Southern and Western Counties. 



By VVm. Campbell, Head Gardener to Lord 

 Castletown, Doneraile, Co. Cork. 



The Vegetable Garden. 



The month of Noveniber we might term the 

 beginning of the gardener s year. He must now 

 begin to look around and arrange his plans for 

 next year's cropping. Trenching should be 



carried out to some extent in every garden. All 

 soft w^eeds and other garden refuse can be buried 

 in the bottom of the trench, placing a layer of 

 well-rotted manure nearer the top ; leave the 

 ground as rough as possible on the surface, so 

 that the soil will get the full benefit of the frost 

 and snow. All ground, wdiether it has been 

 trenched or just turned over with the spade, 

 should be left-rough on top at this time of year 



Broad Beans and Peas. — Where a practice 

 is made of sowing Peas and Beans in the autumn, 

 now is the time to get them in. Cover the seed 

 wdth 3 inches of soil. If rats or mice are likely 

 to be troublesome coat the seeds before sowing 

 wdth red lead ; directly the seedlings are showing 

 above the ground place evergreen twigs about 

 them for protection. Personally I have never 

 been very successful with autumn sowings, but 

 soil and locality have a good deal to do with 

 success or failure. 



Asparagus. — Tlie grass or tops of Asparagus 

 will now have died down, and sliould be cvit off 

 and cleared away with all w^eeds. Give the beds 

 a dressing of seaw^eed if procurable, failing this 

 dust the beds over freely with salt and give a 

 mulch of cow nianure. 



Rhubarb. — Lightly dig over the ground 

 between the stools and clear away all decaying 

 foliage ; lift a few more crowns for forcing. 

 Where a new plantation is to be made trench 

 the ground and w^ell enrich with manure. 



Celery. — -Give a final earthing to late Celery, 

 beating the soil firndy with the back of the 

 spade to throw off the rain. 



Cauliflow^ers and Autumn Broccoli. — 

 Where these are forming their curds they must 

 be protected from frost. Caidiflowers and Lettuce 

 planted in frames should have all the air possible 

 on favourable days to keep them hardy. 



General Work. — Get manure wheeled out 

 on vacant ground on frosty mornings, to have 

 in readiness for digging. Get all vacant ground 

 turned up as opportunity occurs ; hoe growing 

 crops, such as Tripoli Onions on fine days : it 

 wdll keep the ground from getting hard and 

 baked and also destroy small w^eeds. If some 

 dry leaves are piit around the crowns of Globe 

 Artichokes with some straw litter over them to 

 keep them from being blown away, it will pro- 

 tect the crowns from injury by frost. On wet 

 days look over the Onions that are stored and 

 remove any that are showing signs of decay. 



The Fruit Garden. 

 November is the best month for planting all 

 kinds of fruit trees. No time should be lost in 

 getting the work in hand ; as the trees or bushes 

 arrive from the nurseries unpack them and heel 

 into any vacant piece of ground until quite 

 ready to plant them. If the ground is very wet 

 wait until it is at least moderately dry before 

 planting, so that the roots can be properly 

 firmed ; this cannot be done w^hile the ground is 

 wet and clings to the boots. Each tree should 

 have a good stake j)laced to it, and be securely 

 fastened with some soft tying material and 

 avoid tying too tightly. In the case of trees 

 planted against a wall or trellis, do not nail or 

 tie them up for a week or tw^o, as the ground is 

 sure to subside a little no matter how well it is 

 firmed. 



Pruning. — A start can now be made with 

 Morello Cherries. I have often noticed that in 

 many gardens too much wood is left in Morello 

 Cherry trees. This is a mistake, as it only 

 harbours insects and prevents a free circulation 

 of air. By all means tie in plenty of young wood, 

 but cut away all unfruitful and dead wood. 



