IRISH GARDENING 



11 



Onions. — Hoe the various beds of Onions as 

 often as possible. Give a weekly dressing of soot 

 and salt. Slightly thin the spring-sown plants as 

 they become fit. The autunni-sown plants are 

 niaking rapid progress, and lequire constant atten- 

 tion. Should they require water, give thorough 

 soakings. The large bul))S will greatly benefit from 

 warm sprays in hot, dry weather during the even- 

 ing. 



J^EEKS. — Leeks, to produce large specimens, 

 should now be transferred to their final quarters. 

 Use narrow trenches as for Celery. Allow o feet 

 between the rows and 15 inches from plant to 

 plant. Plant with a good ball and firmly, and 

 water thoroughly. Leeks require to be blanched 

 as they grow. A small collar of brown paper 

 should be placed over each plant at once. Good 



Lettuce.— Continue to sow and plant according to 

 requirements. 



Turnips. — Make a sowing on a north border for 

 succession. Give a good dressing of wood ashes 

 and soot. Water this crop overhead when the sun 

 is .shining on the leaves, if any difficulty is experi- 

 enc-ed in obtaining good Turnips. If the Turnip 

 fly is troublesome u.se artificial shading. 



Parsley. — Plant out spring-sown plants as they 

 become sufficiently hardened. 



H.\RDY Fruit Garden. 

 Strawberries.— If the weather continues fine 

 and warm give the Strawberry beds a slight dress- 

 ing of quick-acting artificial manure. Thoroughly 

 hoe and clean the beds. Then apply a good layer 



Rhouodendron ledifolium with Myosotideum nobile and Primulas 



at Mt. I'SHER. 



Leeks may be grown in deeply-trenched ground. 

 Make a hole with a dibber and drop a plant into 

 each hole. They require generous treatment. 



Radishes. — Sow these on prepared borders 

 according to requirements, allowing twenty-one 

 days for Turnip varieties and twenty-eight for the 

 long types. Give plenty of water to obtain nice, 

 good quality roots. 



Celery. — Mark the ground out for the Celery 

 trenches as soon as possible. Take out the soil to 

 a depth of 18 inches; break up the bottom and fill 

 to within a few inches of the top with well-decayed 

 nianine. Make it firm, and place about 4 inches 

 of soil over the manure. JiCvel the soil between 

 the rows, and plant with Lettuce. Allow a dis- 

 tance of 5 feet between the trenches. Plant one 

 row in each trench, and 15 inches between the 

 plants. When the plants are thoroughly hardened 

 lift them with a good ball and plant very firm. 

 Give a thorough soaking of water and a good dust- 

 ing of soot. On no account must they ever become 

 dry. 



of clean straw for the berries to rest on. Some 

 gardeners reconnnend using litter from the yards 

 for this purpose, but if the treatment in previous 

 calendars has been followed, use the clean straw — 

 results will justify. If this is done before the 

 flowers open it will greatly help against frost. If 

 the weather looks like a stiff frost do not hesitate 

 to cover the entire plant. As soon as this is 

 finished place the nets in position. 



Morello Cherries. — As soon as the fruit is set 

 disbudding and stopping must be attended to, as 

 growth is very rapid, and the trees quickly become 

 a mass of shoots. If by any chance too many 

 shoots were trained in, pinch them back to three 

 leaves. This will help to form fruiting spurs. 

 Watch carefully for any attacks of aphis. Spray 

 with Quassia Extract on the first appearance, 

 afterwards spraying with soft water thoroughly. 

 Make certain the trees do not get at all dry. 



Newly-grafted Trees.— Carefully examine all 

 fresh grafts. When the scions have made several 

 inches of fresh growth the ties may be slightly 



