74 



IRISH GARDENING. 



some distance from the trunk of the tree and from 

 the soil surface. A circular trench cut out about 

 18 inches deep and 12 inches wide at some dis- 

 tance from the tree trunk, and occasionally filled 

 with liquid manure, will work wonders. Holes 

 can also be })oretl with a crowbar at intervals of 

 five feet and similarly filled. In otlier casei the 

 only otlier remedy for such trees will be top-graft 

 ing with some suitable variety, as recommended 

 in gardening books published over a century as/o. 

 It will be understood that in the peaty, sandy 

 and limestone soils more potash will, a~ a rule, 

 I>e necessary than in the loamy and clayey soils. 

 The latter are, of course, more prevalent in this 

 coimtry, thanks to the Ice age. althotigh the under- 

 lying rock, some distance below, may be a liine- 

 '-tone. 



2. Superior Work. — Clean plots, freedom from 

 weeds; general appearance of plots. 



o. Quantity and quality of produce, freedom 

 from disease and insect pests, also misshapen 

 specimens; proportion of essential or necessary 

 vegetables, such as Potatoes, Cal>bagos, &.C., and 

 of those which are not absolutely necessary hut are 

 frequently used and expeiisire fi, Inn/. 



Show Co.mi'ktitiox. 



as <i(i(t(l 



1. .Judges will look for faulfy as \ 

 specimens. 



2. Large and small specimens mixed t.Tgether 

 obtain less points than specimens which are 

 uniform in character. 



•'!. Size does not necei^sarily indicate quality. 



t'YCr.AMlJX. (ilANT WlIITi;. 



14 montlis fron 

 SJafrr. 



At the moment supplier of potash are still difTi- 

 cult to obtain; Gorman supplies are coming in and 

 prices should, therefore, drop. 



W, IT. .1. 



Competitions for Allotment Holders. 



Hints to Competitors. 



Thk following notes may prove lieljjful to those 

 Allotment Holders who intend to compete for 

 [irizes at the shows, and also to those who purpose 

 entering for the Plot Competitions. The judge/! 

 of allotuients usually take the following fjoints 

 into consideration : — 



1. ArriiiKjrnu'vt of Crops. — Provision for rota- 

 tion and successiomd crops? — f.f/., early and lali 

 varieties of different vegetables, winter vegetables, 

 such a-i Potatoes. Leeks, Celery, Turnips, Carrots, 

 Parsnips, Onions, &c. ; seed beds for special crops; 

 utilisation of odd spaces for " Salad ' crops, such 

 as Lettuce or Radish (or other intercrjp-;) 



4. .Judges usually pass over those specimens 

 which are over ripe, damaged, bruised or soft, or 

 show unmistakable signs of tlie scrubbing brush 

 too vigorously applied. 



5. Collections of vegetables should, as a rule. 

 1)0 made up of distinct kinds, such as Tunii))s. 

 Cauliflowers, Peas, Beans and Potatoes, ratluM- 

 than of two or more varieties of the same kind — 

 '.f/., British Queen and .Arran Chief Potatoes. 

 American Wonder and Pilot Peas, &c. The niuu- 

 ber of Potatoes. Cabbages, &c., of each variety 

 included in a collection of vegetal)les should be 

 the same as the mnnber allowed in the individual 

 vegetable classes — e.g., {\ Potatoes, .'{ Cabbages, 

 r; Onions. Several points are specially considered 

 iu dealing with individual exhibits — viz., Pota 

 toes shoidd not be extremely large, unshapely, 

 spotted, or have deep eyes. They should l)e even 

 sized, clean, spotless, free from holes or excre- 

 scences, with sb;il!ow eyes and undamaged skin. 



W. H. .loiINS, 



Instructor in Horticulture. 



