IRISH GARDENING 



187 



Fruit Garden. 



Continue to plant fruit trees, so that the work 

 may be finished as early as po-sible. Prune and 

 tie all trees on walls and trellisiii? ; after pruning 

 is finished rake up and burn all prunings and 

 shreds which have been taken off to be replaced 

 by new ones. Eggs of insects, which the old 

 shreds often contain if left lying abuut, will 

 hatcli in time and again infest the trees. As soon 

 as all rubbish is cleared away some good ricli 

 manure should be spread over the roots, and 

 lightly forked in, a little Basic Slag added at the 

 same time will greatly benefit all kinds of fruit 

 trees. Cuttings of gooseberry and currants may 

 now be put in ; rub the buds off tlie Gooseberry 

 and White and Red Currants, with the exception 

 of four or five at the top. Elack Currants do not 

 need this treatment, as the base buds on the 

 cuttings are generally the best ; when taking the 

 cuttings select nice clean shoots. After the 

 pruning of Gooseberry bushes dust them over 

 witli a mixture of lime and soot, to ward off the 

 attacks of birds on the buds. 



Flow^er Garden. 



Care must be taken to prevent damping in 

 Zonals and other bedding plants Avoid giving 

 water, except when the plants are showing signs 

 of distress ; keep all decaying iV^liage picked off, 

 and admit air on all favourable occasions. Fork 

 over Strawberry borders, and cut back laurels 

 and other strong growing shrubs that are getting 

 out of bounds. When the ground is dry enough 

 continue to clean and renovate herbaceous 

 borders. Sweep lawns and roll them. Roses on 

 walls or pillars can have all old and dead wood 

 cut out and the remaining growth tied in. 



Nearly twelve months ago, when I wrote my 

 first notes for January, 1918, the dark cloud of 

 war was hanging heavily o\ er our heads. I 

 urged then the necessity of everyone who pos- 

 sessed even a few yards of garden growing 

 vegetables. To-day, when the whole world is 

 ringing with the joyful news of peace with victory, 

 let us not forget the lessons we have learned 

 during the past four years ; that ive can be a sclf- 

 snp2}orting nation if only those who possess a piece 

 of ground nouhl cultivate it to its fullest extent. 



Midland and Northern Counties. 



By Edward Rutherford, Gardener to Lord 

 Farnham, Farnliam House, Cavan. 



The Kitchen (Jarden. 



Early Potatoes. — Towards the end of the 

 month a few Potatoes may be forced in heated 

 pits or pots. Where the sets were placed in 

 boxes to sprout they should be planted before 

 the .shoots become too large. The material for the 

 pits should consist of stable manure and leaves 

 well mixed together and allowed to ferment 

 before placing in the frames, and should be well 

 packed together to provide a lasting heat : then 

 cover with soil to abovit a depth of 10 inches. 

 When the soil is warmed plant tlae Potatoes, 

 allowing them plenty of room. 



Spring Cabbac4es. — If the plants have grown 

 strongly and are loose at the stems draw a little 

 soil about them, it will also help to protect them 

 during hard frost. Select a dry day when the 

 soil is not stickey. 



Cauliflow'er. — A sowing of some early variety 

 of Cauliflower should be made at the end of the 

 month where there are no autumn-sown plants, or 

 where the supply is short. The seed may be 

 sown in boxes and placed in a greenhouse : the 

 seed should not be sown too thickly. When the 

 seedlings are large enough they should be trans- 

 planted into boxes and kept close to the glass. 



Seakale. — The present is a good time to make 

 preparations for raising next season's plants by 

 making cuttings from portions of the roots which 

 should be selected when the crowns are lifted 

 for forcing purposes. Seakale requires a deep 

 rich soil, and this should be now trenched and 

 prepared for next season's crop. 



Digging. — As soon as the ground becomes 

 vacant get it dug or trenclied in readiness for 

 next spring. Take advantage of frosty mornings 

 to get maniu-e wheeled on to vacant ground ; in 

 the absence of frost a few planks will be neces- 

 sary. Do not allow the manure to remain on 

 the ground longer than necessary before digging 

 it in, as it soon looses some of its value, as well as 

 being untidy. 



The Frame Ground 'should be got tidy and 

 everything in proper order for the approaching 

 busy season. Litter and leaves should be col- 

 lected and placed in readiness for the making 

 of hotbeds. The manure heap should be turned 

 to assist decomposition, mixing leaves among 

 it, or any other suitable rubbish, as it is almost 

 impossible to obtain extra manure owing to 

 extra tillage on tiie farm. 



Mustard and Cress should be sown weekly, 

 so that a supply may be maintained through the 

 winter. A slightly heated house will suit. 



Rhubarb and Seakale.- — A supply of fresh 

 roots should be placed in heat every fortnight. 

 Where large quantities are required a heated 

 Mushroom house will be suitable ; cover the roots 

 with soil, and do not allow them to become dry 

 at any time. 



Remarks. — Owing to the war being over a 

 good many people may give up growing veget- 

 ables, but they should not do so, as the food 

 stuffs will not be coming into the country in 

 large quantities for a long time ; also the Belgium 

 and central European Countries will be very short 

 of food until the next harvest. Anyone possessing 

 a garden would be well advised to continue 

 growing what vegetables possible, they would 

 then have fresh vegetables when required in 

 place of very often getting stale vegetables from 

 the greengrocer. The amateur very often makes 

 the mistake of sowing too many small seeds, 

 such as Lettuce, Radish, »S:c., whicli means a gap 

 in the supply as well as being wasteful ; it would 

 be much better to sow a little every fortnight. 



A good many large gardens have been neglected 

 since the war started owing to the shortage of 

 labour, and in some cases the glasshouses have 

 been closed up entirely. Gardeners will have a 

 busy time getting the places in working order, as 

 skilled labour will be very scarce for a long time, 

 since a large number of young gardeners have 

 laid down their lives for their country. 



