IRISH GARDENING. 



vhouj i,:i\ 



DwAiii- MAi: (. i.\ki;ai;ia 



[A. 



ordinary garden soil will do, and sow one seed 

 in each, and stand in a cold frame or green- 

 house, and give a thorough soaking with a rose 

 can and protect from mice and rats. Failing 

 pots, sow in boxes about two inches apart all 

 ways, and plant out when a foot or so of growth 

 is made. A rough idea of the number that will 

 be required can easily be obtained. If for a 

 straight line a double row is usually planted at 

 one foot apart each way. If for a clutnp. five 

 plants at the same distance. 



With care in planting, very few failures will 

 i-esult, and an odd plant or two kept in reserve 

 for a time will fill any gaps wdiich may unavoid- 

 ably occur. It is much to be preferred to sow- 

 ing in the open ground, as the young plants, 

 when pushing through, run much chance of 

 injury from slugs and other pests, and a dis- 

 tinct gain is also assured in earliness. Before 

 planting out thoroughly well water some little 

 time beforehand, so that the balls of soil are 

 moist, and if the weather is dry well water in 

 and encourage growth by damping ovei'head 

 when the sun's rays are declining. Whether 

 sown or planted, dust with soot or lime, or 

 place a ring ol shaif) cinder ashes round each 

 plant as a protection from slugs, and if planted 

 out of pots have them thoroughly hardened off. 



The earliest trusses of bloom sometimes fail 

 to set, especially if the weather is very dry. A 

 slight damping with the garden syringe will 

 often correct this. 



The Beans should not be picked too voung oi- 



small, as that is only waste. Good specimens 

 will be a foot or so in length, and providing they 

 snap clean in two are quite fit for any table. 



Always pick the oldest produce, as any beans 

 left to pod and mature seed considerably drain 

 the energies of the plants. 



Especially should the bottom of the rows be 

 careful!}' searched. Plants raised in pots, and 

 perhaps somewhat pot-bound, when phuited 

 out bear quite close to the ground. 



During dry weather the rows may l^e mulched 

 with strawy litter or some other light protec- 

 tive material to conserve the moisture in the 

 ground, which is also greatly added to by the 

 frequent loosening of the surface soil with the 

 Dutch hoe and the formation of a fine loose 

 surface. 



At the end of the season, when frost 

 threatens, look over the rows and pick every- 

 thing that is large enough to handle for pick- 



Surplus beans not required for immediate use 

 may be cut up and placed in salt, and when 

 properly rinsed and cooked make a very agree- 

 able winter vegetable, when varietj- is none too 

 plentiful. 



E. B. 



Cinerarias. 



Few greenhouse ])laats are more attractive and 

 useful than Cinerarias, and the improvement 

 made in the size and colouring of the flowers 

 has led to great popularity. 



Seeds should be sown early in May for early 

 plants and in .June for succession. A shallow 

 pan is suitable, and should be well drained; the 

 soil suitable for sowing the seeds is one part 

 loam, two parts leaf -mould, and sufficient sand 

 to keep it open. Cover the pan with a sheet of 

 glass and a sheet of paper, and place in a shady 

 position in a temperature of about 5;")°. \\'lien 

 the seedlings appear expose them to light, but 

 shade from hot sunshine. Trick off the seed- 

 lings into three-inch pots. Use similar soil with 

 the atldition of a little well-decayed manure and 

 broken charcoal. Keep the plants near the 

 glass in a cold frame with a north aspect. As 

 Cinerarias are quick-growing and free-rooting 

 ))lants the}^ should be removed into larger ])ots 

 before they get pot-bound. Tlants may l)e 

 flowered in any size pot from 5 inches to 10 

 iuchos. (rive the plants plenty of room after 

 the final potting, and stand on a good bed of 

 ashes in the frame. 



In all stages of growth watering nuist be 

 carefully attended to. A gentle syringing once 

 a day over the foliage is beneficial in hot 

 weather. 



