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IRISH GARDENING. 



riiel.sea Gf'iii, l)Otli of which give heavy eiup.s in 

 j><)ts, under ghiss. too; taller varieties, such as 

 I'ilot aiKJ (iradus. will he found relialilr f(u- an 

 i-arly cioj). 



liiiOAO iiKANS may he raised in a lil\e nianniT. 



Onions. — Tliose who aim at growing large hull)s 

 should make i)rei)arations for sowing in hoxes of 

 fairly rich soil; old Melon or Cu(nnnl)er soil 

 jnakes a good i-ompact, with the addition of a 

 little wood asht>s and old lime ruhhle. to make 

 the soil sweet and porous. An early Peach house 

 or vinery newly started would make a suitahle 

 I)lace to start all the ahove. When the little plants 

 are through the .soil, keep as near the glass as 

 convenient, giving air on favoiu'ahle occasions; 

 eventually remove lo a cold frame to harden off. 

 giving ])rotection from frost. 



Fkkxch Bkans. — If accoiiuHodation can be found 

 in a warm i)it sow a few ])ots, hut a temperature 

 of at least ()(»o is required for these to ensure a 

 crop. 



Mustard and Chkss may l)e sown fortnightly, or 

 as often as the demand calls for it. r.ook over 

 young Cahhage })lanled in the autunm. and tighten 

 the .soil well round them where the frost has dis- 

 turbed them; draw a little mould up to the stems 

 as a i)rotection. 



Seakale and Rhubarb crowns should be lifted at 

 intervals; for forcing, expose them to the elements 

 for a week or two, when it will be found forcing 

 will he nuich easier. 



PoT.\TOES in store will require looking over from 

 time to time, x)icking out any bad ones. Select 

 seed tubers of early varieties, and place in boxes 

 to sprout in a light, airy position, secure from 

 froet. Although weeds are not troublesome at 

 this season, do not lose sight of the value of the 

 hoe among crops; keep the soil stirred after heavy 

 rntns wluMi the ground is dry enough. I find the 

 " Buco Cultivator " a capital implement for such 

 work. 



FutTiT Garden. 



Push on with the pruning and training of all 

 wall trees when the weather is favourable, with 

 the exception of Peaches and Nectarines; these 

 are as well left for a time, as, when tied up to 

 the walls, the warmth therefrom excites the buds 

 too early. Follow on with pruning bush and 

 other trees in the open, and as soon as pssible 

 spray thoroughly on calm, dry davs to destroy 

 moss and lichen, doins away with the hiding 

 places of insect pests. There are quite a number 

 of good sprays on the market, all of which may 

 he reconuuended to do the work claimed of them. 

 ('omi)lete the planting of fruit trees and bushes 

 if the state of the soil ])ermits; rather defer such 

 operations for a time should the ground be wet or 

 sticky. Collect and burn all leaves and ])runings 

 as work proceeds; grub out old. unfruitable trees. 

 and consign to the fire; if intending to replant 

 with yourrg stock, thoroughly prepare by trench- 

 ing for the reception of the new tenants. This 

 is a good time to insert cuttings of Gooseberries 

 and Currants. Select nice, strong shoots as 

 pruning proceeds, tie in biuidles, and label, heel- 

 ing them in temoorarily ; on wet days thev can V)e 

 prepared for planting. Gooseberries, Red and 

 White Currants are prepared in like numner— 

 viz., cut into 15-inch lengths, remove all buds but 

 three at the base and the same number at top, 

 plant in drills 2 feet apart, and 15 inches from 

 plant to plant; no more attention will be required, 

 except keeping clean throughout the growing 



si'ason. Black I'urrants need little preparation, 

 as. the aim is to have as many shoots as i)ossible 

 to form a stool; plant as advised for the others, 

 liook over the Raspberry quarters, and, if not 

 tonipleted, lie up the young canes, retaining five 

 or six of the strongest ol each stool, cutting away 

 all weak and surplus ones. If new plantations 

 are contemplated pull up the most distant canes, 

 and i)lace in the new quarters 2 feet apart and 

 5 feet between tlie drills. Digging between the 

 rows of Raspberries does nnich harm to the roots; 

 better to hand-weed or hoe very lightly, and apply 

 a mulch of decayed manure. A light dusting of 

 basic slag round all fruit trees at this season will 

 he found l)eneficial. 



Peaches and Nectarines under glass should 

 be secured to the wires before the buds get a move 

 on. A thorough cleansing of the trees is neces- 

 sary before tying up; if infested with scale. I have 

 found lime-sulphur a cai)ital spray or wash, care 

 l)eing taken to keej) it off the woodwork of the 

 house, as it takes off the paint. Avoid overcrowd- 

 ing of the shoots to insure the fruits getting the 

 juaximum of sunshine. 



Vines, too, will claim attention early in the 

 month. Prune and clean the rods, keeping a 

 sharp look-out for Mealy Bug, the worst pest of 

 the vine. Gishurst Compound is a safe and effec- 

 tive wash when used very hot, and according to 

 the strength advised on the packets. When all 

 is cleaned, give the walls a coat of hot limewash 

 to destroy any insect life which may be hidden 

 in the crevaces. If vines are planted in outside 

 borders have them cleaned and nuilched with 

 strawy manure. In the case of Muscats, it is ad- 

 visable to protect the roots from heavy rains, 

 which keeps the soil cold, retarding root action 

 to a great extent; corrugated iron sheets or 

 shutters are useful for the purpose. 



Fruit borders indoors must not be neglected. 

 Water if dry; failure of a good crop may be the 

 Jesuit if this is overlooked. Go over the young 

 Strawberry plantations, and see that the frost has 

 not rai.sed the plants out of the soil; if so, press 

 them firmly into position. 



Examine the fruit store occasionally, removing 

 any decayed examples, as these soon affect others. 



Pleasure Grounds. 



Any alterations intended in this qiuirter can be 

 <-arried out this month. Walks can be repaired, 

 and new gravel laid on l)are places; old dead- 

 wood cut away from shrubs. &c. 



Planting of shrubs, too, can still be proceeded 

 with i)roviding soil conditions are suitable. Roses 

 ought to be in their quarters before this date; the 

 earlier they are planted the better the results. 



Give Azaleas and Rhododendrons a dressing of 

 bone meal, afterwards nuilcli with decayed leaves; 

 make the plantations tidy and attractive, even 

 in winter. 



Collect and store leaves for the above purpose 

 next year. Have all shrub borders or beds 

 cleaned, digging if necessary, but on no accoinit 

 flig among Azaleas or Rhododendrons; after clean- 

 ing off weeds, a good nudch affords a natural 

 food for these plants. Complete any planting of 

 bulbs as soon as possible. Herbaceous borders 

 and beds can be forked over, working in some 

 well-decayed manure. 



Sweep and roll lawns and tennis courts, making 

 the pleasure grounds as attractive as possible 

 during the dull months of winter. 



