128 



IRISH GARDENING 



ventilate the frames according to the outside 

 conditions. 



Early Floweking Gladioli. — When the seeds 

 oi the early liowering section of Gladioli arc 

 ripe, they may be sown in boxes, and kept grow- 

 ing throughout tlie winter and summer months; 

 they should then flower in their second season, 

 and the results are generally excellent. 



Bulbs. — The order for any fresh bulbs should 

 1)0 posted as soon as possible. They will then be 

 at hand, ready for planting out when the time 

 comes, and save waiting until the wet weather 

 sets in; have the plants for the spring bedding 

 ready, by this means one knows exactly the num- 

 ber oi plants and bulbs required, and each section 

 can be treated at the correct time. 



Southern and Western Counties. 



By J. M.VTTHEWs, The Gardens, Tourin, Cappoquin, 

 Co M'aterford. 



The Kitchen Garden. 



Broccoli. — If the ground was not available earlier 

 it is not too late to plant these, but the sooner 

 they are out the better. Savoys, Leeks, and 

 Winter Greens should be all in their quarters now. 

 Clean and earth up previous plantings; Brussels 

 Sprouts, being top-heavy, may require stakes to 

 support them; hand-pick caterpillars and keep 

 from spreading, as they soon ruin a crop. 



Cabbbage. — Sow about the lUth and again at the 

 end of the month in an open ijosition, either in 

 drills or beds, in moderately rich ground; sow 

 thinly, and when the seedlings are up, dust with 

 soot or wood ashes occasionally to check the 

 ravages of slugs. In addition to the varieties 

 mentioned in last month's notes. Early Offenham, 

 Ellam's Early, Enfield Market, and Copenhagen 

 Market are good varieties for this sowing. 



Cauliflower. — The last days of the month is 

 early enough to sow for early cutting next year. 

 Choose an early border, and when the seedlings 

 vire of a suitable size, transplant them in cold 

 frames, and grow as hardy as possible, using the 

 lights only in wet and frosty weather. 



Celery. — The earliest batch will now require 

 earthing-up, adding about 3 inches at a time; guard 

 against the soil getting into the hearts of the 

 plants. First of all, remove all suckers and de- 

 cayed leaves, and well water the trenches if at all 

 dry. 



JiETTUCE. — Make two sowings this month for a 

 supply during winter and spring; sow as thinly 

 as possible. All the Year Round and Winter 

 White are good varieties to stand the winter. 



Onions. — About the end of the month is early 

 enough to sow. It is not necessary to stick to the 

 Tripoli varieties for autumn sowing; Ailsa Craig, 

 Stirling Exhibition and some of the others stand 

 the winter equally as well, and produce bulbs of 

 a better keeping equality. Some of the early 

 ])lanted lot will be showing signs of ripening; 

 these should be pulled before a second growth 

 starts. If left too long in the ground and heavy 

 rain comes, most of them will split. 



Shallots should be lifted when the tops die 

 down and spread out to dry before storing away 

 in a cool, airy place; the vacant ground may be 

 sown with Spinach or Turnips, or ])laiited with 

 Broccoli. 



PoT.\TOES. — Lift Second Earlies when the haulm 

 changes colour; nothing is gained by leaving in 

 the ground. Leave the tubers to dry for an hour. 



and when gathering, select suitable tubeis fur 

 seed. Tliose intended for tal)le should be stored 

 in a cool, dark shed. 



Si'iNACH. — Sow prickly or winter varieties, also 

 another few lines of Spinach Beet; this will always 

 give a i)icking in the winter. 



Tomatoes for winter and spring fruits should 

 be sown early this month. These require a tem- 

 perature of from 55 to 00 degrees and a fairly 

 dry atmosphere; unless this can be maintained, 

 results will l)e disappointing. Aim at getting 

 sturdy plants well established before the short 

 days come in. Plants now ripening fruit require 

 careful watering. Pick the fruit when coloured, 

 as when left on tlie plants a sudden rise in tem- 

 perature or too nmcli water will crack them. 



Turnips. — Sow a good patch, to stand through 

 the winter; these come in useful in early spring. 

 Snowball and Red Globe do well for this purpose. 



The Fruit Garden. 



Figs. — Trees on outside walls carrying heavy 

 crops will require some feeding to swell up the 

 fruits. As they near the ripening stage reduce 

 the water supply a little, but guard against dry- 

 ness at the roots by applying a mulch; keef) the 

 young growths pinched about the fifth leaf, 

 thinning out weak and surplus wood; protect the 

 fruit from birds and wasps. 



Raspberries. — As soon as the crop is gathered, 

 cut away the old canes and thin out the young 

 ones where too thick, retaining the strongest and 

 well placed to tie up to the wires; meantime, sling 

 these up loosely to avoid getting broken with the 

 wind. All weeds and rubbish should be cleared 

 away and burned. 



Strawberries. — Complete the planting as early 

 in the month as possible to get them well estab- 

 lished before the winter. Fine fruits may be 

 expected from these plants next year if well done. 

 The old beds should be thoroughly cleaned of 

 weeds and runners, and if dry, well soaked with 

 water. 



Loganberries. — Treat the same as Raspberries. 



Peaches and Nectarines under glass as soon as the 

 crop is finished should have the old fruiting wood 

 cut out, and if Red Spider got a hold, thoroughly 

 cleanse the trees; give full air night and day to 

 ripen up the young wood for next year's crop. 

 Wasps are more destructive to fruit at this time 

 than birds; hunt up the nests and destroy them. 

 A small piece of cyanide of potassium dropped into 

 the hole and a little water poured on is generally 

 effective; there is no need to plug the hole, the 

 dead wasps will do that. 



The Pleasure Grounds. 



The flower beds and l)orders will be looking 

 about their best this month, and one feels to dis- 

 turb them; however, if there is no reserve stock 

 for the purpose, cuttings must now be got in for 

 next year's bedding. Start with Geraniums, 

 selecting a few cuttings from each plant, taking 

 care not to mar the appearance of the beds; 

 another batch may be taken later on, or lift a 

 number of the old plants before frost comes on, 

 and keep through the winter for spring cuttings. 



Boxes are generally used, as they are more con- 

 venient to shift about, and occupy less space 

 during the winter. Fill up with sandy soil, in- 

 serting the cuttings two inches apart, watering 

 ■well, and place in the open in full sun, where 

 they will readily root, removing under cover 

 before the frosty nights come on. 



