IRISH GARDENING 



143 



masses, and never disturbed. When buying in 

 new bulbs, plant them at once on their arrival, as 

 they quickly deteriorate. 



DiAXTiius. — Every garden should have its 

 quarter for the handsome and interesting Mule 

 Pinks. It is advisable to root a fresh stock every 

 autumn. By this means the plants are always 

 healthy and vigorovis. Napoleon III. is one of 

 the very best and most easily lost. Use a sandy 

 compost and hand lights for striking. Give a 

 good watering as soon as the cuttings are in, and 

 sliade and keep close tor a few weeks, when 

 gradually harden. Marie Pere, a pure white, is 

 a good companion to the above. 



Vasks, Tubs, itc— Continue to pay strict 

 attention to the watering of all vases and tvibs. 

 iveep well tied and picked over, and keep them 

 well fed with liquid or artificial manures, having 

 so many roots they quickly dry out. 



Kitchen Garden and Pleasure Grounds. 



Eremurus. — Do not disturb the Eremurus 

 unless they are becoming too crowded with young- 

 shoots. Give them a good topdressing of 

 decayed leaf soil and sand with a little cow-dung 

 iidded. 



Naturalising Bulbs. — Any bulbs that are 

 required for naturalising should be planted as 

 soon as possible. One must be guided by the 

 general lay of the ground, avoiding all hard and 

 set lines. With Daffodils, treat them liberally, 

 and plant in large irregvilar masses. Do not let 

 them encroach on the lawns proper owing to the 

 time it takes for the foliage to die down. Crocus 

 in good masses of colour look well on slopes and 

 banks where they get the full sun. Snowdrops. 

 Aconites, Anemone apejinina, Fritillarias, Scillas 

 and Muscaris are beautiful under trees, 

 and given an annual topdressing they spread 

 wonderfully ; Tulips of all descriptions, finishing 

 with tlie May Flowers and Darwin. It is best 

 to draw up a scheme and plant it, keeping the 

 key that one may know exactly where to start 

 the follo'ving season. 



Lavender.— It is advisable to root a quantity 

 of Lavender each season. Select short, well- 

 ripened shoots, taken off with a heel and inserted 

 on a reserve border in rows, clip over and put 

 into shape the Lavender hedges. 



Transplantinc; Trees and Shrubs. — Have 

 everything in readiness to move and replant .'.ny 

 trees and shrubs before the cold weather arrives. 

 Where the soil is poor in quality, mix up a good 

 heap, sufficient for the demand, and give all 

 choice shrubs, &c., a plentiful supply. If the 

 balls of soil is dry, give good soakings. Endeavour 

 to get this work done as quickly as possible. 

 Any alterations with lawns, flower beds or 

 shrubberies should be pushed forward. 



General Work. — Continue to keep the 

 macliines at work on the Lawns, and keep a 

 summer appearance as long as possible, it helps 

 to shorten the winter season, and gives niort^ 

 pleasure to all concerned. Be on the watch for 

 frosty nights with tender plants, such as 

 Dahlias, Arc, and give a little protection if 

 possible. 



Southern and Western Counties* 



By J. Matthews, The Gardens, Turin, 

 Cappoquin, Co. Waterford. 



The Kitchen Garden. 

 Cabbage. — Plants raised from seed sown in July 

 will be fit to put out in their permanent quarters 



at the beginning of this month ; if available, 

 select a portion of an early border for these 

 forward plants, as Cabbage is really a delicacy 

 in the months of March and April, other green 

 vegetables being so scarce about tliat time. If 

 the ground was well manured for a previous crop 

 no manure will be required, only a thorough 

 digging. Plant a foot apart each way, which 

 will afford some shelter from wind blowing them 

 about. 



Carrots. — These are liable to split if left in 

 the ground too long, especially in a wet autumn. 

 Lift the crop before this occurs, and store in a 

 cool shed or against a north wall, covering each 

 layer with sand or fine coal ashes. 



Cauliflower. — Make another small sowing 

 about the third week of the month : in the event 

 of the earlier sowing making too much headway, 

 this later batch would prove more useful ; prick 

 off into cold frames and avoid coddling in any 

 way. 



Celery. — Continue the earthing-up on fine 

 days when the leaves are dry ; if disease is 

 making an appearance, spray as advised in 

 previous notes. 



French Beans. — The late sowing will probably 

 require some protection during cold nights to 

 " prolong the supply. Dutch Brown and Haricot 

 Beans should be pulled up and tied in bundles 

 when tlie pods are ripe ; they could be hung up 

 in some airy shed and threshed on wet days. 



Lettuce. — Thin out the strongest seedlings 

 of late sowings, and plant on warm borders and 

 in frames for winter use. Sow another patch 

 in a sheltered position. 



Onions. — Spring sown Onions should all be 

 lifted when they show signs of ripening ; spread 

 them ovit to get properly dried before cleaning 

 and storing away. Should the weather be un- 

 favourable a peach-house, or vinery, where the 

 fruit has been cleared, would suit the purpose 

 well for drying, afterwards tied up in bunches 

 and hung up in the store. 



Potatoes. — Continue lifting later varieties 

 during fine days. Owing to the bad season we 

 have had quite a number of the tvibers are 

 diseased, and care should be taken to remove 

 these when storing ; a few bad tubers soon 

 affect the others. 



Clear the ground of all spent crojas and refuse ; 

 go over Brussels Sprouts and jjull off some of 

 the bottom leaves to admit jjlenty of air through 

 the plants and encourage the development of the 

 sprouts. Draw some soil up to the stems of late 

 l^lanted Cauliflowers and other winter greens to 

 steady them. Thin late Turnips and Spinach 

 and stir the soil to encourage quick growth. 



The Fruit Garden. 



The Fruit Room. — Take advantage of wet 

 days to have the fruit room thoroughly cleaned 

 before placing fruit in it. Lime-wash the walls 

 and scrvib the shelves with soap and hot water, 

 and admit all air possible to get it dried. 



Some of the early Apples and Pears will be 

 approaching the ripening stage, and should be 

 looked over, picking those that readily part from 

 the spurs ; it is better to risk the loss of a few 

 falling from the trees than picking too soon ; 

 fruit gathered too early will shrivel, and be 

 worthless before their proper season for use. 

 Choose fine weather, and handle as carefidly as 

 possible — the slightest bruise destroys them 

 either for table or market. 



