12 



IRISH GARDENING. 



Thuya plicata as a Hedge Plant. 



Ai.THOiKiH distinctly it'ss v;iliial)lc lliaii Ildlly m 

 Yew, 77/1(1/(1 jilicdfii foniis a iisi't'ul lu'(ij_a> in f^ood 

 soil, and has tlu' merit of l)eing t'astei-^M-o\vin<; 

 than either of tlie plants alluded to. it is ill- 

 adapted for dry, iwor soil, and should only he used 

 where the soil is always fairly moist. Like most 

 other Conifers, with the exception, jjerhaps, of 

 I 'iipressiis iiKiriiKtirpd, Thuyas are ini'iined to he- 

 tome hare at the hase when i)lanted in hedj^e 

 form. To oi)viate this, the side hranches should 

 he kept close jjruned, an operation hest performed 

 in early autunui or in spring, hefore growth com- 

 mences. To encourage the development of the 

 lower hranches, the leading shoots nnist he stopj^ed 

 annually until the desired height is reachivl, when 

 they can he kept at a uniform level. 



Jn the event of the lower jKirt of the hedge 

 hecoming unsatisfactory, much imjjrovement will 

 result from lightly forking the soil on either side 

 of the hedge, afterwards ap})lying a iniilch of soil 

 and dec;iyed manure. 



t)ther Conifers suitahle for hedges are: — Tlnn/a 

 iiccideiifdlis, ('iipiessii.s tiidcii'cniiKi , and ( ' ii inissiis 

 l.d irsiinidini . 



The Journal of the Royal Horticultural 

 Society. 



Vol.. XLV., Part I., issued lately, is hriinful of 

 interest. 



Notahle among the many papers included are : 

 Till' Cdir nf Soldiers' (inives, read hy Cax)tain 

 A. W. Hill, M.A., D.Sc. Several ilhistrations 

 accompany this paper, and a lurid account is given 

 of the work l)eing done in making heautiful the 

 graves of the gallant men who gave their lives 

 for their country. 



The (Uire of the Soil,, hy E. P. Hodsoll, F.C.S., 

 is full of practical information, with a scientific 

 hasis; it is a paper well worthy of study by all 

 gardeners. 



Fieesid.s hihI L;i henolids, by the Rev. J. Jacol), 

 records the jMOgress made in hybridizing these 

 beautiful flowers, and in the production of the 

 new colours in Freesias, now becoming so popular. 



What Glasgow has done in the provision of 

 public parks for her citizens is admirably told 

 by Mr. James Whitton, V.M.H.. J. P. The number 

 aiid area of these parks will be a surprise to many 

 people no less than the inunense number of showy 

 Orchids cultivated Iti the well-equipi)ed conser- 

 vatories. 



Kihicdfiontil (Uirdenn, by Dr. Hurry, and liofdiii/, 

 by Edward White, are imj)ortant (ontrihutions. 



The CoiifeieHce on Fniif (rroirituj, held last 

 May is fully reported, and is a useful contribution 

 to the sum of our knowledge of this most important 

 industries. 



Many other useful papers, notes and reports 

 iire included, and tlie Society is to be congratulated 

 on the high level of excellence which their Journal 

 consistently maintains. 



Appointment. 



Many of our readers will be interested to learn that 

 Mr. Donald M'Intosh, for some years head 

 gardener to Alderman Bewley. Danuni, Kathgar, 

 has been appointed in a similar ca])acity to the 

 Duke of Grafton, at Thetford Hall, Norfolk. 



Allotments* 



1'l.\nning thk PiAvr. — In the Allotment Notes for 

 December, some few renuirks were given on the 

 rotation of cro[)s, and we now j)ropose to supple- 

 ment these hy notes on the j)lainiing of the ])lot. 

 'J'o ohtain the most out of the jjlot the most satis- 

 factory method is to adopt a sketch-phui of the 

 system of cropping to he followed during the 

 season. Quite a number of suggested plans have 

 he,en published in the various books and j)amphlets 

 already issued. The publications issued by the 

 Board of Agriculture and Fisheries dealing with 

 allotments can be obtained free, iind contain nnu'h 

 useful information. The pamx)hlets published by 

 the Royal Horticultural Society, England, are 

 issued at a nominal price, and both series can be 

 recommended to owners of small gardens as well 

 as allotment holders. These plans of i)lots can 

 easily be adapted to meet individual requirements. 

 My usual plan is to grow two or three rows of 

 fii^t-early Potatoes, followed by a few rows of 

 second-early variety. Then a large number of 

 roWs of late Potatoes. Peas and Beans are grown, 

 and these divide the first-early and second-early 

 Potatoes. When these Potatoes are liftef^. Leeks 

 an^ Greens are planted in their place, tollowing 

 on. the plot after the late Potatoes, usually two 

 rows are sown of each of the following vege- 

 tables : — Parsnips, Carrots and Beet. Turnips, 

 Avliich are largely used by allotment holders, we 

 so^ foiu' rows, and the same number for Onions. 

 Tlife remainder of the plot is filled with Cabbages, 

 Ciiitilifiowers and Sprouts. There is usually space 

 at m\e end of the plot for a seed bed. Occasionally 

 Cufirant and Gooseberry bushes are grown on 

 ljl(|ts; these are best at one end of the plot, so as 

 not to impede other work. On some allotments 

 in ffingland small fruit trees are grown in number, 

 hu| these allotments are nnich larger, extending 

 upjto a qtuirter of an acre. The system of plant- 

 ing and sowing in rows should always be adoi)ted 

 on h allotments. If the plot is the usual one — thirty 

 yards long by ten yards across — the rows should 

 run the full width of the plot. Plots which are 

 twenty yards long and the same across are better 

 divided by a narrow path down the centre, as 

 witiiout this it would mean rows of Peas and 

 BeRns sixty feet long. On the standard plots, 

 paiihs on the plot itself are unnecessary — that 

 which divides one plot from the next being 

 sufficient for all purposes. Some holders plant 

 and sow all small seeds in beds, even going to the 

 exti-nt of T)lacing cinders on the intervening paths, 

 which is needless labour, and a waste of ground. 

 Some consideration has been given at one time 

 and another in which direction the rows should 

 run. The rows should, of course, run north and 

 sf)uth to get the full benefit of the sun, but this 

 would in some cases mean running them the full 

 length of the plot, whereas the most convenient 

 method is to run the rows across the plot. The 

 person surveying the land should keep in mind 

 the direction of the plots when conunitting the 

 plan to paper, but it is often found quite impos- 

 sible to run plots in the desired direction, especi- 

 ally' where only a few acres are being laid out, 

 the contour of the land being the deciding factor. 

 Sbei) Potatoes. — The seed Potatoes of the early 

 varieties should now be placed in boxes or trays. 

 Stand the ends with luids uppermost, and pack 

 the Potatoes closely together in single layers. If 

 seed has not l)een saved from last season the stock 

 should be purchased early, and it is important 



