1 86 



IRISH GARDENING 



fereneo. A sharp look out for rats must he kept. 

 A Vinery or Peach House just started are excellent 

 for forwarding early crops. Go over all the stores 

 of Ware Potatoes, dusting with slaked lime. Keep 

 the seed in a cool position and look them over 

 occasionally. 



Forcing House. — See that the supplies of Sea- 

 kale, Chii'ory and Endive are equal to the de- 

 mand. Have plenty of mustard and Cress for 

 the Christmas season, also herhs likely to be 

 asked for. 



Frknch Beans. — Where one has the convenience, 

 make a sowing of French Beans every ten days in 

 seven or eight inch pots, and grow in a tempera- 

 ture of 65 degrees to 70 degrees; only half fill the 

 pots with soil, top dressing when they are grow- 

 ing well. 



Celery. — Have some long litter or bracken ready 

 in case of frost to place over the rows of Celery, 

 removing it the first opportunity when the weather 

 breaks. 



GENER.4L Work. — Continue to manure and trench 

 all ground in readiness for next season's crops. 

 Each plot should be prepared to suit its occupants 

 as near as possible. Burn all rubl)ish and keep 

 the garden as orderly as possible. Collect all 

 leaves for hot beds, or leaf soil. Keep the soil shed 

 filled, ancl during wet weather prepare and sift 

 various soils for the coming season. See that all 

 drains are kept clear; pumps and taps protected 

 with hay bands in case of severe frost. In frosty 

 weather manure, leaf soil, sand, burnt earth, &c., 

 should be wheeled on to the vacant plots. Sharpen 

 all Pea and Bean stakes and make boxes of a ixni- 

 forni size ready for the busy season. Any box 

 edging needing replanting should be_attended to. 

 The stores of roots must be frequently examined 

 for diseased specimens. Keep the w-alks brushd 

 and clean, and re-gravelled in wet weather. In 

 fact. December seems to me to be as busy a month 

 in the Kitchen Garden as any, no matter what 

 the weather may be. We never have to look for 

 something to do. In the evening our diary shows 

 many mistakes; Avrong timing of crops to be recti- 

 fied in the coming year. ' All young gardeners 

 should be encouraged to keep a diary from the day 

 he enters his first place till he must retire to make 

 w-ay for another generation. It wall improve his 

 knowledge wonderfully, assist liim with his spell- 

 ing and writing, and prove most valuable informa- 

 tion to him all through hie career. 



Hardy Fruit Garden. 



Pigs. — In very cold districts, and where cold. 

 damp weather affects the wood of Figs, they wall 

 be better for some slight protection, either spruce 

 or laurel boughs interlaced between the main 

 branches, or covered with straw or bracken, but 

 do not leave the covering materials on during 

 mild weather, otherwise the leading growths will 

 become too soft. If the trees are growing too 

 vigorously and not bearing, restrict the roots and 

 prune the trees; ram very firm and add plenty of 

 mortar rubble when putting the soil back into 

 position. Where new trees are required get them 

 planted as soon as possible, and mulch with long 

 litter to keep away the frost from the soil ; leave 

 the pruning till the beginning of March. 



Raspberries.— Get the Raspberry quarters put 

 straight without delay, thin down the canes 

 finally, tying in the strongest, Avell-ripened canes; 

 if on\vires bend the toDS towards the north, only 

 just taking off the tips. When stakes are used it 



is a good plan to tie the canes on to the next 

 stake, thus arching the whole rows. Cut the weak 

 canes down hard, endeavouring to cover all the 

 available space. Autumn fruiting varieties must 

 be left till the spring. We are still gathering 

 these fruits, which have been extra good this 

 season. Do not fork the plantation, as other fruit. 

 Rake off all rubbish and old tins, and burn on 

 the smother fire, and add a good muich of 

 manure.. 



Loganberries. — If the old fruiting canes of 

 Loganberries were cut away as recommended, the 

 existing canes should be trained into position very 

 thinly. I would advise more extensive planting of 

 this fruit this season. When most fruits were 

 almost a failure the Loganberries were a full crop 

 ot first class fruit. They are easily increased by 

 layering and are not too particular as to soil and 

 position. 



Cordon Gooseberries. — Get the pruning of the 

 Cordon grown Gooseberries finished and tied in. 

 Where bush Gooseberries are grown in wire fruit 

 cages they may also be pruned, but not bush trees 

 in the open, owing to ravages by birds, &c. If 

 caterpillars have been troublesome remove several 

 inches of the surface soil around the trees, replac- 

 ing with good fresh loam and manure. Give a 

 good dressing of manure to all the trees, forking 

 it well into the soil, and dust the trees well with 

 fresh lime. If mildew is suspected give a thorough 

 spraying of sulphur. Where American mildew is 

 attacking the trees they must be rooted out and 

 burnt. This is a terrible disease and must be 

 stamped out as quickly as possible. 



Outdoor Vines. — As soon as the Vines have shed 

 their leaves they should be pruned. If left till the 

 spring they are apt to bleed. To grow good Grapes 

 outside they nuist have the same attention as 

 those under glass, and I think there is no fruit or 

 plant that a gardener has to produce so difficult to 

 bring to perfection as first class quality Grapes. 

 Early this year I was asked by a gentleman in 

 this comity to give him advice on a vinery that 

 had been left alone absolutely for the last four or 

 five years, and which everyone w^ould know was in 

 a bad state. The growth w^as a perfect mass and 

 plenty of bug. So his gardener and I set to work. 

 We took out all the old rods, leaving the best 

 ripened young shoot at the base of each Vine, and 

 after thoroughly,, cleaning the house in the usual 

 way we tied in the young shoots, leaving about 

 twelve to fourteen eyes, according to strength. 

 The result was far beyond my expectation, as they 

 not only grew away strongly but showed and 

 carried about four to six bunches per rod on the 

 average. We left the borders till this winter, when 

 we hope to replace with a new and properly con- 

 structed one, getting all the work into the fresh 

 soil. I mention this for the benefit of anyone 

 who is in the same difficulty and does not want to 

 root out his existing vines. 



Nailing and Training Wall TREES.^;^Push for- 

 v/ard during mild weather the pruning and tra'hi- 

 ing of all wall trees; each section should be taken. 

 \\'here insect pests are present remove all old ties 

 and burn them in the stoke-hole. Nails should 

 bv? heated before using again. After each wall is 

 finished clear away all rubbish and burn. Spray 

 the trees if moss lichen is present w'ith caustic 

 alkali. Give a dressing of artificial manure and 

 slightly fork the whole border, leaving all sweet 

 and clean. Do not tie in Peach and Nectarine 

 trees yet, but tie to stakes away from the wall to 

 retard the buds. 



