IRISH GARDENING. 



high stumps in preference to shrubs cut level 

 with the ground. 



Mr. Duchesne mentions, and my experience 

 now shows that it is only necessary to tar the 

 outside top of the stump where the bark joins 

 the wood, or rather the cambium. 



Februai-y 24th. 



Hum Bl.vxd. 



Letters received by Mr. Hum Bland iiEn.\iiDix<"; 



THE TARRING OF StUJIPS AS A CuRE FOR IKIS 



Test. 



Dear Sir, — I have received instructions from the 

 Marquis of Headfort to give you my experience in 

 dealing with the Fine ^Veevil. Some years ago a 

 plantation was cut down and re-planted with young 

 trees, which consist of Scotch Fir, Larch, Douglas, 

 and Sitka Spruce. The young trees were very 

 badly attacked by the Weevil. The attack was 

 more severe on the Scotch l''ir than on any of tlit 

 other varieties. Last year another plantation was 

 cut down and re-planted, the young treei consist- 

 ing of Larch, Douglas, Silver and Spruce; but 

 before the latter plantation was made his lordship 

 had the bare roots and stumps of the old trees tiuit 

 were cut down, well cleaned and tarred, with the 

 result that there was no trouble with this planta- 

 tion. I believe the Weevils harbour and lay their 

 eggs under the loose bark and in crevices in the 

 old stumps. I also believe that the tarring does 

 away with them and also with their eggs. — Vir- 

 ginia Park, Co. Cavan, 12th March, 1919. 



Sir,— Lord Headfort has told me to give you 

 particulars about the Pine W^eevil and the damage 

 done by it. In 1902 I planted five acres with 

 Larch and Scotch Fir. The Weevil that year wa.'^ 

 very Inid on the yomig trees, as the stumps were 

 not tarred, and 1 had to plant a third time. In 

 1'J14 I planted thirteen acres without tarring; most 

 of the stumps were Spruce and Larch, and the 

 Weevil was very bad on these young trees also. I 

 planted six acres in 1918; the stumps were a mixed 

 lot of Scotch, Jiarch, and Spruce; but they were 

 all tarred, with good results, as very few of the 

 Weevils were seen, and no damage done on that si.x 

 acres. I think the Scotch Fir stumps are most 

 siiV)ject to the Weevil, and more so when a tree is 

 uprooted and goes back; it is then loose below for 

 the Weevil to work. — The Lodgc^ Virginia, Co. 

 Cavan, 10th March, 1919. 



Grape Vine, Vitis vinifera. 



(OUDLU— A.M l']:HDE.E.) 



Propagated from seeds for new varieties, 

 from layers, cuttingj eyes, and inarching, h 

 ing and grafting. 



Ei/rs or Jiuds : Gcnnal JMethud.—'nu' bud, 

 half an inch of well-ripened wood, nuist J)e t 

 off the previous year's growth; slice away 

 (luarter of cane on tlie opposite side to 1)ud 

 insert in good soil in well drained ."i-inch 

 \>y making a small hole in centre of sand 

 pressing bud in so as to be level with the 

 face of the soil. Plunge pots in bottom heat 

 to 850. and when full of roots re-pot a? requ 



Bottle Grafting affords a ready means 



also 

 udd- 



witli 

 aken 



Oh(! 



and 



pots 



and 



sur- 



, 750 



irod. 



for 



changing and improving luisuitable varieties 

 The scion must be well ripened, fresh but dorm;uit. 

 When the stock ha? made leaf take a slice off 

 scion near the centre four inches long, forming a 

 tongue with a cut u])wards. Now take a slice of 

 stock similar to cut on scion, making a cut aown- 

 wards to admit tongue, and then fit cut parts ex- 

 actly and bind together, placing the lower end of 

 scion in a bottle of rain water. 



I'repanition of Border. — Low lying situation 

 with damj} subsoil should be avoided. Best 

 situation is where the ground is drained naturally. 

 One foot of drainage made up of broken bricks 

 is necessary. 



lioU. — Fibry, calcareous, yellow loam, the to^) 

 spit from old pasture, four inches thick, and, if 

 I)Ossible, where sheep have been penned and fed 

 on oil-cake. This, chopped into rough pieces, with 

 the addition of lime rubbish, wood allies and 

 lialf-inch l)ones modified according to the 

 character of loam, will constitute the main body 

 of soil. Top dressing of border must be annually 

 attended to and never allowed to become dry. 



Flant'inij. — Ripened canes plant in September 

 and October. Shorten canes to proper length 

 before .January. 



Train inn. — Long rod or the method of providing 

 well-ripened canes in one season for fruiting, the 

 next afterwards cutting away; others being in 

 readiness, and so on, from year to year. 



Extension System or General Method. — The 

 Vine is allowed to extend its rods until it fill; a 

 large house, or may have only one or two rods, 

 which are spur pruned. When old rods become 

 long in the spur, young rods should be trained 

 in from the base, cutting away old -spurs as the 

 young rod advances. 



Pnininn should ho done at the fall of leaf. Free 

 fruiting varieties prune back to one eye. Slow 

 fruiting varieties i)rune back to two eyes. At this 

 j)eriod (resting) the vinery should be cleaned and 

 air admitted freely. When starting into growth 

 temperature limit be increased gradually. 



Sweet-water Grapes take five months from 

 starting to ripen fruit. 



Muscats and late Grapes take six months from 

 starting to ripen fruit. 



Moi.sturr. — Syringing should be practised twice 

 daily in bright weather until flowering; after- 

 wards damp paths and surfaces for creating 

 moisture. Always damp immediately after closing. 

 As soon as the best bunches can be seen rub off 

 ail growth not required, and when two leaves are 

 formed l)oyond the bunch, pinch out point of 

 shoot and rub out axillary growth below bunch 

 stopping all sub-laterals beyond bunch to one leaf. 



Shoots must be tied to wires before they touch 

 the glass very cdrrfitUy, as they are brittle and 

 apt to pull out at joint. 



b'lou-ering. — At this period a moderately dry 

 atmosphere with a circulation of air is necessary. 

 When ilowers are throwing off the " cap " rap 

 all bearing shoots about mid-day to disperse ])ollen 

 to diy setters. This may be done by mounting a 

 ralibit's tail on a stick, and obtaining the iMilleu 

 from another variety. 



Muscats and .shy setters re(iuiri' aixiut live ile- 

 grees more temjx-rature (night 70 degrees, day 

 80 degree, to 85 degrees) than Black Hamburgs 

 when flowering. 



Thinnina is i)erformed when berries are aliout 

 the size of a small Pea, cutting away all surplus 

 Inuiches. One pound per foot of rod is a good 

 crop. Never grow small fruits of any kind, as the 



