96 



IRISH GARDENING 



of tlie " Uutt-li Eiown "" and " W'liite Hnricdt 

 Beans should ))e got in for winter use. TnMt 

 these in the same manner as French Beans, hut 

 allow the crop to mature, lifting in the antunin. 

 and tie into hundles and hang up to dry. 



Jerusalem Artichokes. — Draw the soil u]) to 

 these in the same way as for Potatoes, to covet 

 the tubers, which grow up to the surface. 



Leeks. — These will be fit to plant out in drills 

 eighteen inches apart and nine inches l)etween the 

 plants; this distance is sufficient for an ordinary 

 crop. Make holes quite a foot deep, dropping the 

 l)lants in after trinnning the tails and long roots; 

 add just as much soil as covers the roots. Little 

 more attention will be required apart from 

 hoeing occasionally to keep weeds in check. 



Peas. — Late varieties, such as " Gladstone," 

 should be sown early in the month, and for later 

 sowings use early sorts up to the end of June; 

 these will have a better chance to come to 

 maturity than the others. 



Sweet Corn. — Plants raised in boxes and 

 hardened off may be ])lanted out in a warm, 

 sheltered position, two and a half feet between 

 the lines and eighteen inches between the plants, 

 watering well afterwards. 



Turnips. — Make a sowing early in the month, 

 and also about the end, of " Golden Ball." As 

 soon as they are throiigh the soil dust with soot 

 to check the fly, \\hich plays havoc with the 

 turnips this month; encourage a quick growth 

 with a])plications of Avater and a free use of the 

 hoe. Sow " Dwarf Tct) Swede " for winter use; 

 these may be sown where early Potatoes have been 

 cleared off the ground Give the soil a dressing 

 of artificial manure and grub it in before sowing. 



The Frutt Garden. 



The weather during tlie whole of April was, T 

 l)elieve, the worst for many years. Rain was 

 registered here every day but five during the 

 month, accompanied with cold, strong winds. The 

 show of blossom on Pears, Plums and Damsons 

 was verv promising, most rif which have been 

 destroyed, and a great amount of danjage has 

 been caused to the young shoots. Trees on walls 

 facing east, and those in the open, have suffered 

 most, scarcely a fruit renuxining, and on soutli 

 walls a very "light crop may be expected. It is 

 to be hoped the Apple blossom will not share the 

 same fate. The pinching and regulation of the 

 young growths will claim a deal of attention this 

 iuonth. Shoots left for extension should be tied 

 in to the wall, safe against the wind. 



If time can be spared the shoots on Gooseberry 

 and Red Currants may be pinched back to three or 

 four leaves from their base, especially in the centre 

 of the bushes; finer fruits will. result from tliis and 

 will l)e more conveniently picked. 



Strawberry runners for early planting, also for 

 forcing, should be layered into small pots plunged 

 in the ground. Choose the first plant of the 

 runner from yomig vigorous stock, pegging them 

 into position; when well rooted sever them from 

 the parent plants and remove to an open position 

 with" a hard bottom; the earlier they are planted 

 out the better, if the ground is vacant. It is a 

 good plan to ])lant out those that were forced in 

 pots, after hardening them off, on an early border. 

 Should a favourable September follow a few ripe 

 fruits are sometimes picked, and much appreci- 

 ated on the dessert table. These plants will give 

 the earliest picking the following season and can 

 then be discarded. Keep a sharp look out for 

 aphis on the points of the young shoots of 

 Cherries and Plums, also other insect pests on 



.\l)pl('S. A few minutes sj^'ut with a sjjrayer 

 when the first attack is notici'd will save much 

 time later on. 



Wasps are very destructive on ri])e fruit later 

 on, and every queen killed now means a nest less 

 to deal with. Bottles half filled with sour l)eer 

 or porter hung up about the Pear walls, where 

 they frequent a good deal, will attract them. Hoe 

 the ground round fruit trees to keep weeds down 

 and to act as a mulch in dry weather. 



The Pleasure Grounds. 



Bedding out will still be in progress. All sub- 

 jects may safely l>e put out in their quarters now. 

 Plants requiring them should l)e staked at once, 

 afterwards watering well to settle the soil about 

 the roots. Run the hoe between the plants the 

 following day to prevent the escape of moisture 

 ))y evaporation. 



As the frames become vacant of the bedding 

 stock preparations must be made to raise stock 

 for autmnn planting for next spring display. 

 Seeds should be sown now of Wallflowers, 

 Myosotis, Sweet Williams and Aubrietias. Sow 

 broadcast in the frames, covering lightly, watering 

 afterwards, and place the lights on, shading until 

 germination takes place, then remove the lights 

 altogether. When the seedlings are large enoueh 

 transplant them on the -reserve border in drills 

 nine inclies apart, where thev will make suitaljle 

 plants for transferring to thp beds in October. 

 Aubrietias of the more choice varieties may be 

 increased from cuttings inserted in sandy soil in 

 a cold frame or inider hand-lights on a shady 

 border. When well rooted treat them as above. 

 Dahlias can safely be put out early in the month; 

 It is better to ])iace the stakes in position first, 

 planting afterwards, tying up the shoots as the 

 work proceeds and give a soaking of water. 



Herbaceous Pl.\nts. — Many of these will be at 

 their best .this month, others will be going over; 

 the la,tter should have the decayed flowers re- 

 moved. Where bare spaces occur fill them up 

 witli anniuds. 



Phloxes, Asters, &c., are very thirsty plants, 

 requiring plenty moisture at the roots. Water 

 these well and keep the hoe going amongst them. 



Roses are much later this year to break 

 away owing to the cold, wet weather experi- 

 enced in April. It is in seasons like this that 

 aphis attacks them so bad. Deal with this on the 

 first appearance with a timely spray; have an eye 

 to any curled leaves at the same time, where 

 vou are sure to find the caterpillar; hand-picking 

 is the best remedy for these. 



Sweet Peas planted out in A))ril will be giving a 

 nice lot of flowers; all these should be picked off 

 regularly, as if allowed to form seeds the plants 

 will soon exhaust themselves. Thin out the 

 shoots if at all overcrowded. Regular watering 

 and hoeing should be carried out in dry weather 

 and an occasional dressing of soot and some 

 approved artificial manure be given. 



Azaleas and Rhododendrons passing out of 

 flower should, if labour can be spared, have the 

 seed vessels removed; in any case make an en- 

 deavour to go over those recently planted, also 

 the more choice varieties. Any pruning required 

 should be done now, when they will break away 

 all rieht at th.is ti)ne. Some of the recent intro- 

 ductions are verv fine, such as Pink Pearl, which 

 should l)e planted in partial shade; Alice. Cynthia. 

 Mrs. Stirling and Carona giving huge trusses of 

 flowers. If time could be spared soakings of 

 liquid manure wotild encourage strong, healthy 

 growth. 



