H 



IRISH GARDENING 



min 111 rm n. 



*i MiB sna (J 



The Month^s Work. 



Midland and Northern Counties, 



By Mr. ]'". Strkktkk, GardeiKn- to B. H. Barton, 



Esq.. D.I... Stiaffan House, Straffan, 



Co. Kildare. 



The Kitchen Garden. 



1 THINK the best advice I can give to all gardeners 

 may l>e summed up in one word — " thorough- 

 ness." The man who is thorough in all his work 

 very seldom fails in his profession, and may the 

 present season of 192U be one of great success to 

 us all, and witness a great revival in our many 

 Irish gardens. 



Push forward all kitchen garden work as quickly 

 as possible, so that when the busy months arrive 

 we may be well prepared for them. I have often 

 known a perfect seed-sowing time lost and greatly 

 delayed by not having the groiuid ready at the 

 proper time. All vacant plots should l)e well 

 trenched to allow the weather to fulfil its function; 

 deep cultivation is absolutely essential for the 

 production of first-class vegetal:)les. In trenching, 

 break up the bottom pan of soil at all costs, as 

 this will allow the moisture to rise in dry weather 

 and act as diainage in wet. Should a sharp spell 

 of frost occur, put all strength possible on to cart 

 and wheel manure, leaf soil and' loam on to the 

 ground ready for use. , It is adyisable to make a 

 plan of the" garden, and mark- off the positions 

 for the various crops. 



Catalogues having arrived from the seedsmen, 

 mark off the required seeds, see that the total does 

 not exceed that which is to be spent on seeds, 

 and post the list; keep to well tried varieties that 

 are known to do well in your particular district, 

 and try a few novelties advertised; 



Asparagus. — Where one has the convenience of 

 heated pits, this highly-esteemed vegetable may 

 now be forced into use. A good deep hotbed 

 (three-parts leaves to one-part long litter) should 

 be well and evenly firmed to within 18 inches of 

 the top of the pits, pack the crowns close together, 

 and cover with 6 inches of fine soil. Keep a label 

 under the lights at all times, to allow any rank 

 moisture to escape; on bright days give a little 

 more air, and cover the frames with mats on 

 frosty nights; after using, throw the crowns away, 

 as they are now worthless. 



Broad Be.\ns. — Sow in boxes 2 inches apart for 

 planting out later, and germinate in a cold frame 

 or cool peach house; do not give much water 

 until tlirough the soil, and watch that slugs or 

 rats do not attack them; give plenty of air on all 

 occasions, excejit when frosty. " Johnston's Won- 

 derful " is a good variety. 



Cauliklower. — Sow at the Ijcginning of the 

 month an early variety of Caulitiower t(j succeed 

 the i)lanls growing in frames from th(> autumn 

 sowing; use boxes for sowing this batch. The 

 compost should consist of two parts fine loam, 

 one part leaf soil, and one part sand; make firm, 

 sow thinly, cover to the depth of the seed, and 

 Stand in a fruithouse just started; remove into a 

 (^•ool, airy house when they are well up. Never 

 allow Cauliflowers to suffer from drought, as this 

 is fatal to their well doing. Early Giant is a good 

 variety for tliis sowing. 



Onions. — Where large bulbs are required, seed 

 of Ailsa Craig, Premier, or Cranstone Excelsior 

 should he sown this month. Prepare a number 

 of boxes, about 1 foot wide and 5 inches deep, 

 well drained with the following compact thor- 

 oughly mixed : — Three-parts fine loam, one part 

 flaked leaf soil, and one part coarse sand, with 

 h dash of soot and wood ashes. Select the finest 

 seeds, and sow very thinly, slightly covering the 

 ^eed with same compost, and place in a warm 

 house. Eemove, wlien well up. to cooler quarters, 

 and keep steadily growing; avoid draught." 

 '" Tomatoes. — Sow Tomato Sunrise in brisk heat 

 for the earliest crop, to fruit in pot or boxes in 

 the houses; pot off before they become at all 

 drawn, bringing the soil and pots to the house 

 #here they are growing; replace on a shelf, and 

 grow as sturdily as possible; always use warm 

 water when watering. 



' Potatoes. — Earliest supplies should be planted 

 ill heated pits on a slight hotbed. Sharpe's Ex- 

 press and May Queen are excellent varieties. All 

 sbed Potatoes should be placed in trays if not 

 already done. 



'Sow early horn Carrots in drills on hotbeds; 

 shatter a few seeds of forcing Radishes broadcast 

 oVer the whole of the frame; these will be ready 

 for use before the Carrots need the room. 



Bring sufficient Ehubarb and Seakale into the 

 Mushroom house to meet the demands; Endive 

 and Chicory will also blanch well and quickly in 

 the darkest end of the house. 



Continue to make new Mushroom beds to replace 

 exhausted ones. 



Sow small quantities of Commodore Nutt Cab- 

 bage, Lettuce, Mustard and Cress, Brussels 

 Sprouts Dwarf Gem, and Cabbage Earliest of All. 



Protect Celery, Broccoli, and Globe Artichokes 

 in severe weather. 



, Pleasure Ground and Flower Gardens. 



Shrubberies. — Continue to clean all shrubberies 

 of fallen leaves, and prune any evergreens that 

 need it. Choice flowering shrul)s, whether grown 

 siligly or in ])eds, will greatly benefit from a good 

 top-dressing of manure and soil. Rhododendrons, 

 Azaleas, and all Ericaceous plants should be given 

 an annual supply of well-decayed leaf soil. 

 Laurels that are becoming thin at the base may 

 lie cut down close to the ground. 



Rockery. — The Alpine garden should receive a 

 thorough cleaning up. Keep all the strong 

 growers to their allotted space. See that the 

 choicer varieties are not suffering from the 

 weather, and remove decayed leaves. Slightly 

 fork between the plants, and top-dress where it is 

 required. 



Lawns. — Should the weather continue mild, give 

 all lawns a slight bru.shing, and run a light roller 

 over all. After storms pick up all deadwood that 

 may have blown down, and try to keep everything 

 clean and tidy. 



