32 



IRISH GARDENING 



too cold, such .MS forking round llio orchard trees 

 and wheeling manure for topdressing ; nuich time 

 i.- thus saved. 



Where birds are trouhh'some among (Joosc- 

 l)erry bushes, a dusting of powdered lime will helj) 

 to ciieck them, but failing that, try the gun and 

 a cartri<lge (if you can get them). 



Head down inifruitful trees ready for grafting 

 next month. Select suital)le scions of varieties 

 known to do well in your locality; tie in bundles, 

 and bury thiMu three-parts of their length behind 

 a north "wall till required. 



Clean away all weeds and dead leaves from 

 Strawberrv plots, and a])ply a nndch of long, 

 rough manure; the heavy rains will wash down 

 the good properties, leaving the surface clean for 

 the fruits to lie on. 



Have a look over fruits in store, and remove 

 any decayed samples. Handle carefully those that 

 are sound, as the slightest bruise starts decay at 

 once. 



Plrasure GROUNns. 

 Little work will be required in this quarter apart 

 from keeping the place clean and tidy, unless 

 alteratious are still in progress. Keep grass lawns 

 cleaned and rolled; this is most necessary where 

 worms are tro>d)lesome: the casts give a lawn 

 a shab])y and neglected appearance. Attend to 

 the thinning and tying up of the various climbing 

 • slants, inchidiii'f Hoses of the WH'lMin'iana type 

 if not already done; cut away all dead and weak 

 shoots, giving more space and light to the re- 

 mainder; ])etter results will follow at flowering 

 time. 



February is not a good month for planting trees 

 and shrubs; such work is better left over till 

 March and April, especially in the case of Coni- 

 fers. The ))est time to move these now is just when 

 growth is starting; if carefully lifted with good 

 1)alls of soil and well watered after planting, few 

 failures will occur. Last year, in mid-March, I 

 lifted and replanted at a distance part of a 

 Ciiprrssiis Macrocaipa hedge which had been 

 planted at least si.x years. Owing to the light 

 nature of the soil it was impracticable to retain 

 balls of earth round the roots. Very few plants 

 failed to grow in spite of the long spell of dry 

 weather which followed; they were well watered 

 at planting time, and sprinkled overhead several 

 times for a month. Bedding plants, such as 

 Geraniums, Heliotrophe, &c., shoidd be potted off 

 singly and placed in a warm house to start, grow- 

 ing them on slowly, and gradually hardening off 

 to a cold frame. Seeds of Antirrhinotus nuiy be 

 .sown now in pans of light soil, pricking off into 

 frames when fit to handle. 



Sweet Peas, for flowering in early snnnuer, may 

 be sown in pots or boxes, and planted out A\hen 

 strong enough; ground for these shouid be pre- 

 pared now. 



Look over the Rock Garden, and clean away 

 any leaves and weeds; afford protection to such 

 favourites as may require it. 



Move Dahlias into gentle heat to start into 

 growth for securing cuttings; select strong shoots 

 about 3 or 4 inches long with a heel, inserting 

 singly into small pots in sandy soil ; place on a 

 gentle Iwttom heat, and when rooted, gradually 

 harden nff. putting into larger pots when neces- 

 sary. Violets in frames require strict attention 

 during dull, damp days. Pick off decaying leaves, 

 and stir the soil with a hand fork; remove the 

 lights entirely when weather permits, to thor- 



oughly dry up excessive moisture. This is a good 

 tiuu^ to put in cuttings for flowering lu^xt winter. 

 Insert in sandy soil, either in a frame or boxes, 

 where they will root, and be ready to ])lant out 

 towai'ds the end of April. Have stakes ju'cpared 

 and tied up in bundles of different lengths; labels 

 may be renewed when wanted; grass machines 

 cleaned and oiled, and repairs seen to before 

 the season comes on us. 



Record of Rainfall for Twelve Months. 



Inches 

 4.88 Rain fell on 25 days of ihe month. 

 14 

 25 

 1.5 

 18 

 9 



12 

 12 

 13 

 13 



29 



33.92 



Showing a tutal fall of 33.92 inches and 192 days 

 oji which rain fell. 



J. Matthews, 



Touiin, Ca])po(|uin. Waterford. 



NOTICE 



T) EADERS are invited to submit questions 

 bearmg on gardenmg in any of its 

 branches. It is our desire to stimulate and 

 encourage gardening in Ireland, and we are 

 in touch with experts who will be glad to 

 give every assietance. 



We are always open to consider articles, 

 and would be glad to receive photographs — 

 of gardens or plants — for publication, if suit- 

 able ; senders will oblige by stating whether 

 payment is desired in the event of publication. 



Contributions should reach the Editor not 

 later than the 15th of each month. 



