94 



IRISH GARDENING. 



Allotments. 



Potato Spraying. — Anangfiiu-nts for the spraying 

 of Potatoes should be taken in hand at once. 

 Many Allotment Associations and District Coun- 

 cil-: liave provided facilities whereby allotment 

 holders may have the plots sprayed at a minimum 

 of expense and trouble. The Belfast Garden 

 Plots Association have generously provided a 

 number of Knapsack sprayers, and the^e are let 

 out to the local committees, who make their own 

 arrangements for the supply of spraying 

 materials and labour. Some I'rban Councils pro- 

 vide spraying machines, material and lal)otir, and 

 tlien spray tlie allotment'> at a fixed charge per 

 plot. Many schemes are in force, and the two 

 suggestions above can be adapted to meet local 

 requirements. Whatever scheme is adopted it is 

 essential that some person with the requisite 

 knowledge of the subject should supervise the pre- 

 paration of the spraying mixtures, and see that 

 the mixture is properly applied, because not- 

 withstanding the great increase in the acreage of 

 Potatoes sprayed on allotments, very rmsatis- 

 factory results have been obtained owing to faulty 

 preparation of the mixture, and insufficient know- 

 ledge of the correct methods of spraying. Leaflet 

 No. 14, issued by the Department of Agriculture 

 and Technical Instruction for Ireland, cleals with 

 this subject. 



Celery. — It is usual to prepare the trenches 

 for this croj) during the winter months, and during 

 the spring and early suuuner utilising the ridges 

 for early crops of Radish, Lettuce, SiC. Many 

 private gardeners take a pride in a properly pre 

 pared Celery trench smartly finislied off. The 

 trench should be sufficiently wid(> to take a 

 double row of Celery, and plenty of good 

 manure dug into the bottom of the trench. Allot- 

 ment holders, as a rule, have not much conveni- 

 ence for raising plants under glass, and the best 

 way is to visit the nursery wliere celery plants 

 are for sale, see that the plants are properly lifted, 

 and get tliem planted in the trenches as soon as 

 possible. If the soil is dry and there is no pro- 

 spect of rain give a heavy watering. Sliading is 

 often Jjeneficial for a few days after transplant- 

 ing. Leafy liranches spread over the tops of 

 the trenches will serve the purpose. 



T'RANSPLANTiNfi. — Mauy Cauliflower. Broccoli, 

 and other plants are ready to plant out. An old 

 fashioned method is worthy of general adoption. 

 Prepare a suiall tub or bucket of mud by mixing 

 soil and water and dip the roots in the mixture. 

 Plants of the Cabbage family seldom suffer from 

 transplanting when so treated and do not reouire 

 watering. Plant as deeplv as possible without 

 covering the centre of the plant, making the 

 ground firm. 



Seed Sowing. — Tlie last sowing of Peas can now 



be made. Lettuce should be sown where it is 

 likely to remain; this crop does better during the 

 summer when not transplanted. Other seeds 

 that can be sown are Beet, especially tlie Globe 

 variety. Carrots, French and Runner Beans, also 

 Swede and White Turnips. In odd corners 

 Radish, also Mustard and Cress can be sown. 



Thinning. — All our seeds, with the exception of 

 Peas, have germinated well and require thinning. 

 This will l)e done during moist weatlier if possible. 

 Parsnips. Onions, Carrots and Turnips will re- 

 quire first attention, and then the ground will be 

 deeply hoed between the rows. 



Pests and Diseases. — We had a considerable 

 amount of trouble last season owing to the ravages 

 of the Turnij) Fly. The perfect insect is easily 

 seen, having two prominent golden stripes on his 

 back or ratlier wing case, as it is, to be correct, 

 a Beetle. The Beetle is only about one-tenth of 

 an inch long, and plaj'S havoc on the rows of 

 seedling Turnips, devouring the seed leaves. 

 They are es])ecially active in hot, dry weather. 

 We dusted the rows with soot and lime, using two 

 parts of lime to one of soot. On new plots 

 Leather Jackets are often troublesome. Allotment 

 holders do not usually associate Leather Jackets 

 with Daddy Longlegs, but they are one and the 

 same. The grubs feed on the roots of plants. 

 Birds are fond of these grubs, and turning the 

 ground up in the autumn, exposing it to the 

 frost, is useful, as also is lime. 



Allotment holders should now examine Celery 

 plants for the Celery Leaf Spot. Dark spots first 

 show on the leaves, which gradually extend until 

 practically the whole plant becomes infected. It 

 would he a useful thing if all Celery jjlants ^^-ere 

 sprayed on the plots at the same time as the 

 spraying of Potatoes is carried on, using the same 

 solution. The maggot, which also attacks Celery, 

 can be seen when the leaves are held up to the 

 light. In this case pick off all the affected leaves 

 and burn them. 



Broad Beans are invariably attacked with 

 Black Fly. When the plants have reached a fair 

 height this does not matter so much; the tops can 

 be broken off and burnt. Occasionally the plants 

 are attacked in the young state, or on plants which 

 liave been sown late, before they are very much 

 grown. In such cases paraffin emulsion may be 

 1 sed, or even soap suds from the wash-house. 



Carrot and Onion Fly.— The l)eds of spring 

 sown plants will benefit if soot is scattered broad- 

 cast, especially after thinning. This will help the 

 plants and ward off the fly. The soot sticks 

 better after a shower of rain, or whei^ the dew i.s 

 on the plants. Should rain occur, however, 

 immediately after the application, the operation 

 should be renewed. 



The Flower Border. — During this month sow 

 seeds of Wallflowers, Polyanthus, Canterbury 

 Bells. Sweet Rocket and other biennials or 

 perennials desired. Thin out Annuals as soon as 

 they are large enough, giving the plants plenty 

 of room to develop. All the bedding plants, such 

 as Geraniums, should now be in the border. 

 Sweet Peas should not be allowed to tumble by 

 postponing the staking. If so. they seldom re- 

 cover in a satisfactory manner. Many of the 

 herbaceous plants will also require staking. Place 

 three slicks around a clump, choosing stages 

 wliich will he tall and strong enough just to sup- 

 port the plant.'), and loosely tie with twine as 

 growth proceeds. It adds greatly to the appear- 

 ance of the flower border when the grass is cut 

 and th.' .■d._^^^ trimmed. G. IL O, 



