no 



IRISH GARDENING 



the differeiu variL'tics in small luiurlics ready lor 

 winter use. Keep all weeds down, and the \\h(ile 

 garden elean and smart. 



The Haruy Fuuir Gardkn. 



Ai'RicoTS. — The Apricot trees will recjuire con- 

 siderable attention now that tlie fruit is swellin^^ 

 Give plenty of manure water till they begin to 

 ripen. Apply a nndcliing of sliort manure if this 

 has not already been done. When the borders are 

 very nariow and close to hard walks, &c., a few- 

 holes should l)e 1)orcd with an iron bar, and these 

 filled with water, taking care not to injure the main 

 roots. As soon as the fruit is gathered give the 

 trees a thorough good syringing, first with an in- 

 secticide and afterwards with clean water. 



Strawberries. — If the earliest runners were 

 rooted as advised last month they will now ))e 

 ready for severing from tlie parent ])iants. Should 

 the ground not be ready for them, plunge the jjots 

 in a shady position and attend carefully to the 

 watering. The main batch of runners should be 

 layered immediately they are ready, taking care 

 not to tread on any of the fruit. As they pass out 

 of fruit, clean the ])eds at once, giving a dose of 

 artificial manure and gently forking t)etween the 

 plants. If the ground is very dry, a good soaking 

 of water will greatly assist the crowns to strengthen 

 up. 



Alpine Strawberries. — These plants will now re- 

 quire a good mulching. Keep all runners and weeds 

 cleaned off. Give the trusses some slight support 

 to keep the fruit clean. When the first fnnts have 

 set, place the nets on to protect from l)irds, &c. 



Raspberries. — When the fruit has all been picked 

 cut out the old fruiting canes and give the new 

 canes support from rough winds. Clean away all 

 weeds and suckers, and give good soakings of liquid 

 manure water, the object being to build up strong 

 canes for next season's fruiting. With the autunni 

 fruiting varieties thin down the growths to the 

 strongest and best i^laced. and give sufficient ties 

 to hold them in position. Mulch with short 

 manure, and give good waterings. 



IjOganberries. — Keep the Loganberries picked 

 and used as they become fit. Tie up the current 

 year's growths quite clear of the present fruiting 

 canes, cutting away the weak growths and any 

 that are not required for filling the wires after the 

 ))earing canes are cut out. Treat tlu^ Blackberries 

 the same way, allowing all the sun ])ossible to 

 reach the fruit; otherwise it will be practically 

 flavourless. 



Peaches .\nd Nectarines. — These trees are now 

 making good, clean growth, and require constant 

 attention. Tie and train the shoots evenly over 

 the alloted space, allowing at least six inches 

 between the shoots. The earliest varieties will 

 begin to ripen, and will need exposing. Remove 

 any leaves that lap over the fruit, and place a fiat 

 piece of wood behind the fruit to give them all the 

 sun possible. I have used old Venetian blinds, 

 sawn into 8-inch lengths, tied on to the wires, with 

 good results. Special care will he needed to kec]) 

 the roots in good condition. Give light and fre- 

 quent dressings of an approved artificial manure 

 and a good nndch of short manure, thoroughly 

 washing the goodness down to the roots. Where 

 Cardinal Nectarine splits and the flesh cracks open, 

 give the fruit a slight sluide din-ing the hottest part 

 of the day, and withhold w'ater at the root after it 

 begins to colour. I have had a lot of trouble with 

 this variety in very early houses, but not outside. 

 Keep the trees well syringed to keep down red 

 spider and thrip. 



Figs. — Fig trees on south borders will soon be 

 ril^ening the first crop. Do not water quite ao 



much, but d(j not allow the trees to suffer from 

 moisture. Thin out the weak and useless wood, 

 and keep the leaves from shading tlie fruit. Stop the 

 strongest growing shoots at the foin-tli or fifth leaf. 



MoREi.Lo Cheimues. — Morcllo Cherry trees that 

 are bearing heavy c-rops will need careful thinning. 

 The thinned fruit may be used in the kitchen. 

 Fully-established trees will greatly benefit l)y weak 

 doses of artificial manure well washed down to the 

 roots. Attend to disbudding and tying in the 

 shoots, and as the fruit begins to colour place the 

 nets in position, keeping them out from the wall. 

 If 1)1 ack aphis is jjresent give a good syringing with 

 (Quassia Extract. Do not use insecticides after they 

 l)egin to coloiu'. Clean, soft water only must be 

 then used. 



Summer Pruning. — If the pinching and training 

 has been done as advised in previous calendars 

 there will not be much to be done except the secur- 

 ing of the leading shoots, and where the trees have 

 made considerable growth these may again be 

 shortened. Endeavour to get the sun to reach 

 every branch. On hot days give the trees a good 

 syringing in the evening. 



Black Currants.— As soon as the crop of Black 

 Currants are picked, the trees should be carefully 

 I)runed. Try and bring up the strong basal shoots 

 to form next season's fruiting wood, and cut the 

 old shoots clean out. Do not allow too many shoots 

 to remain. 



Red and White Currants. — Where Currants and 

 Gooseberries are planted on north walls, net as 

 soon as the fruit begins to show colour, and retard 

 the ripening by heavy sluiding as much as possible 

 with hexagon netting. 



Wasps and Flies. — Destroy these pests as quickly 

 as ijossible. Bottles and jars half filled with sweet- 

 ened liquid tied along the wires will trap a large 

 number, and cyanide of potassium is deadly to 

 wasf^s. Soak a piece of cotton wool and place at the 

 entrance of their nests. The cyanide is deadly 

 poisonous, and must be kept locked up. 



The Flower Garden and Pleasure Grounds. 



Carnations. — l^ayering may now be proceeded 

 with. Mix up a good heap of the following com- 

 post : — 2 i)arts finely sifted loam, 2 j^arts sand, and 

 1 part leaf soil. Place a good mound aroiuid the 

 plants to be layered. Select all good, healthy 

 " grass " (cutting out the weak growths), and split 

 the stem through a joint, fastening with a wire 

 pin or wood peg. If large quantities are reqiured, 

 notch the shoot and keep in position with a stone 

 similar to layering Strawberries; give a good 

 watering and keep moist initil the young roots are 

 formed. 



Roses. — Keep all dead flowers picked off innne- 

 diately they fade. Continue to feed with small 

 quantities of artificial manure, and where the 

 ground is very dry give a good soaking of clear 

 water. Tie in the shoots of all climl)ers before they 

 get very long. Keep all standards securely 

 fastened. Be on the alert for green fly, spraying 

 at once with the Quassia Extract. Where ))udding 

 is practised, this may now ))e done. 



liiLiuMS. — Stake all Jiiliums before they get 

 damaged with storms and winds. Keejj a sharp 

 watch for aphis, syringing with Qiuissia Extract, 

 and dusting with tobacco powder. Apply a niulch 

 of well-rotted cow manure and sand well mixed, 

 and see that they do not suft'er from drought. 



Bedding Plants. — Attend to the watering still of 

 all sunmier bedding plants, giving thorough soak- 

 ings. Keep all tall growing subjei-ts neatly staked 

 and cleaned, removing all dead foliage and flowers. 

 All creeping and trailing plants will require con- 



