IRISH GARDENING 



63 



and autumn. Allow 18 indies between the drills, 

 and thin out to 9 inches between the plants. I 

 generally make two sowings in the year, which 

 gives me a constant picking. 



Seakale. — Cuttings taken from the roots when 

 lifted for forcing will be ready to plant out now 

 in good, rich soil. Place them in drills 2^ feet 

 apart and H feet between the roots; when growth 

 i.. well started, reduce the number of shoots to the 

 strongest one, which will form a good crown before 

 the winter. 



Sweet Corn. — This is a vegetable not generally 

 grown, and it deserves some attention. The cobs 

 are nnich appreciated at table, adding variety to 

 the menu. Its cultivation presents no difficulties. 

 Seed should be sown about the last week of April, 

 in gentle heat, in boxes of light soil, about 

 2 inches apart; when well al)ove the soil, gradually 

 liarden them off, planting them out on a warm 

 border; the ground should be fairly rich, and well 

 cultivated; give abundance of water in dry 

 weather to encourage quick growth; put stakes 

 to the plants in good time as a support against 

 wind. Each plant, if well grown, will produce 

 several cobs, which should l)e cut before they get 

 tough or discoloured. 



Turnips. — Regular, small sowings should be 

 made to keep up a continual supply of crisp roots 

 for table. 



General Eemarks. — The hoe should be kept 

 going among growing crops — not only to kill 

 weeds, but to aerate the soil among the plants. 

 Attend to the thinning of seedlings in good time, 

 thus preventing overcrowding. 



Where box edgings are used in the Kitchen 

 Garden, now is the time to have them thinned. 

 Clipping with the shears takes up a lot of time, 

 and for some years I have used an old scythe for 

 the purpose of getting over the work much 

 Quicker; hoe the walks, and keep everything neat 

 and tidy. 



The Fruit G.arden. 



Prospects are very good for the coming year in 

 the Fruit Garden. Apple and Pear trees are well 

 studded with fruit-buds, and although some of the 

 varieties were far advanced in February, the cold 

 change early in March has retarded them con- 

 siderably; this is all to the good. Pears, Plums, 

 and Cherries on walls will require the protection 

 afforded them until well set, when it should be 

 cleared away. Although most of the pressing work 

 in the fruit quarters ought to be finished, there 

 may still be arrears of hoeing and mulching to 

 l)e carried out owing to l)ad weather; this should 

 ))e completed as soon as possible. ShoTild dry 

 veather prevail, late-planted trees may require 

 watering, especially those against walls; even in 

 sliowery weather wall-trees should be examined, 

 as in some cases the rain does not reach them in 

 sufficient quantity. Apply a light mulch after- 

 wards to conserve the moisture. Newly-planted 

 trees should now be pruned hard back to a bud 

 pointing in the desired direction; the ultimate 

 8hai>e of the tree often depends on this first 

 pruning. Grafting may be completed early in the 

 month ; look over them occasionally, and see that 

 the wax has not run, if so. apply another coat at 

 once; where clay is used, damp it well, and fill 

 up any cracks that may have occurred through 

 drving winds. 



Peach and Nectarine trees under glass will re- 

 quire disbudding as soon as the fruits are set; 

 this operation should be carried out piecemeal to 



avoid a check; start at the top of the tree, going 

 over a portion every day till completed. Partially 

 thin the fruits wiien the size of peas, this will 

 ease the strain of stoning; it is not profitable to 

 over-crop; endeavour to have the fruit distriliuted 

 evenly over the tree, from 9 inches to a foot apart; 

 no hard forcing should be attempted during the 

 period of stoning, it is a cause of fruit dropping. 

 Examine the borders, and if necessary give a good 

 soaking of water; I always sprinkle some slaked 

 Jime over them before this watering, which is of 

 great assistance to all stone fruit, the water 

 sliould be as near the same temperature as the 

 house as possible, to avoid chilling the borders; 

 afterwards apply a mulch of stable manure. 



Cherries on walls are subject to attacks of 

 Green Flv on the points of the shoots, and should 

 be checked at once. Syringe with quassia extract 

 or Katakilla Powder dissolved in rain-water, using 

 force to dislodge them. Look over Strawberry 

 nets on wet days, and repair any breaches; these 

 will be required soon, and it is well to have them 

 ready. 



The Pleasure Grounds. 



I think April is one of the most pleasant months 

 Of the year in the Pleasure Grounds. With trees 

 and shrubs bursting into new growth and spring 

 flowering plants in full bloom, one seems to take 

 a new interest in their charge. Every effort should 

 be taken to have the grounds and Flower Garden 

 kept neat and attractive. If, as advised some time 

 ago. lawn mowers were cleaned and overhauled, 

 ready for use. plenty of work will l)e found for 

 them now onwards. Lawns that have had regular 

 sweeping and rolling during the winter will give 

 little trouble in mowing; if not, go over them 

 with the birch broom and roller before the first 

 cutting. Beds and borders will want hoeing in 

 dry weather, breaking up the crust after the heavy 

 rains, it will also counteract the effects of drying 

 winds. When the soil is in a suitable condition, 

 sow hardy annuals where they are to flower; sow 

 thinly, and cover lightly with fine soil, protect- 

 ing from the ravages of slugs. Half-hardy annuals 

 sown in March will require pricking off into 

 frames or boxes. When they have taken to the 

 new soil plenty of ventilation is needed to en- 

 courage stocky growth. 



Perennials may be sown towards the end of 

 the month, and, when large enough, planted ojit 

 on the reserve border, where they ought to make 

 good stuff for autumn planting. 



Lobelia cardinalis wintered in cold frames may 

 be split up into suitable pieces for bedding out 

 next month. A frame made up with light, leafy 

 soil will accommodate them, kept close till growth 

 gets a start ; they will lift with good bulbs at 

 planting time with little check. 



Complete the pruning of Roses early in the 

 month; all danger from frost will be over before 

 the dormant Inids burst into growth. During the 

 month of February Roses in this locality made 

 quite inches of growth, but when pruning, cut 

 back to dormant buds. Harden off gradually such 

 bedding plants as Geraniums. Fuchsias. &c.. 

 finally placing them in a sheltered position out- 

 of-doors at the end of the month. 



Gladioli may be planted now if the ground 

 is ready for their reception. If to be used amongst 

 other bedding plants, and the positions are 

 occupied, they may be started in pots or boxes 

 and planted out later; it is unnecessary to force 

 them in any way. Continue to insert Dahlia 



