IRISH GARDENING 



'95 



Tie fairly firm, otherwise the wind will work havoc 

 with the stems. They require plenty of feedincj 

 to keep them bright." A sprinkling of artificial 

 manure once a week, whether it is wet or dry; do 

 not neglect if it rains, as very seldom we get suffi- 

 cient rain to wet the ball of soil. Tubs that are 

 sunk in the grass and turfed over also require 

 similar treatment to the vases. Never allow them 

 to become dry at the root. 



Banksian Roses. — The Banksian Eoses require 

 thinning after they have finished flowering. Take 

 a few of the older" shoots out and train tlie others 

 thinly over the allotted space, tieing in the new 

 wood to flower next season. Do not allow them to 

 suffer from drought during hot weather. 



RosKS. — Where extra good Roses are required 

 disbud down to the best bud on each shoot. Take 

 away dead flowers as they become finished. This 

 will hasten the next fiower. In the case of H. T.s 

 keep the beds and borders clean from weeds and 

 suckers. A dressing of artificial manure will 

 greatly assist the quality of the blooms. Watch for 

 and destroy all insect pests. 



Rockeries. — Many subjects siu'h as the Aubrie- 

 tias, &e., are greatly improved l)y clipping off the 

 seed pods after flowering. Many ]jlants will re- 

 quire good soakings. Remove all dead flowers and 

 leaves, and keep the whole neat and clean. 

 Er'nius alpinus is a delightful subject for terrace 

 steps and crazy paths. Where it is intended to 

 increase the stock save some of the seed, and mixed 

 with soil and placed in the crevices, &c., it soon 

 germinates. 



Climbers. — Climbers on walls, pillars, pergolas, 

 and arches will need constant attention, otherwise 

 they will soon become an entangled mass. Train 

 the shoots evenly and securely. Ornamental Vines 

 and Climbing Roses grow very fast and need look- 

 ing to every week. 



Carnations. — To obtain first quality blooms of 

 Border Carnations they will require severe dis- 

 l)udding. Carefully stake and tie each shoot, then 

 apply a mulch of spent hops or well-decayed 

 manure sifted through a fine sieve. These popidar 

 flowers are fast regaining favour. Should green fly 

 prove troublesome, spray with Nicotine Extract 

 according to directions. The Perpetuals that have 

 l)een planted out will require constant attention, 

 with tieing, disl)udding, and feeding , tfie newer 

 race AUwoodi is making a great display. 



Sweet Peas. — As the Sweet Peas near the top cf 

 their present sticks add longer sticks to prevent 

 them getting damaged. Feeding may be carried 

 on as soon as the first flowers begin to open. Keep 

 all blooms picked, and none allowed to form seed 

 pods. Where exhibition blooms are required keep 

 the side shoots removed and the leaders tied to the 

 stake. Mulch with short manure and give an occa- 

 sional spraying with clear, soot water. If green fly 

 is present dust the tips well with tobacco powder. 

 Watch the Press accounts of the various exhil)i- 

 tions. The best varieties are generally conunented 

 nil, and the novelties given an honest description. 

 To put up a good vase of 20 spikes at the very least 

 it will take .'lO plants of each variety. Select well- 

 placed, clean, bright flowers on long stems, and 

 arrange so that each flower can be seen. Never 

 include a poor flower, as the judge is on the look- 

 out for faults and defects. Keen amateurs are 

 generally very hard to defeat for quality, but often 

 arrange too thickly or put in an extra spike or two. 

 TjAwns. — Continue to mow weekly, and keep all 

 grass edges and verges trinuned and in good order. 

 If the lawns are showing signs of distress, give a 

 slight dressing of guano in showery weather. 

 Keep the roller at work on tennis courts, cricket 



pitches, and croquet lawns. Sulphate of Ammonia 

 applied sparingly will destroy the weeds and en- 

 courage the fine grasses. The grass seed sown in 

 April will })e quite ready for the scythe by this 

 time. 



Herb.\ceous Borders. — Herbaceous plants and 

 annuals are growing very fast. Get the staking 

 done as quickly as possible. Place small hazel 

 twigs for the front lines and rows to keep the 

 plants in an upright position. Cover the ground, 

 if possible, and remove all dead flower spikes as 

 they pass out of flower. Many of the strong, tall- 

 growing sul)jects will require stout stakes driven 

 firmly into the ground. Thin the seedlings before 

 they become drawn, allowing them plenty of room. 



Bulbs.— Make quite sure that the bulb foliage 

 has died down before cutting the grass. Daffodils, 

 &c., will ripen if left in the ground in this country, 

 but I think it is best to take up and ripen the 

 Darwin and May flowering Tulips. Give them a 

 dusting of lime and sulphur before storing away. 

 See that all are correctly labelled and secure from 

 rats and mice. 



Southern and Western Counties, 



By J. Matthews, The Gardens, Tourin, Cappoquin, 

 Co. Waterford. 

 The Kitchen Garden. 

 The weather in the early part of May was not 

 ideal for the progress of crops in this department, 

 and following such a bad April the promise of an 

 early season has turned out quite the reverse. 

 Operations will prol)ably be in arrears owing to 

 so much wet w^eather, and every dry day must be 

 taken full advantage of to bring work up-to-date. 



Asparagus.— The cutting of the shoots should 

 not continue after the third week of the month, 

 so as to allow the full development of the crowns 

 for next season's supply. Continue the dressings 

 of soot and ap])lications of liquid manin-e for the 

 next two months. Supports will be required to 

 keep the stems from blowing about, causing 

 damage to the crowns. 



Br\ssicas. — Cabbage, Cauliflower, Brussels 

 Sprouts, Broccoli, Kale and Savoys will require 

 planting out in their quarters as they become 

 large enough. Choose showery days for this work 

 if possible, but should the weather be dry a good 

 plan is to puddle the roots in a mixture of cow 

 manure and clay, coating them well; this sav^s 

 a deal of time watering. Broccoli requires very 

 firm ground, rich but not recently manured; soft, 

 loose soil promotes too much growth to stand 

 through a severe winter. Where Strawberries 

 have occupied the ground for two or three years 

 and are being disposed of presents a capital 

 situation; the only preparation required is to 

 clear of^ the old plants and weeds. Allow a space 

 of two and a half feet between the drills and two 

 feet from plant to plant. Should the ground be 

 very hard use a crowbar to make the holes or 

 plant with a spade. 



Celery. — Plant out later batches as they get 

 large enough in the trenches, prepared as advised 

 last month. This is a crop that requires a free 

 use of the water pot in dry weather, otherwise 

 results will be disappointing ; dust well with soot 

 from time to time in the mornings when the 

 leaves are wet. 



French Be.\ns. — Make successional sowings to 

 keep up the supply; spray well in the evenings 

 to ward off Red Spider, should the weather be 

 hot and dry. Early in the month a large sowing 



