mildew is best dealt with by spraying with 

 potassium sulphide. Hollyhock Rust is often 

 troublesome and hard to cure, but spraying with 

 potassium sulphide acts as a check. When first 

 planted out Dahlias are frequently the prey of 

 earwigs. They may be trapped by placing 

 small flower pots containing a little hay on the 

 toj) of the stakes ; the pots, of course, being 



