[42 



IRISH GARDENING 



KooT PRUNiN'Ci. — Where trees are making loo 

 strong- a ^rowtli it is a si<iii that they recjiiire the 

 stroiifi roots sliortened to cause them to make 

 more fibre aiul thus increase tiieir fruit I'lihiess 

 Before startiiiii'. ha\'e a good heap of soil, already 

 mixed, ready for use. (ienerally speaking, tiie 

 following compost will suit most trees, but the 

 o])t'rator must be guided by the nature of his own 

 soil : Thi'ee i)arts good chop])ed loam, 1 ])art 

 mortar rul)ble, 1 part bui'iit eartli, and a (i-in. pot 

 of Kirks No. 2 grade, or a similar manure, to each 

 l)ari'ow load : have everything in readiness that 

 there may be no check. In the case of large 

 1 rees, it is better to do half each season. Smaller 

 trees may be lifted clean up, the roots shortened 

 and replanted at once. If the existing soil is not 

 of good (juality add the above, making firm, and 

 give a thorough soaking of clean water. 

 lOxliausted trees may have the top soil removed 

 with advantage and good fresh soil put in its 

 ])lace. In wet cold clay Apple and Pear trees are 

 much better planted on a mound, bringing the 

 roots above the existing ground level and covering 

 with good soil, and a mulching of long litter. 



Thk Sou, Vahi). — Large quantities of good 

 loam should be got in, ready for the busy plant- 

 ing season just at hand. .Manure should be 

 stored in the dry ready for mixing — wood ashes, 

 l)urnt earth, sand and mortar rubble ; stakes 

 })repared in readiness on wet days ; labels 

 prepared : copper wire cut into suitable lengths, 

 and pieces of canvas to protect the bark. Stakes 

 are the better for a coat of creosote. 



(iRe:ase Bands. — Grease bands may soon be 

 placed in position in the trees to catch the moths 

 as they ascend^the stems. 



Flower Gardex and Pleasure Grounds. 



Border Carnations. — If the layering of 

 Border Carnations was done last month as 

 advised, they should be well rooted and ready 

 foi' severing from the parent plants. In wai'iu 

 positions they may be planted in tlieir permanent 

 ((uarters, but if the ground is heavy and wet, it is 

 much the best plan to pot them and winter them 

 in cold frames. Keep the lights off on all possible 

 occasions and keep fairly dry at the root. They 

 will require careful attention, keeping the pots 

 free from weeds and all yellow foliage picked off. 

 In planting the permanent beds, give a good 

 dressing of decayed manure and a plentiful supjdy 

 of lime I'uldjle. Allow a distance of 15 inches in 

 the rows and 18 inches between the rows. It is 

 a good plan to place a good collar of finely sifted 

 cinders as a jjreventive of slugs. 



Beddinc; Pi:ants. — Aim at keeping a bright 

 display of the summer bedding as long as possible. 

 Keep the beds and borders neat and trim, and all 

 dead flowers and foliage picked off. See that all 

 the stocks of cuttings are well rooted, and be on 

 the watch for very cold nights towards the end of 

 the month. Any extra tender plants must be 

 ])rotected if taken up and potted, (ilive the balls 

 a thorough good soaking before potting up. Old 

 standard Heliotropes are better cut back and 

 placed in a brisk, moist teniperature to break, 

 then gradually hardened to cooler quarters. 



Pentstemons. — -These most valuable plants 

 should be propagated in quantity. I And them 

 much better when rooted in a sharp sandy com- 

 post in frames. Some advise boxes, but they 

 get too hard in the stem, and never make such 

 good spikes. A good sunny border of these 

 plants should be used in every garden, using the 



large and small varieties. They also group well 

 in the mixed borders, and coloiu'smay be selected 

 to suit all tastes. We have sixteen beds of 

 .Middleton (iem in one of our flower grounds this 

 season, and tiiey have been greatly admired by 

 lady visitors. 



Climbing R6ses. — Now that the flowering 

 season is practically over, the Climbing Hos.^s 

 sliould ha\'e some of the oldest shcjots removed, 

 training in the strong young growths, that they 

 may have every chance to rinen well for next 

 season's flowering. Lightly cover the poles, 

 pergolas, and trellises ; take away all weak shoots ; 

 still spray for insect pests if they are present, 

 and give a little artificial manuring at the root. 



Wall Gardening. — If any readers intend to 

 build dry walls, the present is the best month to 

 begin, as the plants get established before the 

 soil gets cold. Plant as the work proceeds, 

 adding good soil between the stones. In planting- 

 keep the tufted plants apart from hanging 

 subjects, such as the Aubrietias, &c. (iive the 

 Ohosmas and Androsaces the warmest and driest 

 positions, as these dislike the constant wet. A 

 good position for a dry wall is on the boundai'ies 

 of tennis coiu'ts and croquet grounds. When 

 these have to be excavated some t> to 10 feet to 

 obtain the levels, they make a welcome change 

 trom the usual grass slopes, especially if they are 

 placed in a quarter of the pleasure ground by 

 themselves, and not interfering with the lawns, 

 &c. 



Sweet Violets. — The frames should be pre- 

 pared for the reception of these great favourites. 

 Fill the pits and franies three i^arts full with 

 leaves well trodden down ; on this add sufficient 

 soil to take the large balls off the plants, finishing 

 off quite close to the glass without touching. As 

 soon as the planting is finished give a thorough 

 soaking of tepid water and keep the lights rather 

 close for a few^ days, shading from bright sun ; 

 afterwards give all possible air, even in frosty 

 weather. I always have a label placed so that 

 a current of air can pas« through the frames. 

 Some of the finest varieties for this culture are 

 Single Princess of Wales and La France, and 

 Single White (C'annells), Marie Louise, Mrs. J. J. 

 Astor, Lady Hume Campbell, De I'arme, Kaiser 

 Wilhelm, C'olcroonin Hybrid, and the newer 

 Lloyd George xComte de Brazza, double white. 



Herbaceous Borders. — Where it is proposed 

 to make new herbaceous borders, these should 

 be deeply trenched and heavily manured ready 

 for planting this autumn as early as possible. 

 By this means the plants will root away into the 

 warm soil and become established before the 

 winter sets in. Make notes of existing border, 

 and any grovips that require thinning should be 

 done immediately they pass out of flower ; in 

 re-planting use the strongest outside crowns, 

 burning the centre out of the way. Elstablished 

 borders given fine weather will make a bold show 

 for some time to come. Continue to go. over and 

 keep all neatly tied, all dead flowers removed, 

 and assist everything to continue as bright as 

 possible. 



LiLiUJi CANDIDUM. — It is not advisable to 

 remove Lilium Candidum more than is absolutely 

 necessary, but should they by any chance not be 

 in the right position, the present is a good time 

 for transplanting. How seldom one sees these 

 beautiful ilies growing as they should do. The 

 best examples I have ever seen has been in some 

 Sussex cottage gardens, flowering in perfect 



