IRISH GARDENING 



141 



water. Do not add too much soil at a time — a 

 little and often till the desired length of stem 

 is reached. 



Tomatoes. — Tomato jslants to fruit in 

 December and the winter months should be given 

 their final potting. Pot firm in a compost of 

 three parts good fibrous loam, one part spent 

 mushroom dung and a fi-in. pot of fine crushed 

 bones to every barrow-load of soil and a dash of 

 superphosphate of lime. Stake with a good strong 

 stake and keep securely tied, and all side shoots 

 removed as advised previously. Grow in a light 

 airy house close to the glass. Do not over water 

 at the root. 



Lettuce. — Another sowing of a hardy variety 

 of Lettuce should be made on a warm border 

 to stand the winter. All the Year Round and 

 Maximum are excellent varieties to use for this 

 purpose. 



ExDivE. — Continue to plant out sufficient 

 supplies of Endive to meet the demand, and 

 commence blanching the earliest sowings. 



Broccoli. — The Broccoli Beds will now be in 

 full growth. Keep the ground well hoed, and all 

 decaying leaves removed. Endeavour to obtain 

 strong sturdy growth, otherwise the frost will do 

 a lot of damage. Draw up a little soil to the 

 stems to form protection against strong winds. 

 Vegetable ^Marrows. — Cut the marrows and 

 place in a cool shed as they become large enough 

 for general use. Where they are required for 

 jams and preserving, they must be allowed to 

 ripen before cutting. 



Herbs for Winter. — Where supplies of fresh 

 herbs are required during the winter months, a 

 heated pit should be prepared at once for their 

 r^'ception. ^lint that was cut over earlier 'n the 

 season shoutd be lifted very carefully and planted 

 close together in the pits. Shake enough fine 

 soil over the roots to form a slight covering. 

 Tarragon, Chives, Basil and Sweet Marjoram 

 will all bear gentle forcing. Chervil should be 

 sown in cold frauiPS. 



Weei<s • — Keep down seedling weeds at all 

 costs. Remove all finished crops and continue 

 to keep a well-kept appearance everywhere. 

 Nothing gives greater pleasure to employers and 

 visitors than to see everything well cared for and 

 in good order. Failures with crops we all meet 

 with a,t times unfortunately. Keep all walks 

 swept, and if moss, A:c., is troublesome, give the 

 bad place a touch of weed-killer. 



The Hardy Fruit Gardex. 



Strawberries — ^All runners will require to be 

 cut away from the parent plants, and decayed 

 leaves and all weeds. Clean away all straw mulch- 

 ings and carefully fork over the beds, taking care 

 not to loosen the soil too much near the crowns. 

 Freshly planted beds should have an occasional 

 hoeing, and give the young plants every en- 

 couragement to form good crowns. See that 

 the labels are in good condition, renewing any 

 that are in need of it. Any vacancies in the 

 main beds should be made up with fresh plants. 

 The following is a list of varieties worth grow- 

 ing : — Royal Sovereign for early borders and 

 Garibaldi for preserving ; King George, Leader, 

 Sir J. Paxton, President, Gunton Park, and The 

 Bedford for mid-season and main crops ; Givon's 

 Late Prolific and Laxton's Latest of All or late 

 work, with Viscountess for preserving. These 



will give a supply for six to seven weeks in favour- 

 able weather. 



Gooseberries. — Where the stock of Goose- 

 Ijerry bushes is old and only giving small quantities 

 of fruit, a fresh quarter of the garden should be 

 deeply trenched and manured, and fresh young 

 trees planted. I strongly advise the planting 

 of cordons wherever possible, and on different 

 aspects. A visit to the nursery where one is 

 purchasing the trees should be made while the 

 leaves are on the trees, and make sure no 

 American mildew is present. This pest attacks 

 the young growth first, and its presence is 

 detected by brownish-looking patches on the 

 wood. Where one has a clean stock it is advis- 

 able to root a few cuttings each season. More 

 use of bare spaces on the walls, buildings and 

 fences for double Cordon Gooseberries and 

 Currants should be made. Choose well tried 

 varieties, including The Lion, Whinham's 

 Industry, Whitesmith, Crown Bob, Lancashire 

 Lass. Yellow Ambre, Ironmonger, London, and 

 Langley Gem. These are only a few of the 

 varieties, but each has excellent qualities. I am 

 planting 1,000 rooted during the past two seasons 

 on a north border for dessert, allowing 7 feet in 

 height and 2 feet apart and 4 feet between the 

 rows. By this means they are easily handled in 

 every way. ; 



MoRELLO Cherries. — As soon as the crop of 

 Cherries is picked take down the nets, label 

 them, and hang them up in the storehouse. Give 

 the trees a thorough syringing with a paraffin 

 emulsion to cleanse the trees. Prune these trees 

 like the Peach, leaving the growths quite 6 inches 

 apart. If fruit is desired for the shooting parties 

 in October and November, it should be allowed to 

 hang on the trees, and be well protected from 

 flies and wasps. 



COBXUTS. — When the nuts part readily from 

 the husks they should be gathered and stored in a 

 cool, dry place, away from mice and rats. Biscuit 

 tins witli a strong lid form good storage, provided 

 they are constantly emptied and turned well over. 

 Otherwise the kernel soon dries and becomes 

 useless. 



Peaches and Nectarines. — Feed the Peach 

 and Nectarine trees that are ripening their crops. 

 Those from which the fruit has been picked 

 should have the old fruiting wood cut away, 

 training in the young wood for next season's crop, 

 tie in very thinly, and allow the sun and air to 

 reach every part of the tree. Towards the end 

 of the month the earliest fruiting varieties that 

 are making too gross and sappy wood should be 

 lifted and root-pruned. Take care that all the 

 ties are unfastened before attempting to lift the 

 tree and replant at once, damping the young 

 fibrous roots. In re-planting make thoroughly 

 firm and give a good soaking. Syringe the trees 

 two or three times a day during hot weather, and 

 shade if the sun is particularly strong. 



Wall Trees. — Continue to watch, and go 

 over all wall fruit. See that they do not suffer 

 from drought, and pick and carefully store the 

 fruit as each variety becomes ready. Do not 

 pick any pears until they part readily from the 

 trees with an upward lift. Leave the late 

 varieties to hang as long as possible. 



Loganberries. — Cut away the old fruiting 

 canes of Loganberries as soon as the crop is 

 finished and tie in loosely the young canes to get 

 them well ripened. 



