6o 



IRISH GARDENING 



r(jutfd pot un into (i-iiu-li jxits. Kcf|» the i^laiits 

 growing sturdily; stake aiul keep the i)oiiit ot the 

 Bean well tied. 



Sowing of Brasskas. — Make up a good seed 

 Led for sowing the following : — Summer Cahbage, 

 Brussels Sjjrouts, Broeeoli, Cauliflower, Autumn 

 Cliant Kales, Borecoles, Savoys, Purple and White 

 Sprouting Broeeolis Cos and Cahbage Lettuee. 

 Sow thinly and evenly in shallow drills, just 

 covering the seed, and giving a fine finish, care- 

 fully labelling each variety. Net the beds from 

 the birds, and in mild, warm weatiier watch for 

 slugs, dusting well with lime. Prick (uit any of 

 the above, before thi'y licccnne drawn, that have 

 been raised in boxes. 



Celery. — Prick out of the seed-boxes into frames 

 on a hard bottom, covered with 4 inches of well- 

 decayed manure and fine soil, well firuied; water 

 with tepid water, keeping the frames close till 

 the young plants have become established; then 

 gradually liarden till they are fit for their per- 

 manent quarters. 



Lekks. — The earliest plants are now ready for 

 their final quarters. Plant out in well-prepared 

 trenches, 15 inches apart; put on the brown paper 

 collars right away, as J>eeks must be blanched as 

 they grow, and give a thorough soaking. Another 

 method is to make a hole with a bar and drop 

 the young plants in, some 9 inches deep, and fill- 

 ing u}) with fine soil. Do not at any stage of 

 growth allow the plants to suffer from want of 

 water. 



Lettuce. — Plant out on a warm bdider sufficient 

 plants to follow those in the frames. To have a 

 good supply daily throughout the season of fresh, 

 crisp Lettuce, either Cos or Cabbage, a sowing 

 should be made fortnightly. They like good, rich 

 ground, and should be planted out and watered 

 in before they become drawn. 



CARDOONS.-^Take out the trenches for this vege- 

 table 2 feet deep and 2 feet wide; fill to within a 

 few inches of the top with good, well-decayed 

 manure, covering with al)Out 4 inches of good, 

 rich soil, in readiness for sowing next month. 



Salsafy and Scorzonera. — Some chefs and cooks 

 are very particular about these vegetables, and 

 to suit and give then) satisfaction I would advise 

 gardeners to select a good piece of ground, and 

 bore as for other vegetables; the holes require to 

 be about 18 inches deep and 2 inches in diameter, 

 filled with fine, sandy soil. Grow one plant to 

 each hole, and lift aiid store at the end of Sep- 

 tember. Keep the ground clean throughout the 

 season by hoeing. 



Turnips.— Make a good sowing on a north 

 border or between rows of tall Peas, where they will 

 thrive in partial shade. Keep the young seedlings 

 dusted with soot and wood ashes. 



Kitchen Garden Walks.— Keep these bright 

 aiid clean, giving them a good sweeping once a 

 ^veek— Saturday for preference. Use weed-killer 

 early in the season, taking care to keep it off all 

 box edgings, &e. Endeavour to make the Kitchen 

 Garden smart and interesting. A gardener is 

 often judged by the quality of vegetables he sends 

 to the kitchen and by the appearance of his 

 Kitchen Garden, and rightly so. 



Hardy Fiiiur Garden. 



Hardy Fruiting Vines.— Where the planting of 

 hardv Vines is in coutemi)l;ition. the borders 

 should l)e made up at once. Select the warmest 

 i)Osition available on the south or south-west wall; 

 take out all the existing soil, .3 feet deep and 2 feet 



wide, place 12 inclies of coarse drainage at the 

 bottom, cover this with slates or slai)S, to prevent 

 the fine soil getting through and 1)locking the 

 drainage. Next place a layer of turves gra.ss side 

 downwards; th.en fill to the top with the following 

 compost : — o parts of l)est yellow loam obtainable, 

 ] part mortar rubble, 1 part beaten cow mainire 

 that has been thoroughly fermented, 1 barrow- 

 load of good wood ashes, with plenty of charcoal 

 into every 12 load, and use Kirk's No. 2 Grade 

 Vine Manure, as reoonnnended ; after mixing, 

 store in an open shed for a week at least, covering 

 the heap with old sacks. Thoroughly ram the new 

 soil when putting in the new border, and ])lace a 

 few slates between the new border and the old 

 soil, it not being convenient to leave the whole 

 border open, as one would with under-glass 

 borders. When i)l anting, have a tub of tepid water 

 in readiness, and place the ball of roots into the 

 tub to wash all the soil away from the roots; 

 next spread out the roots most carefully, putting 

 the soil in between each layer, bringing the sur- 

 face soil to its ])roper level. The best varieties 

 for outside are— Black Cluster, Reine Olga, red 

 when ripe and of muscat flavour, and Dutch 

 Sweetwater, pale green. Give a thorough water- 

 ing to settle the soil after planting. 



Strawberries.— Keep the beds thoroughly well 

 hoed for the benefit of the ])lants and keeiiing 

 down all seedling weeds. Give a good dressing 

 n'i soot or lime to keep the slugs away. If any ot 

 the forced crowns are required for planting, place 

 them in frames as soon as the fruit is T)ifked, and 

 give plenty of air and water; never allow the 

 Trowns to suffer from drought. 



Rasi'herries.— Do not allow any of the newly- 

 planted canes to carry fruit the first season Cut 

 the canes down to nine inches from the soil, bee 

 that all ties are secure on the fruiting canes and 

 apply a heavy mulching of manure; plaee a little 

 long'litter along the new plantations. 



Loganberries.— Apply a mulch of ihjiihh"'^^ =1"^' 

 thin out the young growths, as they generally thro\\ 

 up five or six times too many young canes. It is 

 a verv good plan to train these young eanes up 

 straight poles and keep the fruiting wood tied to 

 wires The fruit can then be easily gathered in 

 comfort and without damaging the young growths. 



Pe\ches and Nectarines.— As soon as the trees 

 are in flower protect from cold winds and frosts. 

 If bees and insects are scarce fertilize the blooms 

 about mid-day with a rabbit's tail on a cane 

 crently distributing the pollen. As soon as the truit 

 is set, disbudding will require attention daily till 

 the requisite number of shoots are left. Generally 

 speaking, the header and base growths for certiun 

 and one well placed near the centre will suftice. Do 

 not attempt to overcrop. Pick off and burn all 

 blistered leaves, and give two or three good 

 dressings of lime when watering. This will help 



the stoning. , , , . o . 



Sweet Cherries.— Protect the bloom of Sweet 

 Cherries during frosty weather, although no fruit 

 resents coddling more than Cherries. In cherry- 

 houses I always obtain a much better and stronger 

 set when the ventilators are left partly open during 

 the flowering period. A slight spray from the 

 svringe also helps them to set. Keep a sharp 

 look out for a black fly, which quickly attacks the 

 young foliage. Spiay at once with an ai)proved in- 

 secticide. 



GoosEBERHiES.— Give the ground under tlic 

 bushes a good dressing of (]uit'klime to prevent 

 attacks of caterpillars. 



