io8 



IRISH GARDENING 



Allotments 



Allotments have been engaging the attention of 

 the authorities concerned in Enghmd. Ai)i)arently 

 rather more allotments have been given up than 

 llie circnnistances jnstified. and this, combined 

 with the world shortage of food, has again drawn 

 attention to this sonrce of supply. Individual 

 necessity will be the greatest factor in keeping 

 allotments inrder cultivation. The high prices of 

 vegetables, and especially one of the staple foods 

 like Potatoes, will force men to procure vacant 

 land to grow this crop alone. In Belfast many men 

 have taken vacant plots, in addition to the one 

 they already cultivated, for the purpose of growing 

 Potatoes. Men accustomed to little leisure, and 

 finding their working hours considerably reduced, 

 see in allotments their spare time can be profitably 

 employed. The greatest factor operating against 

 allotments generally is the lack of proper organisa- 

 tion. Plotholders generally have laboured their 

 land under sufferance, and treated it more or less 

 as a side show. Allotments have now become a 

 lecognised part of the connnunity at large, and the 

 holders only ask for fair treatment. 



Potatoes. — The early Potatoes in the North arc 

 not — at the time of writing — approaching maturity, 

 and the season is not likely to be an early one. 

 Generally, however, the crop looks satisfactory and 

 healthy, so far as the haulms are concerned. It is 

 strange that on allotments. Potatoes are often 

 neglected with regard to cultivation between the 

 rows during the growing season. The crop itself, 

 to a certain extent, keeps the weeds down, so per- 

 haps this is the cause of not hoeing and harrowing 

 the surface. Potatoes on lazy beds, and where they 

 are planted rather closely together between the 

 rows, should be moidded carefully. In the case of 

 the rows. Potatoes should not be earthed up to a 

 point like the roof of a house, or the rain will be 

 thrown off between the rows. The top shovdd be 

 left so that the rain may penetrate to the roots. 

 When the early Potatoes are being lifted select suit- 

 able seed Potatoes for next season. It is a great 

 advantage to have properly sprouted Potatoes for 

 early planting. The selected seed shoidd be placed 

 in the light, so that the sets may be greened. 



General Work. — The showery weather during 

 Jiuie was very stiitable for planting generally. 

 Leeks are an extremely useful crop for an allot- 

 ment. They require a well-manured groinad for 

 good development, but "if the land was manured 

 well for early Potatoes the position will be usefid. 

 There are many ways of planting Leeks. One of 

 the best is to make a good hole with a long dibber 

 and drop the Leeks in. The roots soon take hold 

 of the new soil, and rain gradually fills the hole, 

 so that there will be a fair proportion of the Leek 

 blanched. If Celery has not yet been planted out, 

 it shoidd now be in the trenches as soon as pos- 

 sible. Savoys, Late Cabbages, Cauliflowers, and 

 Broccoli should also be planted out if not already 

 done. The groimd should be made firm for late 

 Broccoli and such crops which have to stand the 

 winter. As Shallots and Potato Onions ripen they 

 should be taken up and dried. Turn the base of 

 the bull)S to the smi. This is the part which re- 

 quires drying most, and if the plants are left on the 

 ground they will not readily form new roots during 

 showery weather. 



Seed Sowing.— The most important crop of 

 Cabbages is usually sown about the end of the 

 month. Sorts shoidd 1)e selected which have a 



rei)utation for not shooting or running to seed in 

 the spring. The varieties Klower of Spring and 

 Ellam's Early are both satisfactory. If the seeds 

 are sown ))roadcast and thinly, sturdy ])lants will 

 be available, able to stand the winter when planted 

 out. A few seeds of Lettuce, sown where they will 

 not require transplanting, will give late supplies. 

 ]^arsley sown in this month gives a useful supply 

 lu'.xt spring and summer. It is not so generjdly 

 known that seeds of Early Carrots and White 

 Turnips may be sown tliis month with some liope 

 of success, but all the vacant ground can easily be 

 filled with greens. The allotment should be made 

 to prolong the supply of vegetables over as long a 

 X)eriod as possible. 



Insect Pests. — I know of no better place than a 

 large group of allotments to get a collection of in- 

 sect pests and plant diseases which attiick vegetable 

 crops. With the possible exception of the Potato 

 disease, which is well known, the various pests are 

 usually described as " grub " or " canker," accord- 

 ing to the locality. Allotment holders have a most 

 unfortunate habit, when they see a plant attacked, 

 of pulling the infected plant up, looking at it, and 

 then throwing it on the ground. The i^roper way, 

 when a plant is diseased beyond remedy, is to burn 

 it. The successful treatment of vegetable pests 

 usually lies in the way of preventive measures. 

 The e.rceUfvf Jpoficfit issued hi/ the Department of 

 A(jiicuUii re (ind TecJi u'unl J iistruriion for Irelund 

 should he i (/nsulfed , pn rticuhirs of irhich ■usually 

 appear i ii the ad rerfisr in ( iif (■(diinius of this 

 jouriad . 



The Flower Border. — Seedling plants of Wall- 

 flowers and Sweet William will require transplant- 

 ing as soon as they are large enough. Transplant 

 into rows, giving sufficient space for the plants to 

 grow into bushy specimens. Manure or decayed 

 leaves dug into the ground are very helpful in 

 enabling tlie plants to be lifted with plenty of soil 

 at the roots. Dahlias and similar plants shoidd 

 be kept tied to the stakes. If desired, weak ap])li- 

 cations of manure water may be given to Sweet 

 Peas. Carnations are usually layered during this 

 month. Select a good, strong slioot, and pass the 

 knife through a joint about an inch long to form 

 a tongue. Press the tongue into some sifted soil 

 about the plant, holding it into position with a 

 hairpin or piece of bent wire. Some plotholders 

 are keen on budding roses. This operation is 

 usually done about the end of the month. Cuttings 

 of the half-ripened wood of Roses root readily in 

 sandy soil, especially the clindjing varieties, such 

 as Dorothy Perkins. Cuttings also may be inserted 

 of Pansies and Violas. 



G. H. O. 



Paeonia L'Esperance, 



This remarkable and handsome hybrid flowered 

 very well this year, and gives every promise of 

 proving an interesting and beautiful hardy plant. 



The leaves are of ample proi)ortions, glaucous 

 green above and glaucous below. The flowers are 

 large, six inches or more in diameter, made up of 

 several rows of ])etals, of a pale yellow colour, 

 flushed with reddish purple at the base. 



The only fault of the plant is a disposition to 

 produce the flowers too close to the leaves, some- 

 times, indeed, almost beneath them. This, how- 

 ever, is in a measure compensated for by the size 

 and attractive colour, and it is to be hoped that 

 more hyluids on the same lines may be produced, 



