92 



IRISH GARDENING 



transplants l)a(lly in the summer, and it is a <iO(.d 

 l)lan to sow tlie seeds so that transplanting will 

 not be necessary. 



TnixNiNti C'rops.— A favourite method with 

 allotment holders is to thin ont such crops as 

 Parsnips, Turnips, and Carrots, so that with the 

 linal thinnin<; small roots are ohtained for soui)s. 

 In the case of Carrots, which are a difficult crop 

 to grow on allotments, thinning shoidd l)e pro- 

 ceeded with cautiously until it is seen what damage 

 tiu' carrot ilv has done. 



I.KiiJin Manurk.— The value of liquid manure is 

 well known for stinudating crops. For Peas, Celery 

 and Leeks it is invaluuhle. A bag of hen manure 

 in a tub of water can be reconnnended. It should 

 not. however, lie api)lied too strong, and occasion- 

 ally a change can be given with liquid made from 

 cow nuunire, also soot. 



Planting.— There are usually a number of plants 

 that want either transplanting into small beds 

 or planting out into the open ground this month. 

 Enthusiasts are often seen planting out in heavy 

 rain, and apparently enjoying themselves, but to 

 l)lant such crops as Cauliflowers and other greens 

 between the showers avoids a check in the growth 

 and saves any trouble in watering afterwards. 

 Watering becomes a nuisance where, as is often 

 the ease, it must be carried a considerable dis- 

 tance. Other crops that may be planted out are 

 Vegetable Marrows and Tonuitoes. The latter 

 crop is nuich of a speculation planted outside. 

 Quite good crops are grown on allotments in 

 frames, and I have seen crops growing in small 

 greenhouses on the plots of quite surpassing ex- 

 cellence. When they are growing outside it is 

 important to make a start with good, strong plants, 

 l)lacing them in a good, sininy position. Farmyard 

 manure should not be given, but old turf broken 

 up is good for planting in, to which a very little 

 superphosphate or bone meal has been mixed. 

 Afterwards, when the fruit has formed, liquid 

 niaiuire may be given. The plants require stakes 

 if they are growing away from fences or walls. 

 Cucun'ibers are occasionally, but rarely, grown in 

 cold frames on allotments. 



Herbs.— An attempt was made to revive herb 

 growing in small gardens, but it did not succeed. 

 With the spread of patent, medicine and dried 

 sage, &c., in packets the housewife's remedy for a 

 cough mixture is somewhat aespised. I came 

 across a plotholder recently who had some thirty 

 varieties of herl)S, and wiio appeared very well 

 acquainted with the properties and uses of each. 

 In France and Belgium all the farmhouses ap- 

 peared to have bundles of dried herbs roped across 

 the roofs of barns. Plotholders who wish to dry 

 Sage, Mint and Thyme should collect the leaves 

 when the flowers are beginning to open. The 

 herl)S are then at their best. Collect the leaves 

 when the plants are dry and on sunny days, re- 

 moving brown and withered leaves. Get the 

 plants dried as quickly as possible to preserve the 

 colour of the leaves, and also the herbs will last 

 much longer. A good wind helps the drying, and 

 when hung outdoors the l)undles should l)e brought 

 into a shed to finish drying if rain is feared, or the 

 bundles may be left to hang indoors, where they 

 can remain and l)e used during the winter months 

 as required. 



The Flower Border.— To obtain good plants of 

 W^alltiowers and Sweet William for planting in the 

 border the seeds should be sown before the end of 

 Jiuie. Summer bedding plants, such as Gera- 

 niums, Marguerites and Calceolarias should be 

 planted out. Snapdragons are useful plants for an 



allotment (lower border. Of the three sections, 

 tall, intermediate and dwarf growing varieties, the 

 intermediate are most suital)le for this purpose. 

 When the Snapdragon is treated as an Annual the 

 seeds are sown in heat in February, but plants 

 can usually be y)urchased now. The colours are 

 rich and varied, and the plants contimie flowering 

 until the frost destroys the blooms. Dahlias and 

 similar tall growing plants will require staking, as 

 also will Sweet Peas. The stakes should be placed 

 to Sweet Peas early. Annuals should be given 

 plenty of room to develop. Q. H. O. 



The Month's Work. 



Midland and Northern Counties. 



By Mr. F. Streeter, Gardener to B. H. Barton, 



Esq., D.L., Straffan House, Straffan, 



Co. Kildare. 



The Kitchen Garden. 



Asparagus. — As soop. as the early Peas become 

 plentiful there will not be the need for so nuich 

 Asparagus. Gradually allow the strongest shoots 

 to develoj) and cease cutting altogether towards the 

 end of the month. Thin out all weak growths and 

 give sufficient support to protect from strong wind. 

 Keei) the beds thoroughly clean from weeds and 

 apply a slight dressing of artificial manure well 

 watered in. An occasional dressing of salt 

 through the smnmer months is most beneficial. Do 

 not cut any shoots from the new beds for the 

 first two or three seasons, otherw'ise the crowns 

 will always prove weak and unsatisfactory. 



Globe Artichokes. — Continue to give liberal 

 soakings of manure, water ; cut the chokes quite 

 young and do not allow any to open. Jerusalem 

 Artichokes should have their tops pinched out tt 

 five feet; this will cause the side shoots to develop. 



Broad Beans. — Watch for the dreaded black lly 

 on the Beans; innnediately pinch the tops out and 

 burn them, also i)inch the tops out after they iiav.^ 

 set three or four trusses. A good mulching of 

 long litter will greatly benefit this crop. Wlien 

 required for exhibition go carefully over the plot 

 selecting the straightest pods. Stake the plants 

 and thin the pods down to one or two. Cut the 

 Beans early on the morning of the exhibition and 

 damp them over before leaving the tent. They 

 nnist be perfectly straight and qiute young. 



Carrots. — Where young Carrots are reriuired as 

 a separate dish for the dining room, make a small 

 sowing of a stump-rooted variety, sow thinly and 

 hoe between the lines as soon as they are weJ up. 

 Continue to hoe and thin the main sowings; dust 

 over the whole beds with fresh soot duiing 

 showery weather. If the ground gets baked at all 

 a])ply a nndching of finely sifted mushroom ciung. 

 See that the tops of the carrots are kept well 

 covered, otherwise they will soon green — a very 

 great defect— and keep a sharp look out for green 



fly. 



Celery. — Continue to plant out all Celeries as 

 they become fit; do not allow them to become 

 drawn; jjlant firmly and give thorough i-oakings 

 througliout tlie growing season ; dust the foliage 

 every ten days with good fresh soot. Prick out 

 the latest sowings; these will prove most useful 

 next spring for soups, &c. 



CoLEwoRTS. — Sow sceds of this most meful and 



