30 



IRISH GARDENING 



class specimens in lull fidwcr to start witli. It 

 Ivy-leaved Pelargoniums are decided on, root or 

 put five plants in a 5-incli pot; use one strong 

 centre stake and four on the outside; tie tlu' 

 growths in, and make a bushy plant; grow close 

 to the light. Other excellent sul)jects arc 

 Fuclisias, Phlox Drunnnondi, although seldom 

 used; Paid Crampel Pelargoinum, and Verbenas 

 and Heliotropes. For tubs. Hydrangea Hortcnsis 

 is magnificent; also Marguerite, Mrs. i'\ Saiider- 

 ^gai)anthus and Sununcr Flowering Chrysan- 

 tiieiinnns. Phint al)out .'JO plants in 5-inch pots 

 of one variety of the lattt'r, and stake well cut. 



Skkds. — The following seeds may now be grown 

 ill well-drained boxes of fine sandy soil in a warm 

 lcmi)crature. and shaded from the sun's rays : — 

 Hi'ilniiKis, tuberous and fibrous rooted; Aiitiri- 

 lin: u iii.'^ Ayenifiiiii . Mdruuciite ('ani(iti(nis, Jtitlilids. 

 Siilrid Firchiill and Sdlria pafeiiti, AspdnKjiis 

 jil liiniisiis, Ldhi'lid. (lr<'rill('d mhusfd and Kucn- 

 li/lifiis; and Sircct I'cas in a cold frame, citlicr in 

 pots or boxes. 



Carnations. — If these have been wintered in cold 

 flames they may be now planted in their flowering 

 (piarters. providing the soil is in good condition; 

 give a good dressing of lime rubble and soot. A 

 type of^Cauiation that should be largely grown 

 is Allwoodi. I have seen it at the raiser's esta))- 

 lishment in Sussex, and it is niagnificent, flower- 

 ing continuously from early spring to late 

 autumn. The following are beautiful varieties : — 

 Albert . pale mauve; DdiofJiy, deep rose pink; 

 Ji'd)), white; Mdiy, pale rose pink; I'hi/Ilis, lilac; 

 and lUtfus, light maroon. 



Summer Flowering Chrysanthemums. — Root in 

 quantity as soon as the cuttings can be obtained. 

 Put 50 in' a stock-box with a sheet of glass over 

 to keep it airtight, and put in a warm house, where 

 tlit^y.wdl quickly form roots. When rooted, gradu- 

 ally take away the glass and pot off singly into 

 small pots; stop at the fifth or sixth leaf. The 

 following are good varieties : — Amoid, large 

 bronze; Arqiiitd'inc, bronze; Crdnfurd rink, pink; 

 Crdiifdidid, yellow; Caudle, white-tinted carmine; 

 Cdlcdonid, pure white; Framfitdd Early Whifr, 

 pure white; Fcr Pdrisieiine, mauve; (ieorijc 

 Bnirness, crushed strawberry; XaniKDidie, pale 

 ])ink; Rahliic Burns, cerise; and Biihis, claret. 



Lawns. — Any alterations still in hand should be 

 com])leted as soon as possiijle. A good raking and 

 topdressing of old potting soil put through the 

 screen, with lime added, will prove most bene- 

 ficial. Tennis Courts, Bowling Greens, Croquet 

 liawns and Golf Courses will require considerable 

 attention to get them into first-class condition. 

 Give a slight sweeping and light rolling every 

 week if weather permits. Have the mowing 

 machines put into good order; I find it best to 

 send them in every season for a thorough over- 

 hauling to tlie makers; they then go through a 

 lieav" season satisfactorily. 'Where motor mowers 

 are in use, see that they are stored and kept in 

 a perfectly dry machine-house, and give occasional 

 cleaning and oiling. 



Hedges. — This is a suitable time to plant new 

 hedges. Thoroughly manure and trench the site. 

 For enclosing flower gardens and as a Inickground 

 to herl)aceous liorders and also for s-iving a ])lace 

 character there is nothing to equal Yew. Its slow 

 growth is against it where a quick growth is re- 

 quired, but once it is established it will hold its 

 own. Gdldfir Qurrii II<dh/ is a beautiful subject 



f(u- boundary planting; Jlnlli/, Trird. Ihi \rfliiir\\, 

 llcccli. I ' i/iucssiis Mdcrnrd I I'd , and Aihar V'ltn: 

 arc suitable subjects. 



MixKi) BoRUEKS. — Go over and cut down any of 

 the stems left from last season, and give a slight 

 forking and c-lcaning before the bulbous plants 

 become too large. See that all labels are somid, 

 and in position. Where borders are to be rc- 

 l)lanted this spring, get the ground thoroughly 

 tienched and manured. Give Lily of tlu> Valley 

 l)eds a good topdressing of sifted l(>af soil, anil 

 plant the crowns in various positions, to extend 

 the flowering season. Keep the lights off the 

 Penstcmoii and Viola cuttings whenever possibl(\ 



Southern and Western Counties. 



By Mi;. ,1. Matthews, Gardener to Sii- KMcliaid 



.1. Musgrave, Bart., Tourin, ("a])])(i(|iiin. 



County Waterford. 



The Kitchen Garden. 



With the uncertain weather conditions in Feb- 

 ruary, giound operations are very difficult to get 

 on witli, therefore work on liand must be arranged 

 ai'cording to circumstances. We can reasonably 

 expect some hard weather during the month after 

 the mild spell we have had. 



Every opportunity should be taken full advan- 

 tage of to comnlete digging and trenching in ])re- 

 paration for the busy days approaching. Make 

 preparations" for sowing some of the earliest seeds 

 this month in- the way of repairing seed-boxes; 

 collect, ready to hand, under cover material for 

 sowing; loam leaf mould (Beech and Oak -for pre- 

 ference), sand, and wood-ashes. 



Broad Beans. — Make another sowing in ])oxes, 

 for planting out later, also a sowing of a good 

 long-pod variety outside for succession. 



Cabbage. — Sow an early variety in a cold frame, 

 and grow on sturdy, pricking off a few inches 

 apart when the first or second leaf shows; this is 

 also the time to sow lied or I'lcirniu Cahhane if 

 plants were not raised in the autiunn. Young 

 plants put out in the autumn have made great 

 progress owing to the mildness of the winter; 

 make good any l)lanks in the runs, and stir the 

 soil occasionally when dry enough. 



Cauliflower. — A sowing should be made of an 

 early and late variety, such as. Early London and 

 Autunin Giant, for a succession to those in cold 

 frames; treat as advised for Cabbage. Plants in 

 frames require strict attention to airing and 

 watering; keep them as hardy as possible, but 

 protected from frost. Slugs are particularly fond 

 of these, and must be guarded against. The best 

 plan is to have a hunt in the evening with a light, 

 when they are generally busy; a dusting of lime 

 and soot round the frame helps to check them. 

 T have tried Sanitds Pou-drr with goad rrsults. 



Celery. — A pinch of seed should he sown to 

 supply an early lot. Sow in pots of light soil in 

 gentle heat; when the seedlings are up, keep as 

 near the light as possible, and give strict attention 

 to watering. At no period of its growth should 

 Celery get dry at tlie roots, or bolting will be cer- 

 tain later on. 



