IRISH GARDEP^ING 



39 



Allotments 



Ketrospectiox. — ^At this period of the year it 

 may not be inopportune to briefly siinunarise tlie 

 results of our labour. In so far as hea\y land 

 was concerned, the spring was atrocious, and much 

 of the crop was planted very late. During the 

 summer remarkable growth was witnessed. The 

 showery weather during June and July was 

 excellent for transplanting, and the plants soon 

 made ra pid growth. On the sandy soils the 

 rain was very welcome. On these soils Potatoes 

 ceased growth very early last season. The im- 

 provement this year made a decided heavier crop. 

 We are, perhaps, too prone to seek reaping after 

 sowing, without giving a thought to the part 

 played by Nature, and the stupendous results, 

 which hang on influences whicli man has no 

 control over whatever. The prosperity of this 

 country is based on agriculture, and the condition 

 of the harvest influences each individual. 



Storing Potatoes. — The Potato crop is such 

 an important one on the allotment that every 

 care should be taken when harvesting the tubers. 

 In the first place, the crop should be lifted care- 

 fully, so as not to injure the tubers. The large 

 ones are easily pierced with the digging fork. 

 The crof) is best lifted on a dry day, and the 

 Potatoes should not lie exposed on the ground 

 too long. When picking up it is well to have 

 two baskets, so that injured Potatoes and those 

 slightly diseased can be carried away for imme- 

 diate use. The sovmd Potatoes can be preserved 

 in clamps. The clamps should be made on a dry 

 part of the plot. The tubers are then built in 

 a conical heap on the surface of the ground. 

 Avoid making huge heaps, but run the clamp 

 along the ground according to the number of 

 Potatoes stored. The best covering is straw, but 

 bracken or artichoke tops may be used. Potato 

 tops for covering are not recommended. If the 

 weather is fine, no soil need be placed over tlie 

 straw for a week or more. The Potatoes will heat 

 and the moisture should be allowed to pass away. 

 After the heating has taken place the soil can be 

 placed over the straw. If a trench is made 

 around the heap, water will drain away. Open- 

 ings .should be left at the top for ventilation. 

 The Potatoes should be periodically examined 

 and diseased ones removed. In severe weather 



an eSira covering of soil can be placed over the 

 heap, The reason many Potatoes decay in 

 clamijs are — placing diseased Potatoes in the 

 heaps, putting the tubers in when wet, not allow- 

 ing ;,5ufficient ventilation when the Potatoes are 

 li eating. These latter points sunmiarise the 

 cliief details of correct storing. 



General Work. — Cabbages are an important 

 crop on the allotment in the spring. The young 

 l)lants of the autumn sowing should be planted 

 out in the permanent beds so that they may 

 become established before the winter. The 

 ground occupied by Potatoes will be suitable, by 

 levelling, removing weeds and raking over. 

 Plants with traces of club-root .should be de- 

 stroyed. Plant firmly, but not too deeply. For 

 the dwarf varieties, 12 inches between the plants 

 and IS inches between the rows will be sufficient 

 room. The general crop of Onions is ready for 

 drying od. One of the best ways to keep them 

 during the winter is to tie the bulbs on ropes and 

 hang in a cool place. The Celery should be 

 earthed-up as required, also Leeks, where these 

 are grown in trenches. All the winter greens 

 should also have soil drawn to the stems, whicli 

 will keep the soil open and support tin; plants 

 during rough weather. It is very advisable at 

 this period of the year to manure and dig plots 

 where the soil is heavy. The ground may either 

 be left in ridges, or as lumpy as possible. In any 

 case it is important to dig the soil deeply, and 

 leave it exposed as much as po.ssible. Deep cul- 

 tivation of the soil is essential to produce good 

 vegetables, and until tlie land is deeply cultivated, 

 so long will it refuse to grow vegetables of superior 

 quality. Any plots which grow vegetables in 

 excellence will demonstrate this fact, so no excuse 

 is offered for repeating it. In these days when 

 labour is a consideration, the time and trouble 

 expended at the time may not seem justified. 

 The good effects of deep digging are spread over 

 several seasons 



The pods on Scarlet Runner and French Beans 

 should be constantly picked ; otherwise the 

 pods soon become stringy, and the plants also 

 cease production. 



The Flower Border. — -It is seldom that 

 Annuals such as Candytuft, Godetia, Cornflower, 

 Clarkia, &c., are sown at this period of the year 

 on allotments. They may, however, be sown 

 now if early summer flowers are required next 

 year. The usual bedding plants are projjagated 

 this month. A start can be made witli Geraniums 

 and Fuchsias, which require more protection in 

 the winter than Violas, Pentstemons, or Calceo- 

 larias, the latter being easily rooted in cold 

 frames and allowed to pass the winter in them. 

 It is a good plan to cover the siirface with sand 

 when inserting cuttings. If an early start is 

 made, the cuttings will be well rooted before the 

 winter, and will be more likely to survive hard 

 treatment. The flowers of Chrysanthemums are 

 much appreciated, and the plants are worth 

 staking if only to keep the blossoms clean. Other 

 varieties of Chrysanthemums than the early 

 flowering kinds are usually too late to be of any 

 service on the allotment owing to the exposed 

 position of plots, and we have reluctantly dis- 

 carded all the later kinds which usually require 

 some protection to be of any service. 



G. H. O. 



