IRISH GARDENING 



159 



Weather allowed, and then we had great diffieulty 

 in keepinji the odd eorners that tell so nuieh, in 

 good order. Get any repairs to the machines 

 attended to; do not leave them till just before they 

 are required next season. See that they are taken 

 apart and thoroughly cleaned the first wet day 

 after the mowing is finished. 



Alterations. — All alterations should be under- 

 taken as early as possible. Tennis courts should 

 claim first attention if the family are keen players. 

 Where the surface is at ail uneven it is better 

 to take the turf off and make the ground level. 

 Drive in some fairly stovit pegs — six feet apart each 

 way — on which to place the straight-edge. Use the 

 spirit level lengthways and crossways. After the 

 level is obtained place a layer of good soil evenly 

 over the whole court on which to lay the turf. Next 

 get a mould to put each turf in, cutting off the 

 ()ottom soil till the turves are all exactly the same. 

 Put the spirit-level on each turf as it is laid down. 

 This is the only means of getting a correct court. 

 When the whole of the turf is laid give a good even 

 l)eating, and fill up any slight joints with fine soil. 

 Then cover the whole court with finely-sifted soil, 

 and allow the whole to settle before putting the 

 roller on. Ground work is most deceiving, and 

 means a lot of work. It is a branch of its own, and 

 unless one has had experience in laiidscape work 

 it would be advisable to get expert advice before 

 attempting anything on a big scale. Rock and 

 water gardens also mean months of heavy work at 

 the woi'st season of the year. All this must be 

 taken into account l)efore starting big jobs. 



General Work. — Keep the edges of the grass 

 clipped after the final mowing and endeavour to 

 keep a smart and tidy appearance in the pleasure 

 grounds. When the leaves start to fall heavily it 

 is better to let them all down; then start at one end 

 and clean the whole ground. Save every leaf for 

 hotbeds, &c. 



Southern and Western Counties, 



By J. M.\TTHEWS 



Cappoquin 



The Kitchen Garden 



The Gardens, Turin, 

 Co. Waterford. 



The vtressure of work in the kitchen garden is prac- 

 tically over for the season, but there are many 

 little jobs which should be attended to during the 

 month of Ot'tol)er. Frost may lie expected any 

 night now, and it is wise to have some protecting 

 mateiial at hand for such tender subjects as 

 French Beans, Vegetable Marrows, and Scarlet 

 Runners; if these can be saved from the first snap 

 we may escape for several weeks. Light tiffany, sup- 

 ported on stakes or newspapers spread over the 

 plants, will ward off a few degrees. 



With the improved weather conditions in early 

 September, Vegetables have made good progress, 

 and should be encouraged as nuich as possible by 

 a free use of the hoe which will also destroy 

 seedling weeds. 



Cabbage. — Make a further planting of these as 

 soon as the ground becomes available, and make 

 u|) any blanks in the earlier liatches. 



Cattliflower. — Any plants tm'ning in should be 

 watt-hed. A good plan is to tie up the leaves or 

 break them over the curds to ward off frost or rain. 

 Prick off seedlings into frames as they become 

 large enough. These require to be well ventilated 

 and kept as sturdy as possible. 



Celery.— Continue the earthing up on suitable 

 days, and in case of a sharp frost shake some straw 

 or bracken over the plants, which should be un- 

 covered in the morning. 



Globe Artichokes.— Cut down the old stems and 

 clean the old leaves off and also weeds. Jerusalem 

 Artichokes may be cut down to three or four feet 

 from the ground as the wind blows them over, de- 

 stroying the tul)ers. 



Lettuce.— Lift further batches from the borders 

 and place in frames. Lift with good bulbs of soil 

 attached to the roots. 



Potatoes.— The lifting and storing of late varie- 

 ties should l)e completed as soon as possible now. 



Roots. — Carrots, Beetroot, Salsafy and Turnips 

 should all be lifted when the weather is suitable. 

 Parsnips are better left in the ground and raised as 

 required for use. 



Seakale. — Remove all weeds and decayed leaves, 

 exposing the crowns as much as possible. As soon 

 as all the leaves have died off. lift a portion of the 

 roots for early forcing and place at the foot of a 

 north wall for a week or two before planting 

 in the forcing house. Later batches can be forced 

 on the groinid l)y covering with eight or nine inch 

 pots and banking up with hot stable manure. The 

 l)est Seakale is obtained in this way. When lifting 

 the roots reserve the best jjieces for cuttings for 

 next spring planting. Cut these into five or six 

 inch lengths, square on top end, tie in bundles and 

 stand upright I'overed with sand or ashes in a 

 frame or any convenient corner. 



Rhubarb. — A few stools may be lifted when the 

 growth has died down and exposed to the weather 

 for a time. The more frost this gets the better it 

 will force. 



Tomatoes. — Outdoor i)lants have not been quite a 

 success this year owing to the cold, wet season. 

 Bunches of fruit that are still green nmy be cut 

 and hung up in a warm house where . th'ey will 

 ripen. 



Keep the hoe going amongst Broccoli and all 

 winter greens, and maintain as tidy an appearance 

 as possible. 



The Fruit Garden. 



The harvesting of Apples and Pears will claim 

 daily attention during the month, and, as advised 

 in Septeml)er notes, let the fruit hang until ripe 

 for picking. Apples are likely to be scarce this 

 winter, which will call for extra care in handling 

 and storing. Windfalls and mis-shapen fruits 

 should not be stored with good specimens, but set 

 aside for innnediate use. The hot, dry weather in 

 September has called for the use of the water pot. 

 Young trees against walls especially should be 

 properly soaked, and if Red Spider has got a hold 

 thoroughly cleanse the . trees with the garden 

 engine. 



Strawberries. — Young plantations will- be 

 benefited by a frequent use of the hoe. Any 

 runners that have pushed out should be removed. 



Gooseberries, Currants, and Raspberries. — If 

 it is intended to make new plantations of these 

 the ground prei)arations should be pushed on now 

 to have it ready for their reception. Planting may 

 be carried out as soon as the leaves begin to drop, 

 and when the ground is in good condition. 



Examine stakes and ties on young trees before 

 the stormy weather conies on or much damage will 

 be done to the roots with the constant swaying. 



Morello Cherries may be pruned and tied up 

 now if time permits. It is a cold operation in 



