IRISH GARDENING. 



109 



France, and " St. Helena," a creamy pinkish 

 yellow, were among the best. The single pillar 

 roses ■' Diabolo," a very showy rich crimson, tmd 

 " Lady Curzon," like a huge pink wild rose, were 

 wonderful, and " Scarlet Climber " double, 

 should find a place with a dark background. 



Dickson of Newtownardb had single pillar 

 Roses of the most wonderful colouring imaginable. 

 ■' Irish Firetiame," orange buds, opening paler, 

 and bronze foliage; and " Irish Afterglow," 

 almost scarlet. " Mrs. C. V. Haworth," double, 

 orange-rose shot, was also most attractive. 



In Sweet Peas there did not appear to be any- 

 thing very new. 



" Mrs. Forde," a white rose with a reddish 

 pink edge, was rather striking. 



Blackmore and Langdon's Begonias were 

 lovelier than ever, and larger, as were the prices, 

 quite inisuitaljle, alas ! to war and peace taxed 

 purses. " Mrs. Brunton," pink (only a guinea 

 each!); "Christopher Spry," rose pink, and 

 " Moncrieff," fringe^edged pink, seemed the most 

 desirable. The war has wrought many changes, 

 and one missed old friends among the exhibitors, 

 but what was to be seen was well worth a visit. 



M. B. 



Summer Pruning Deciduous Trees, 



Towards the middle of July most deciduous trees 

 have completed their annual growth and are 

 plumping up their winter buds. From that time 

 onwards nuich good work may be done in train- 

 ing and regulating the growth of young speci- 

 mens and of maintaining older trees in shape 

 and vigour l:)y the removal of imnecessary 

 branches. 



Every one who has specimen trees to manage 

 knows quite w^ell that young trees in nursery 

 quarters, or even permanently planted, are not 

 in the same position as yoimg trees planted under 

 forest conditions. In the forest the lower 

 branches are automatically killed off by want of 

 light and the leaders grow straight upwards. 



In the nursei-y, however, where the trees are 

 transplanted regularly more space is given as the 

 specimens grow; hence the lower branches do not 

 suffer so nuich from want of light and continue 

 to grow. By a judicious shortening of the side 

 branches in sunnner the buds on the higher 

 branches are strengthened and will start away 

 with greater vigour the following spring. Leaders 

 that may not l)e developing quite satisfactorily 

 may be greatly a.ssisted by shortening back a few 

 of the side branches just below them. The follow- 

 ing spring, if a leading shoot is not so straight 

 and strong as it might be, it may be shortened 

 back to a good bud aixl will break away vigor- 

 ously. In the case of trees with opposite buds, 

 if both " break " one should be rubbed off early 

 and the other will quickly become a good leader. 



Older trees that may have become too dense and 

 are not growing to height satisfactorily may have 

 a number of the branches thinned out, this work 

 being more readily carried out while the leaves 

 are on, and the most suitable branches to remove 

 can be more readily seen. Two men are neces- 

 sary to do the work properly, one in the tree and 

 the other on the ground to point out the branches 

 to be removed. At this tome, too, young trees that 

 may have been planted for a year or two, but are 

 not going ahead in a satisfactory way, will 

 benefit from a soaking of liquid manure ; this will 

 plump up the buds and encourage the trees to 

 make roots, with every chance of a good start 

 next year. Arbor. 



The Apple Crop. 



From an examination of the trees in the third 

 week of June one is better able to estimate the 

 prospects of this crop than was possible earlier 

 in the season. So far as the writer can judge the 

 Apple crop is going to be good. It is possible, 

 however, the quality and appearance of the fruit 

 may not be so good. The prolonged drought of 

 May and June is bound to have an effect, and if 

 rain does not soon come this effect w^ill be pro- 

 nounced. 



Apple sucker was present in the flower trusses 

 of several varieties, but no damage to signify was 

 done. A great deal of bloom and fruitlets dropped 

 but this happened to trees on which no suckers 

 were attacking. The dropping of so many of the 

 fruitlets was in itself a good thing, as otherwise 

 much thinning of the fruit would be necessary. 

 The well-known ermine moth caterpillar was 

 noticed on some trees, but little damage was done 

 beyond some eaten leaves in the neighbourhood 

 of their tents. Winter moth caterpillar was 

 observed also, but only in isolated cases. 



Indications as to cropping are given in the 

 following list of well known varieties : — 



Veil/ yoof/.— Beauty of Bath, Gladstone, Royal 

 Jubilee, Domino, Prince Edward, Early Rivers, 

 Frogmore Prolific. 



Good. — Lord Derby, Bramley, Hector McDonald, 

 King's Acre Pippin, Golden Pippin, Cat Head, 

 Bismarck, Duch Mignonne. 



Medium. — Cox's Orange Pippin, Allington 

 Pippin, Grenadier, Golden Spire. 



Poor. — Lane's Prince Albert, Lord Grosvenor, 

 Thomas Rivers' Earlv Victoria. 



D. 



Queries. 



Inciner.\tor for Garden Rubbish. — A corres- 

 pondent would be glad if any of our readers could 

 give directions for making an incinerator for 

 burning weeds, &c. 



NOTICE 



T) EADERS are invited to submit questions 

 bearing on gardening in any of its 

 branches. It is our desire to stimulate and 

 encourage gardenmg in Ireland, and we are 

 in touch with experts who will be glad to 

 give every assistance. 



We are always open to consider articles, 

 and would be glad to receive photographs- — 

 of gardens or plants — for publication, if suit- 

 able ; senders will oblige by stating whether 

 payment is desired in the event of publication. 



Contributions should reach the Editor not 

 later than the 1 5th of each month. 



