48 



IRISH GARDENING. 



Midland and Northern Counties. 



JBy \\. KoBERTS, Gardener to Lady Emily Bury 

 Charleville Forest, Tullamore, King's County. 



The Kitchen Garden. 

 The weather conditions obtaining during this 

 month have a great influence on the successful cul- 

 ture of a number of the occupants of this depart- 

 ment for the ensuing seasons. Take, for instance, 

 the Potato, whicli, however much it has been rele- 

 gated to a back seat during the past, lias certainly 

 come into its own during the past three or four 

 years, and it is invariably found that the best 

 results are obtained from those planted under suit- 

 able weather conditions during this month; they 

 have an opportunity of completing their growth 

 before blight sets in. and thereliy avoidnig a good 

 deal of the troublesome operations of spraynig. 

 In fact, by this method and careful attention to 

 manure used, the danger of diseased tubers can 

 be almost entirely eliminated, as well as enabling 

 the ground to be cleared early and in time for 

 other crops, a great consideration where space is 

 limited. One is often asked the best varieties to 

 grow for early use. &c.; this is an impossil)ility, 

 as soils and conditions vary in almost every place. 

 and the variety that may do well in one district 

 fails in another. However, I will mention four 

 varieties that 1 have found to do well over quite a 

 large circle. First, Midlothian Early, an excellent 

 cropper, as early as any 1 know of, and with the 

 additional recommendation of being at all stages 

 of growtli of good table quality, which is more 

 than can be said for a number of the early 

 varieties on the market. Second, British Queen, 

 which is almost universally good and perhaps the 

 best garden Potato yet introduced, as it does 

 almost equally well in partial shade, north 

 borders, or, in fact, anywhere. My remarks re 

 early sowing applies particularly to this variety, 

 as when sown late it is invariably cut away by 

 blight. Tliird, Arran Chief, an excellent main 

 crop of recent introduction, a great cropper and 

 of good type and table quality. Fourth, Eenister 

 Wonder. This is, in my opinion, the best Potato 

 introduced since the Old Champion for all pur- 

 poses; it was raised, 1 think, l)y Mr. Wilham,>^on. 

 of Mallow, and is i)raclically proof against dis- 

 ease of any sort ; a gn-at cropper and can be had 

 in firstclass condition for almost the round of the 



yenT. 



Peas.— Main crops of this favourite and 

 delicious vegetable must also be got in if possible 

 during this month, care l)eing taken to give them 

 plenty of room and a free access to light, air and 

 sunsliiiie. Some recouuuend sowing say a drill uj) 

 the centre of a brake of Potatoes, and which, no 

 doubt, has nnich in its favour, l)ut it will usually 

 be found that where this method is adopted the 

 Potatoes or other crop either side of the row will 

 suffer considerably from the amoinit of traffic, 

 staking, picking, &c.; wliere one can sjiare it a 

 plot devoted entirely to them will prove the l)etter 

 way, and by having the rows not less than six 

 feet apart a row of Spinach, Turnips, Lettifce. &c.. 

 can i)e sown lietween nith good results. I do not 

 care to recommend Brussels Sprouts, Kale, or 

 anything likely to remain long after the Peas are 

 cleared away, as they interfere with the proi)er 

 cultivation of the j)lot, and are better, where 

 possible, put in a brake by themselves. 



Onions. — According to our old teacher.'* these, 

 if not sown before the 17th. will almost certainly 

 prove a failure. Whether they had anything in 

 their minds concerning the probable condition of 

 affairs on and after that date I do not know; any- 



way it was and is by no means a bad rule. They 

 can be sown either in beds or drills; the latter is, 

 I think, the easier to keep clean. Thorough pre- 

 paration of the ground is of paramount import- 

 ance, and more than any other vegetable crop, 

 they will permit of no short cuts in this respect. 

 A fine and level surface made as ijrim as possible 

 by either treading or rolling, the latter only where 

 the soil is perfectly dry, otherwise it will be in- 

 clined to cake, is required for the seed, which may 

 be sown, if in drills, from 12 to 18 inches apart 

 according to size of bulbs required, and about 

 1^ inches in depth. If sown broadcast they may 

 be covered somewhat lighter by the soil out of 

 the alleys, or by any other fine compost. Mildew, 

 &c., has become very prevalent of late years, and 

 the only remedy so far as I know is frequent dust- 

 ings of lime, sulphur or soot while the dew is 

 on the plants. 



Full crops of Broad Beans, both Windsor and 

 Long Pod, Broccoli, Cabbage, Leeks, Cos and 

 Cabbage Lettuce, Savoys and Winter Greens of all 

 kinds may be sown now on the first favourable 

 opportunity. Plant out Cauliflowers from frames 

 or shelters towards the end of the month, and see 

 that they do not suffer from drought, also Cabbage 

 and Lettuce raised under cover, l)ut where the 

 conditions are at all unfavourable defer until next 

 month. 



Fruit G.\rden and Houses. 



Late vineries may now be closed as soon as they 

 show signs of activity, attending to damping the 

 floors, &c., during sunny days. Some advise 

 syringing the canes regularly, but this is 

 a matter of very old debate, and, if I 

 remember right, those that engaged in it 

 on both sides came to the conclusion that you 

 could do it if you liked, but that it nuide no 

 difference " whether or which," so that it is largely 

 a matter of time and labour. Early Vines and 

 Peaches will require usual attention, care Ijeing 

 taken to adopt a reasonable attitude re tempera- 

 tures, by which 1 mean avoid extremes and study 

 the outside weather conditions, as cold winds, &c. 



Flower Garden, Lawns, &.c. 



Now that almost everything in the herbaceous 

 shrubbery borders is peeping or over ground it 

 is a very good time to reduce the various clumps 

 to suitable dimensions, and the pieces taken off 

 can be either used to make up gaj^s or ])ut in 

 nursery beds, where they will supply rough cut 

 flowers instead of disfiguring the borders. The 

 rose garden will also require attention in the way 

 of pruning, numuring, &c. The former operation 

 will be governed by the class of flowers required, 

 and in a lesser manner the latter also. The 

 shrubbery ])orders will by now begin to 1)righton 

 up consicleraljly, and require to l)e ke])t clean and 

 neat so as they may look their best at which is 

 I)ro])ablv their most interesting period. There has 

 undoubtedly been an enormous improvement in 

 this section of late years, and evidently more to 

 come. 



All lawns, and short grass generally, will re- 

 quire attention now in the way of scarifying, roll- 

 ing, and, where very forward, mowing. In 

 favoured districts seed may 1^ sown on bare 

 patches towards tlie end of the month, but gener- 

 ally it is l)etter to defer until next. Advantage 

 may be taken of putting the mowing maclnues 

 into running order and providing stakes for 

 ])order subjects likely to require such, and during 

 harsh, drying winds kttend to any gravel sweeps or 

 walks either with horse scuffle or hand, as a good 

 withering at this time saves a lot of time later. 



