IRISH GARDENING 



VOLUME XIV 

 No. 162 



Editor-J- W. Besant. 



A MONTHLY JOURNAL DEVOTED TO THE 



ADVANCEMENT OF HORTICULTURE AND 



ARBORICULTURE IN IRELAND 



AUGUST 

 1919 



Horticultural Reconstruction* 



By \Y. H. Johns, N.D. Hort. 



'^-4/? 



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HE question of reconstruction 

 in Horticulture is probably of as 

 great importance to Ireland as 

 that of most other enterprises. 

 That the need for reconstruc- 

 tion is great most horticulturists 

 admit, but the desire to reconstruct or to agree 

 on any definite scheme of development seems 

 sadly lacking on the part not only of those who 

 ai'e supposed to have a controlling influence, 

 but also of those who are more closely con- 

 nected with horticulture. Sir F. Moore has 

 recently pointed out some of the possible forms 

 of development, but so far there seems to be 

 no one prepared to take a lead in doing the 

 necessary work. A discussion of this subject 

 in the pages of Irish Gardening might very 

 well lead up to something definite being done, 

 and it is with this object in view that these lines 

 are being written. I would like, therefore, to 

 suggest that, among other aspects of the ques- 

 tion, the following are some which might very 

 well form the subject of discussion, organisa- 

 tion, and of energetic and effective develop- 

 ment : — 



1. The Fruit Industrii. — Ireland at present, 

 although well adapted for fruit culture, especi- 

 ally that of small fruits, can hardly be said to 

 be producing sufficient fruit to meet the 

 country's needs. 



2. Coi)unercial Horticulture gencrcdhj. — 

 That there is a real need for mai'ket-gardens, 

 with sufficient glass for the culture of various 

 crops, including Tomatoes, Melons, &c., present 

 prices testify. 



3. Suiall HoUVnigs. — The conditions in Ire- 

 land are eminently suitable for a great develop- 

 ment of small holdings on which horticultural 

 crops would undoubtedly form the staple pro- 

 ducts. Some time ago notices were displayed 

 promising land, and assistance for such, to 



those Irish soldiers who enlisted for war service. 



It will be interesting to learn to what extent 

 discharged soldiers in Ireland have been given 

 facilities in this direction. 



4. Allotments. — That allotments in Ireland 

 wei'e doing valuable work before the war is now 

 stale news. 



That a big development took place during the 

 wav is also well known. 



That the demand for allotments was greater 

 than the supply, and that a far greater develop- 

 ment was possible is perhaps only properly 

 appreciated by those in close contact with the 

 movement. 



The question to be faced at the moment 

 seems to be this : numbers of plotholders who 

 have worked the ground deeply, heavily 

 manured it, and cultivated it as was never done 

 before are in danger of losing — I should say 

 have lost, and are still losing — their plots in 

 order to make room for a crop of Oats, and 

 afterwards a sheep or so or a few bullocks. 



Like England, Ireland in its town areas is 

 largely a C. II. and C. III. population, and will 

 be so as long as public opinion prefers to allow 

 bullocks to graze rather than to see well-cul- 

 tivated allotments and town gardens. 



5. Village Horticulture. — In the villages of 

 this country the need for a knowledge of 

 gardening and of various aspects of tillage 

 matters is very patent. 



The subject of Eural Science — including 

 School Gardening — now taught in a limited 

 number of schools is undoubtedly helping to 

 mend matters a little. 



But as this subject is regarded from a purely 

 scientific rather than from a horticultural point 

 of view, it cannot be said to sui)ply the needs 

 of village communities. 



The possibilities of efficient classes in Horti- 

 cidture, including food culture, for the sons 

 of farmers, for farm labourers, and for others 

 interested, either as evening classes or short 



