144 



IRISH GARDENING. 



Cabbages for use in early spring should be 

 planted as soon as the young plants are large 

 enough. The ground from which Onions or Early 

 Peas have been cleared will provide a suitable site, 

 and it need not be dug, but should be well hoed 

 over and all weeds removed. A good dressing of 

 soot before hoeing will he an advantage. It is best 

 to draw shallow \lrills to phmt in. At the first 

 hoeing before winter, tlie drills are levelled iu, thus 

 providing a slight earthing up and a mulch to tlie 

 plants. The drills should be eighteen inches apart, 

 and the plants fourteen inches apart in the rows. 



Cauliflower seed should now be sown, and the 

 resultant seedlings pricked out in a cold frame, to 

 be planted out next March or April, for the earliest 

 hatch. A good variety for this sowing is Early 

 London. The last sowing of Turnips and Spinach 

 to stand the winter should be thinned and hoed 

 before the plants become crowded. Timely atten- 

 tion in regard to this will make all the difference 

 to these crops later on. 



The main crop of Celery will now require earth- 

 ing-up at fortnightly intervals. If the weather is 

 dry, a good watering with weak liquid manure 

 should first be given. Remove side growths and 

 withered leaves, and tie up the plants loosely with 

 matting before placing the soil to them. It is not 

 advisal^le to put more than a few inches of soil to 

 the plants at each earthing. 



Beetroot and Carrots, if mature, may now be 

 lifted and stored for the winter. The former re- 

 quire very careful handling so that the roots are 

 not broken or injured. These roots keep well if 

 stored in sand behind an outside wall, especially if 

 something is placed over them to throw off exces- 

 sive rain. They must not be kept in too dry a place 

 or they will shrivel. 



Midland and Northern Counties 



J^y W. Roberts, Gardener to Lady Emily Bury, 

 Charleville Forest, Tullamore, King's County. 



Thk Kttchkn Garden. 



The first planting of Cabbage for spring and early 

 summer use should now be made accordiug as th(> 

 plants become strong enough. They may follow 

 Potatoes or Onions, merely hoeing and raking the 

 ground up for this crop. It is not an advantage to 

 have the ground on the loose side. It is a good plan 

 to plant at aV)0ut 28 in<'hes between the rows and 

 from 12 to 15 inches in the rows, and where space 

 is limited early Potatoes can be i^lanted between 

 the rows next March or April. As soon as growth 

 starts, hoe the surface between rows to keep down 

 weeds, and if slugs are troublesome give a dusting 

 of lime from time to tinu>. Lettuce, Parsley, Cauli- 

 flowers, &c., should he transplanted as soon as fit 

 tf) handle, to a frame or sonu; sheltered spot, wliere 

 they can be protected to stand the winter and pro- 

 vide early spring supplies. Continue to earth-up 

 Celery and attend to later plantings. Spring-sown 

 Onions should Ije thorouglily dried before storing, 

 and can be either hanked and hung uj) or sjjreacl 

 thinly in a good airy loft. Second Early Potatoes 

 should be now lifted. Select dry weatlier for the 

 operation if possible. Those required for seed may 

 Ije put in sprouting boxes right away and kept in 

 any dry, airy shed, and it is surprising the quan- 

 tity that can be stored in this way against the back 

 wall of a shed, facing north for preference', aiifl take 

 so little room. Sow more Winter Spinach, and thin 

 standing crops. Keep the hoe going constantly 

 between all growing crops, as snuill weeds grow 



tremendously at this time of year, and later the 

 ground is generally too wet for the operation, and 

 clear all ground of crops that are over, and burn 

 any refuse on the plots rather than cart it away. 



Fruit Houses and Garden. 



A great number of both Apples and Pears will 

 require gathering now. There is no hard and fast 

 rule, but if those that incline to fall most are taken 

 first, much will be saved, as once they fall they are 

 of little value; this, of course, pointing to the neces- 

 sity of very careful handling in picking and stor- 

 ing; re the latter, I have seen a number of methods, 

 each claimed as the best advocated, and perhaps I 

 may be permitted to give mine. Granted a good fruit 

 room — viz., one facing north, perfectly dry and not 

 subject to nuich fluctuation of temperature — I put 

 the Apples in as thick as the shelves allow — in this 

 case about 18 in. — and leave them so imtil required 

 to be either marketed or otherwise. I have seen 

 some varieties treated this way, and not disturbed 

 rmtil March or April, turn out splendidly, retain- 

 ing all their freshness and flavour; and at times if 

 you lift one of these you would find it quite greasy, 

 and in some cases quite wet. Pears, of course, re- 

 quire quite different treatment, and, unless where 

 required for dessert, had better be disposed of 

 before they become ripe, as they are very tricky 

 subjects after that period. In both Pears and 

 Apples I think they are all the better of being left 

 on the trees as long as possible. Attend carefully 

 to all Grapes, either ripe or finishing, for cracked or 

 damaged berries, otherwise a lot of damage will l)e 

 done; also wasps are encouraged; and if these pests 

 once attack vineries it is very difficult to check 

 them. Stop all growths with care, and unless very 

 crowded, merely take the tip out of the growtli as 

 it is no harm to have plenty of growth just now, 

 especially where heavy crops are or have been 

 hanging. Keep Peaches, Nectarines, &c., well 

 syringed, and plenty of air, and endeavour to keep 

 the foliage healthy and on as long as possible. Late 

 Melons require careful watering and airing to 

 ripen, and only enough atmospheric moisture to 

 keep them clean. 



Correspondence. 



TO THE KIUTOR JRISH GARDENING. 



Dear Sir, — I should like to know if all the Yellow 

 Cist us hold the flower as shoi't a time as C. formosus 

 does? I noted the time carefully a few days ago, 

 and found the biish smothered in yellow at 8.30 

 a.m. and had not one flower left at 1 p.m. We have 

 several pink and white varieties, l)ut all keep tlie 

 flower for the l)est ])art of the day. I l)elieve there 

 are other yellow varieties besides the one we have. 

 Any infornuition al)Out them will i)e nuich apj)re- 

 ciated. 11. S. Willis, 



TO THE EurrOR IHISU GARnENING. 



Dear Sir, — lie the )u)tes by " Arbor." It would 

 be interesting to have the opinion of amateur 

 plantsnu'U as op))osed to |)rofessional on the sub- 

 ject of tree-])iuning, excluding, of course, F'ruit 

 Trees, Hedge and Avenue Plants. Is not the char- 

 acter of trees obscured by pruning? Is not the 

 necessity for branch thinning that " Arl)or " refer«! 

 to the direct result of tlie j)revious pruning? We 

 luive in mind trees grown for their individual 

 beauty, and we can imagine this would be best ex- 

 ])|-esse(l l)y their own mituial tendeiu-y, not by 

 rei)iessioJi. 



Onlooker. 



