IRISH GARDENING 



171 



Le))anon seems to iiKlioate that the soil is neitlier 

 siifticieiitly deep nor suificiently fertile for it, while 

 the heat is insufficient. 



The common larcli (Larix europaea) is common 

 in the district, and its wood is in great request for 

 its straightness and its quality, superior to that of 

 forest pines. Most of the other species do equally 

 well there, including Larix occidentalis, as yet 

 still rare in plantations, and whose branches 

 seem more developed than those of the former 

 But Larix leptolepis is nnich better than the 

 related species for the surprising rapidity of its 

 development, which rivals that of the Douglas fir, 

 and by its fine, straight, clear bole. 



Here as elsewhere, the adaptability of the 

 various species of pine seems much more unequal 

 than that of the firs. Pinus sylvestris and Pinus 

 Laricio are the connnonest in the region, where 

 they are of almost equal forest value, the latter 

 giving more wood than the first, but of less value, 

 at any rate as a young tree. Piniis Banksiana 

 and Pinus rigida do very well, but not so well as 

 P. silvestris. They are probably preferable to the 

 latter for dry places. Pinus excelsa and P. 

 Strobus do equally well in Charollais, but their 

 white soft wood, of low commercial value, hinders 

 their wider growth. Pinus densiflora and P. 

 Thunbergii, which, in Japan, represent our P. 

 sylvestris and P. Laricio, are of no forestal 

 interest for the region, for they branch and be- 

 come bushy early, and their branches bend and 

 break easily under snow. Pinus ponderosa and 

 its varieties are weakly and its shoots are attacked 

 by Tortyx buoliana, as is the case in many places. 

 Most of the other pines do not grow very well. — 

 Journal of ihe Board of Aiir'i culture. 



Allotment Observations. 



By J. Hurley, Superintendent Coi'porafcion of 

 Dublin Land Cultivation Committee. 



The end of October saw most of the Potato crop 

 lifted on the Dublin allotments and also an 

 attempt at winter cultivation, such as drilling, 

 begun. Only on very few plots are weeds allowed 

 to grow now, and only in a few* instances are 

 holders likely to loose their plots through neglect- 

 ful cultivation this year. This may be regarded 

 as satisfactory and as something done. 



The general concensus of opinion is that the 

 Potato crop is not as prolific this year as last on 

 any area ; this is, to a large extent due to the dry 

 weather of .Tune and part of July. 



The Onion crop far exceeded all expectations, 

 both Tripoli and seed varieties. In many cases 

 holders had such an abundant crop they were 

 justified in selling what they considered were not 

 required for their household wants and for them 

 very high prices were obtained. 



The Carrot crop ^vas certainly disappointing, 

 though, to exonerate the seed nierchants, it must 

 be admitted that the germinating quality of the 

 seed was well up to the standard, still failure 

 occurred nearly everywhere. The reason gener- 

 ally given is bad cultivation, leaving manure 

 too near the surface, thick or heavy seed sowing, 

 and careless thinning — this latter often at a 

 wrong time during the growing season. Carrots 

 should be grown very much more extensively 

 than they are at present on allotments. They 

 are an extremely fine wdnter vegetable and agree- 

 able to the tastes of both young and old. 



It is believed that the manure supply will be 

 very limited this coming winter and spring 

 When we think of 3,000 plots, each of which is 

 supposed to receive a dressing of three loads, it 

 accounts for 9,000 loads ; this will be required 

 for certain if no more land is got for allotment 

 purposes. This amount can hardly be supplied, 

 and so plotholders wovdd be wise in co-operating 

 at once to obtain a supply of artificials to be 

 used in conjunction with the supply of farm- 

 yard manure they have already obtained. A 

 supply of 4 stone Sviperphosphate, 1 stone 

 Sulphate of Ammonia, to be used at the time of 

 planting, and 1 stone Nitrate of Soda, for top- 

 dressing, using after thinning or applying to a 

 crop during a dry spell of w^eather, is ample for 

 a plot one-eighth of an acre when one load of 

 farmyard manure is only obtainable. 



Agricultural Experiment Stations 

 cf Canada. 



In the Monthly Bulletin of Agricultural Intel- 

 ligence and Plant Diseases for September, 191S, 

 there appears an account of the various experi- 

 ment stations in the Dominion and of the work 

 carried on. The following extract relatmg to 

 Horticulture and Botany, will impress readers 

 with the earnestness of our Canadian kinsmen, 

 and, we trust, inspire us with the necessity of 

 supporting our own Agricultural Department in 

 the many experiments it will doubtless initiate 

 in the immediate future with the object of 

 developing the Homeland to the utmost extent : — 

 " The Division of Horticulture carries out 

 numerous experiments with Apples, Plums, 

 Cherries, Grapes, small fruits and vegetables. 

 Many varieties have in past years been tested, 

 and promising seedlings for different latitudes 

 have been recommended to growers. The object 

 of the experiments with Apples has been to obtain 

 by cross fertilisation and selection, new varieties 

 that will stand the severe winters, also varieties 

 of better keeping qualities. Experiments were 

 begun in 1915 to test the possibility of growing- 

 root and vegetable seeds in C^anada instead of 

 importing them from abroad. So far as they 

 have gone, the experiments have proved successful 

 and are being continued. In the Division of 

 Botany investigations of the diseases of culti- 

 vated plants are carried on, and advice is given 

 as to remedial measures wdierever possible. 

 Weeds are identified and methods of eradication 

 recommended. Wild plants from all parts of 

 Canada are received for identification, and in- 

 formation is furnished as to whether they are 

 edible, medicinal or poisonous. Tests are also 

 made as to the suitability of the climate of 

 Canada for the growth of various plants of 

 economic importance, such as fibre plants (flax, 

 hemp), medicinal plants (opium-poppy, anise, 

 &c.), oil- yielding plants (castor oil, soy bean), 

 and miscellaneous plants (mustard, chicory, &c.). 

 INluch has been accomplished in Arboriculture not 

 only by setting apart 05 acres at the Central 

 Expei'imental Larm for the testing of trees and 

 shrubs from all parts of the world, but also by 

 the encouragement given to tree-planting in the 

 w^estern provinces." 



