IRISH GARDENING 



187 



Apples and Pears. — Coulinue to prune all Apple 

 and Pear trees during mild weather. Where sum- 

 mer pruning was done this will be a very light 

 operation. Top dress all the trees if possible, 

 especially where constant hoeing and raking off 

 the weeds have been done during the summer. 

 These trees often suffer for want of a few more 

 inches of fresh composts. See that all freshly 

 planted trees are not rocking; they nuist bei 

 securely fastened otherwise they cannot make a 

 fresh start. 



General Work. — See that the soil yards are full 

 ol fresh soil for top dressing. Keep all wood 

 ashes, lime, soot and manures in a perfectly dry 

 shed. In wet weather prepare cuttings of 

 Gooseberry and Currants. Look over the fruit 

 room as often as possible, removing any fruit 

 that is showing signs of decay. Much of this 

 fruit will be useful in the kitchen. Watch care- 

 fully the results of all fruit exhibitions and de- 

 monstrations, and keep thoroughly up to date 

 with all varieties, and, if possible, attend any 

 lectures that may be held in your district. Do 

 not be afraid to ask any questions to further one's 

 knowledge of fruit growing, and get the best advice 

 Ijossible. 



Flower Garden and Pleasure Grounds. 



LiLiuMs. — Plant any Liliums immediately they 

 are received from the nurseries. They may be 

 used almost anywhere in the flower garden, 

 through beds of Azaleas and Rhododendrons. 

 Plant Auratum in bold masses; in damp and 

 moist situations plant L. r.rcelsum, L. tefitaceiim, 

 and L. siipt'ibum. In the herbaceous borders L. 

 croceum and L. umhellatum, and clialcedonicum, 

 through borders or beds of Montbretias L. Han- 

 sonii, or any of the elegans type. Take every 

 care in planting, using a good sandy compost, and 

 allow a depth of eight to ten inches for the stem 

 rooting varieties. 



Roses. — Some of the most delicate varieties of 

 Tea Roses will require a little protection from 

 severe frost, and mulching of long litter will 

 also prove beneficial. Those growing on walls may 

 need a few spruce or laurel lioughs interlaced be- 

 tween the main branches. Roses growing on per- 

 golas and poles, &c., should be thinly trained in 

 over the whole space; cut out the oldest shoots, 

 tying in the best ripened shoots. 



Hardy Fernery. — The dead fronds of hardy 

 Ferns may be used for protecting the crowns. A 

 good mulching of leaf soil, cow manure, and sand 

 should l)e applied, and which will protect the roots 

 in hard weather. The evergreen species, such as 

 Scoloj^endrium, Polypodium, Polystichum and 

 Aspidium will give a certain amount of freshness 

 and character to the fernery during the winter 

 months. Where Ferns are planted in rockeries, 

 the stems, boughs and roots used in its structure 

 iiuist be carefully examined, and any that are too 

 much decayed must be replaced by sound 

 duplicates. 



Montbretias. — Where Montbretias are special- 

 ised, and the choice varieties grown, they are best 

 lifted and treated like the Gladiolas. All Mont- 

 bretias are much better for thin planting. They 

 are too often allowed to remain undisturbed until 

 tliey become too weak to flower. 



Sweet Violets. — Remove the lights whenever 

 jiossible from the Violet frames ; they will require 

 l)ut very little water. Give the surface soil a 

 weekly stirring, picking off all damp and dead 

 leaves, during heavy weather keeping the frames 



well lined with hot-bed material, and endeavour 

 to get the cover off for a few hours every day. 

 Lift the buds above the foliage if at all inclined to 

 stay under; this will cause them to open much 

 quicker. Do not use fire heat if it^can be pre- 

 vented. 



Frames, &c.— The greatest caution will be neces- 

 sary to keep tlie rooted cuttings of Pentstemon, 

 Calceolarias, Alysuins, Marguerite and other 

 occupants of cold frames safe from severe frost. 

 Damp is almost as much to be dreaded. Keep 

 plenty of air on whenever possilile, and keep the 

 surface soil stirred, and give a dusting of fresh 

 lime every ten to fourteen days. 



Sweet Peas.— Give Swtyet Peas plenty of air 

 whenever possible, and keep a sharp look out for 

 slugs and thrip. Dust wth soot and give the 

 surface soil a slight pricking up with a sharp- 

 pointed stick. Sweet Peas are very scarce this 

 coming season, so I would advise getting the seeds 

 ordered early where this has not yet been done. 

 Prepare the site for next season's plants by 

 trenching and heavily manuring the soil. Leave 

 the surface as rough as possible; add plenty of 

 wood ashes and lime. Where grown on exhibition 

 lines the supports may be placed in position 

 ready to tie the canes to in the spring. 



Specimen Bedding Plants. — As soon as the 

 specimen plants for next summer's bedding be- 

 come rooted through afford them the final potting, 

 using large pots, and pot very firm. Make sure 

 the pots are thoroughly clean and dry. LTse 

 umbrella-shaped wires for training the standard 

 heads to. Keep the pyramids well pinched and 

 all flowers picked off. Syringe well to keep down 

 insect pests, except Zonals. 



Specimen Plants in Tubs. — Hydrangeas, 

 Agapanthus, Ivyleaves and Fuchsias, growing ancl 

 established in tubs, must be kept free from 

 draughts; give just sufficient water to keep them 

 from shrivelling. Keep all dead leaves picked off, 

 and do not prune them until putting the tubs 

 into a gentle heat to start growth for the season. 



Humea Elegans. — Give the Humeas a shift into 

 two sizes larger pot as they become full of roots; 

 be exceptionally careful with the water for these 

 plants. Try and keep them in cool surroundings 

 and the soil in the happy medium state. 



Early Flowering Gladiolus. — If a few frames 

 can be spared for the planting of Gladiolus Col- 

 vilei, they will prove more than useful and well 

 repay the time spent on them. We never use 

 fire heat for them, growing quite cold and with 

 al)undance of air. Mix up a compost of two parts 

 loaui, one part leaf soil, one part decayed 

 river sand; plant the crowns about four inches 

 deep and two inches apart. The Bride, Blushing 

 Bride, Ackermanii, Peach Blossom and Salmon 

 Queen are most useful and delicate varieties. 



Hellebores. — Remove the handlights from the 

 Christmas Roses as soon as the flowers are 

 gathered, and place them over the later varieties. 

 I think it is by far the best plan to allow the 

 Hellebores to open naturally and not lift them 

 and place in forcing houses. By using the flowers 

 in their proper season they will keep healthy for 

 years, with an annual top dressing. 



Bulbs. — All kinds of bulbs are coming through 

 the soil very early this year, and care must be 

 taken when cleaning up not to damage them in 

 any way. It will be advisable to get all the 

 leaves together as quickly as possible this year, 

 when they are all down, otherwise they will cause 

 the young growth of the bulbs to become drawn 



