Southern and Western Counties. 



By T. E. ToMALiN, Gardener to the Right Hon. 

 The Earl of Bessborough, K.P., Bess- 

 borough, County Kilkenny. 



The Flower Gakuen. 



Now thcit the war is over and the possibility of 

 food shortage is. we hope, removed, it may be ex- 

 pected that this department will again assume 

 something of its old importance, and the Pars- 

 nips and the Potato will be relegated to their 

 proper situations in the Kitchen Garden. 



\Miere herbaceous borders were dug up and 

 used for the important war-time work of food pro- 

 duction, it cannot be expected that the-e can 

 at once be made to present their former appear- 

 ance, but the judicious use of annuals will make 

 up for any shortcomings and will give a splendid 

 and hisiing display. The ground for annuals 

 should be trenched as soon a? possible, and 

 plenty of burnt garden refuse, and some good 

 manure worked into it. This applies also to 

 ground where Sweet Peas are to be grown. 



Climbing plants on pergolas and fences nuiy 

 be attended to this month when the weather i? 

 not too cold for tlie work to be done in comfort. 

 Clematises of the Jacknumii group should he cut 

 hard back, if not already done. The Eanuginosa 

 section should have tlie growths thinned, re- 

 moving the weakest, and training those left on 

 the supports, whilst tlie montana varieties may 

 be allowed to retain all last season's growths, 

 which should be gracefully disposed, allowing 

 =onie to hang freely from the overhead poles. 



Violets in frames should be freely ventilated 

 whenever it is not actually freezing. They 

 should be well watered whenever necessary with 

 tepid water, and an occasional dusting with soot, 

 well watered in, will improve the colour of botli 

 leaves and flowers. Cuttings of bedding plants in 

 cold frames should have the lights removed when- 

 ever the weather is suitable. Marguerites and 

 Calceolarias should be regularly pinched back, 

 and the soil between them should be lightly 

 stirred with a pointed stick. 



The Fruit G.\rden. 



Pruning of fruit trees should be hurried on 

 with on all favourable days in order that full 

 advantage may be taken of anv suitably still 

 weather for winter spraying. P^ruit trees are 

 alarmingly forward this season, and unles? cold 

 weather set' in soon winter spraying will l)ecome 

 dangerous at an earlv date this year. After the 

 tree fruits the bu.^h fruits should have attention, 

 leaving the pruning of Gooseberries until last in 

 districts where bullfinches are trouble?ome. A 



sharp look out should be kept for these beauti- 

 ful pests of the fruit grower, and measures taken 

 to deal with them. They usually start on the Dam- 

 sons here, early in January, after Laving taken 

 toll of the Prunus Pissardii in the pleasure 

 grounds. From the Damsons they proceed to 

 the Plums, and, unless they are shot, they follow 

 on to the Apples a? soon as the trusses on these 

 have opened enough to expose the flower buds, 

 with which they strew the ground underneath. 

 The only remedy I have found is a .22 bore rifle 

 with small shot cartridges. 



If suitable weather occurs, planting may be 

 proceeded with, but it is better to wait a month 

 imless the ground is in good order. Newly 

 planted trees should be well staked immediately, 

 and should be well mulched with strawy manure. 



During frosty weather manure can be wheeled 

 on to the bush fruit quarter ready to be forked 

 in when the pruning is finished. Old worn out 

 trees can be grubbed up with a view to replace- 

 ment with young specimen? of good varieties. 



Wet weather periods may be utilised by repair- 

 ing nets, and preparing stakes, and for frequent 

 examination of the fruits in the fruit-room. 



The Vegetable Garden. 



Digging and trenching are the most important 

 operations in the Kitchen Garden during January, 

 and this work should be got on with whenever the 

 grovuid is dry enough. Generally speaking, the 

 best spells of weather should be utilised for 

 ordinary digging, leaving the trenching for broken 

 weather, when ordinary digging would Ije inad- 

 visable. If the Onion ground has not already 

 been dug or trenched (preferably the latter') it 

 should receive attention first. The Onion pavs 

 for good treatment and the ground should be 

 heavily manured. When extra large bulbs are 

 appreciated, and a glass house is available, a 

 jtart may be made about the middle of the month, 

 sowing the seeds in pans, covering lightly with 

 fine soil, and well watering them in. The pans 

 should be placed in a gentle warmth. r(>movin<_' 

 them to a cooler structure when the seedlings are 

 well up. Leeks, Lettuces, and Cauliflowers may be 

 .started in the same way. 



Frosty and broken weather may be availed of 

 for mixing and making up hotbeds. Plenty of 

 tree leaves should be used in their composition to 

 ensure a steady and lasting heat. Hotbeds are 

 useful for forcing Rhubarb and Seakale in the open 

 garden, first placing large pots or tiibs over the 

 crowns, and then making up the bed> over these. 

 Many early vegetables can be forced in frames 

 placed on a well made hotbed, amongst which 

 may be mentioned Potatoes. Carrots, Turnips and 

 Tiettuces. These crops will be cleared off in time 

 to plant Cucumbers and Melons in the frames in 

 •Tune, and when these are finished the bed itself 

 will provide valuable material for digging into 

 the ground as manure. 



