94 



IRISH GARDENING 



putting on the nets. Wlicro early foreing is cdu- 

 tenii)lated next season, try and procure tlu' 

 earliest runners that sliow. Prepare the re- 

 quired number of ."J-ineli ]X)ts and fill with three 

 parts good fibrous loam, one ])art fiaked leaf soil, 

 and one part coarse sand, witli a dash of soot. 

 Take the first runner on each line and remove 

 the remainder. Place a small stone close \ip to 

 the nuiner to keep it in position. This is much 

 better than pegs. See that the soil is kept moist. Be 

 most careful wlien picking the fruit not to step on 

 the young plants. In heavy, wet ground, where the 

 berries are showing signs of rotting, try and raise 

 the foliage about the fruit with the aid of three 

 sticks and a strand of matting or wires made for 

 thiS' purpose. This will allow the air to circulate 

 amongst the fruit and thus save the crop. Pick 

 the berries for presei'ving or bottling perfectly dry. 

 Weigh before taking into the house, and keep a 

 record of all fruit sent in, both dessert and culi- 

 nary. 



Sweet Cherries.— Where Cherries have set heavy 

 crops, they will require careful thinning, especi- 

 ally the earliest varieties. Stop and regulate all 

 the shoots as they grow. This will assist the fruit 

 to swell evenly. Keep all the leaders well tied in. 

 Syringe the trees heavily to kill all aphis, and 

 where the maggot is troublesome go over and hand 

 pick them all. As soon as the fruit shows colour, 

 place the nets over the trees well away from the 

 fruit. See that no tree suffers' from drought, and 

 apply a middling early to -keep the soil moist 

 during the time the fruit is ripe. 



Early Apple Trees. — The earliest Apples, such as 

 Irish Peach, The Gladstone, Beauty of Bath, and 

 Lady Sudeley, have set their fruits in clusters. 

 These must be carefully thinned, the object being 

 to obtain a good crop of first quality fruit, as an 

 early Dessert Apple must be good and well ripened 

 before it is thought much of when soft fruit is 

 plentiful. Thin the culinary varieties as early as 

 possible. This will pi'eveut waste later on, besides 

 giving the trees a miich better chance to form bxids 

 for next season's crops. Be on the alert for all insect 

 j)ests, taking steps to destroy them at once. A good 

 nudching of short manure will assist l)earing trees 

 and a few good soakings of maniire water of 

 medium strength. 



Pears. — The earliest varieties of Pears are now 

 in a suitable condition for thinning. Allow the 

 trees to carry an average crop, and assist with 

 nudchings of short manure. Attend to . the 

 stopping of the shoots and tieing in the leaders. 

 Give heavy syringings to prevent attacks of red 

 spider and thrip. A little nitrate of soda given dur- 

 ing hot weather might be given with advantage, 

 dissolved in the water 2 ounces to the gallon. 



Plums. — Where Plums have set heavy crops th^y 

 will require severe thinning to obtain the best re- 

 sults. Give a few good waterings with lime water 

 to assist the stoning period. If aphis is troul)le- 

 some syringe with Quassia Extract. Give a good 

 syringing with clean water immediately after 

 using the insecticide. Mulch the trees and attend 

 to stopping and training. 



Hardy Vines. — Where the Vines are making 

 good growth they will require . stopping at the 

 second leaf beyond the l)unch, and the laterals 

 stopped at the first leaf. Do not attempt too heavy 

 a crop, 12 bunches being pleiity for a rod of 12 feet 

 run. Cover the allotted space with healthy foliage. 

 Keep the shoots securely tied and water thoroughly 

 when needed, bearing in mind that a white- 

 skinned Grape requires mucli more water than a 

 black. 



Peaches and Nectarines. — Continue to disbud till 



the necessary shoots are left, and thin the fruit 

 to about one per foot run of the tree. Too heavy 

 a crop soon damages the constitution of the tree, 

 making them easy i)rey for red si)ider, &c. Kee]) 

 the trees well syringed with clean, tepid water, to 

 keep all insects at bay. Give several good soakings 

 of lime water, and apjjly a slight mulching to well- 

 established trees. 



Figs. — Carefully regulate the growing shoots of 

 all Figs. Keep the leading growths well tied in, 

 and pinch the side shoots at the fourth leaf, which 

 will cause the eud)ryo fruits to swell away. On no 

 account must they be allowed to suffer from want 

 of water, and give a good daily syringing. Keep 

 all the suckers away from the roots, and give them 

 as nuich light and sun as possible. 



Gooseberries. — Cordon Gooseberries will require 

 rather close stopping. Keep the borders well tied 

 in to the wires, and thin the fruit for use in the 

 kitchen. Gooseberries grown this way are much 

 easier handled than the ordinary bushes. Keep all 

 suckers removed, and apply a slight nudching of 

 good manure. 



Red and White Currants. — The crop of Currants 

 is greatly improved if the trees are g'ue over now, 

 shortening the growths to allow the sun and air to 

 reach the fruit. Let the leading shoots continue 

 growing, occasionally" nuining up a fresh growth 

 from the base to take the place of the old growths 

 after the fruit is gathered. A good soaking of 

 manure water is advantageous at this season. 

 Place the nets in position as soon as they show 

 colour. Black Currants should be encouraged to 

 make basal shoots, and will not require stopping 

 unless growing too sappy and strong. 



Flower Garden and Pleasure Grounds. 



Summer Bedding. — Finish planting out the 

 tender subjects as quickly as possible. They 

 will require constant attention for some 

 time to have them at their best as soon as 

 possible. If the sun is very powerful, a slight 

 shade will help them to become established 

 in their new quarters. Apply a slight mulching 

 of finely-sifted leaf soil and keep all the beds 

 thoroughly watered in the evenings. When water- 

 ing Begonias keep the water from the foliage. See 

 that all standards and Dot plants are securely 

 fastened to good stakes, giving several ties. Watch 

 that the balls of soil from large pots are not allowed 

 to become dry. When the planting is finished 

 place the surplus plants of each bed in the reserve 

 garden in case of any going off. Where Antirr- 

 hinums and other plants are planted to colour 

 and rogues appear, keep the flower picked off. The 

 single East Lothian stocks should have their flower 

 spikes removed. It gives the beds and borders a 

 nuich richer appearance. Where extra good speci- 

 mens are required for 1921 season, a start should 

 be made at once. For Standards keep the leading 

 shoot growing to the desired height. 



Spring Bedding. — Prick out the seedling Wall- 

 flowers in rows 12 inches a])art as they l)ecome 

 ready to get them well-established before the hot 

 weather sets in. Aubrietias, Daisies, Polyanthus, 

 Pulmonarias, Silenes, and Stocks require a sluidy 

 })art of the garden, away from strong sun rays. 

 Myosotis is l)etter in the 'open. This is very sub- 

 ject to mildew. If it appears give a good dusting 

 of flowers of sidphur. The long spurred Aqui- 

 legias should be grown in quantity for cutting. 

 They can be had in many shades. 



Vases and Tubs. — If the plants for vases have 

 been well prepared they will make a show at once. 

 Shake them well out, and run a wire luider the 

 rim of the vase to train the hanging portions to. 



