Midland and Northern Counties. 



By Mr. V. Streeter, Gardener to B. H. Barton, 



Esq., D.L., Straffan House, Straffan, 



Co. Kildare. 



The Kitchen G.\rden. 



Preparing .\gainst Frosts. — Frosts may be ex- 

 pected at any time now, and it is advisable to have 

 everything in readiness for covering tender crops. 

 Dwarf Beans on south borders will fvdly repay any 

 extra attention. Place a tew stout posts in posi- 

 tion, and twist some thick cord around the plot., 

 sufficient to carry the mats, or, if a slight frame- 

 work of wood laths is made and spare lights are 

 used so nuich the better. Marrows will repay 

 similar treatment Anything that will prolong the 

 season is to be recommended. 



Winter Spinach. — Where the autumn sown 

 Spinach has made good growth the plants will 

 require careful thinning to four inches in the rows. 

 Give a good hoeing as often as possible, and 

 where slugs and worms are troublesome give fre- 

 (luent dustings of soot and lime on mild, damp 

 evenings. 



Globe Artichokes. — As soon as this vegetable is 

 finished cut the stems to the ground and remove 

 all dead foliage; rake off the mulchings, and fork 

 between the rows. Should severe weather set in. 

 the plants will require protection by bracken or 

 long litter carefully placed around each plant. 



Celery. — Continue to place more soil to the 

 Celery on fine days, and give an occasional dusting 

 of soot. Where worms are troublesome give good 

 waterings of lime water. When the crop is ready 

 for use commence lifting the earliest varieties, 

 and fork over the ground, so that a neat and tidy 

 appearance is maintained, and the plot will be 

 ready tilled for the next crojj. 



Turnips. — All Turnips that have reached a 

 serviceable size should be lifted and stored behind 

 a north wall and used as required. It will be 

 found that with this treatment they keep much 

 milder in flavour, and it also allows tlie ground to 

 be well worked ready for spring and summer crops. 

 The latest sowings should be carefully hoed and 

 kept free from weeds. 



Late Peas. — By the end of the present month 

 Peas will be practically over, after a wonderfully 

 good season. By the treatrnent advised, we have 

 picked Peas every day since starting on the 1st of 

 June, and still have three rows of Autocrat in bear- 

 ing. Clear away and burn the haulm as they 

 l)ecome finished and trench the vacant plots. I do 

 not advise sowing Peas outside, but strongly advise 

 sowing in pots, raising in cold frames, and plant- 

 ing out in the spring as soon as the weather and 

 conditions allow. On no account nnist they be 

 hurried or forced in any way for this treatment. 

 Mr. E. Beckett, of Aldenham, has a wonderful 



system of growing early Peas in boxes of standard 

 sizes and placing outside inider warm fences as 

 soon as the weather permits. By this means he is 

 able to exhibit pods of the highest possible quality 

 in May. To any readers of Irish Gardening who 

 require the best work on kitchen gardening I would 

 strongly advise them to send direct to him at Alden- 

 ham House Gardens for his book on vegetaliles for 

 home and exhibition. Whatever success I have 

 obtained in vegetable growing is due entirely to 

 Mr. Beckett — a great friend to gardeners. 



Cauliflower and Broccoli. — Frequently go over 

 the late Cauliflower and early Broccoli beds and 

 cut them as fast as they become fit. Any that are 

 just turning in must be protected from frost. Tie 

 the leaves up straight over the curd ; this will also 

 throw the water off the plants during heavy rains. 

 Keep all yellow and decaying leaves picked off, 

 and the ground quite clean and free from weeds. 

 The latest sowings of Cauliflower should be pricked 

 out into cold frames as they become large enough. 

 Keep close for two or three days, then gradually 

 admit air on all favourable occasions, and when 

 established leave the lights off altogether during 

 the day. Be on the look out for slugs, dusting with 

 lime. 



Tomatoes. — For the earliest supplies of Tomatoes 

 make a small sowing in a temperature of 60 degrees. 

 These young plants require very careful watering 

 at all times. Always use tepid water, and grow as 

 sturdily as possible. Do not grow in strong heat 

 at any time, and nine or ten inch pots are best to 

 fruit them in. Dwarf Red and Winter Beauty are 

 excellent varieties for this sowing. Plants growing 

 in unhealed houses will need careful attention. 

 Give air on all possible occasions, and pick the 

 fruit as soon as it begins to turn colour, ripening 

 them in a warm house or room. Outdoor fruit 

 should be cut and hung on the wires in the fruit 

 houses. 



Mushrooms. — Beds that were made and spawned 

 in August will be showing the earliest buttons. 

 Keep the walls and paths damped every morning 

 about 9 o'clock, and the thermometer at 55 degrees. 

 Carefully examine the bed for water; never allow 

 it to become dry. Always use warm water, and use 

 a light when in the house, keeping the door closed; 

 avoid all draughts. Continue to collect fresh mate- 

 rials for new beds. 



Cabbage. — Watch the young plants in case grubs 

 or club root are destroying any. Search just below 

 the surface of the soil for the former near the plant 

 eaten off and destroy the grubs before making good 

 the beds. Keep the surface soil well hoed before 

 tlie rough weather starts. Draw a little soil 

 up to the collar to keep the yoimg plants firm. All 

 dead leaves must be removed from the established 

 beds. Coleworts, &c. — Use the summer varieties of 

 Cabbage before tlie Coleworts, as they will soon 

 perish with wet and frosty weather. 



Beetroot. — Lift and store all late sow^n Beet. Use 



