i88 



IRISH GARDENING 



ami weak and unalilo to staiul the wintry 

 weather. 



(."limbers. — Many hardy eliuibing i)lant.s may ))e 

 .safely ])lanted in mild weather. Well prepare the 

 site, using a good strong compost with plenty of 

 manure added, remembering that they will 

 cccupy the position for a good many years. 

 Wistaria, Jasmine, Honeysuckle, Clematis, 

 Magnolias, Vines, Ampelopsis, Akebia, Aristol- 

 oehia, Crataegus, Cydonias (in flower now), 

 C'eanothus, Indigofera, Piptanthus, Stauntonia 

 and Schizophragma are a few species for this 

 jnu'pose. Jasminum nudiflorum is in full flower at 

 the present time. A striking covering for a per- 

 gohi facing north is Jjaburnum intermixed with 

 Wistaria, the flowers last so much longer on the 

 cool side of the walls. 



Lawns. — Continue to top-dress the lawns as far as 

 time and material allow. Give a good sweeping 

 once a week but do not roll nuich this month; in 

 fact, the roller is better off the grass for a bit. 

 Keep the edges still clipped if growing during 

 mild spells. Keep the pleasure ground walls in 

 good condition, making them as interesting as 

 possible. Push forward all alterations, so that the 

 New Year comes in with a clean slate. 



Southern and Western Counties^ 



By J. Matthews, The Gardens, Tourin, 

 Cappoquin, Co. \^'aterford. 



The Kitchen Garden. 



December, with its short, dark days brings us to 

 the end of the year. P'or the gardener, however, 

 V really means the beginning of his calendar. It 

 is a month of preparations, chiefly digging and 

 trenching. Many other little jobs can be done 

 when the ground is unsuitable to work on, and 

 which will save time in the busy season. Pea- 

 .'-ticks may be gathered and prepared, labels made 

 and painted, stakes of various lengths tied up into 

 bundles, tools cleaned and repaired, cutting boxes 

 made. All these little things may seem trifling, 

 but are necessary to the successful working of a 

 garden. 



In frosty weather cart manure on to the ground 

 ready for digging in, and never dig ground when 

 il is frozen or in a very wet state. 



Careful attention will be required now with 

 ))lants in cold frames. Afford plenty of ventila- 

 tion to Cauliflowers and Lettuce when the state 

 uf the weather permits, stir the soil occasionally 

 with a hand fork and remove any damp leaves. 



Forcing. — Seakale and Khubarb will he much 

 in demand during the festive season, and niay be 

 forci'd with very little trouble if roots were lifted 

 as advised last month. Pack the Rhubarb stools 

 close together where it is to be forced, filling in 

 the spaces with rotten leaves; if a forcing house 

 is not available under the stage of a warm green- 

 house will suit. Seakale roots may be placed in 

 pots or boxes, and must be kept dark. Lift further 

 1 latches to keep up the supply. New plantations 

 of Rhubarb may be made this month on deep, 

 well-worked soil; plant the stools three feet axiart, 

 and ill the second year alternate plants could be 

 litlcd for fort;in^. 



Potatoes. — Select tubers for early forcing, and 

 place in trays in a light, Avarm house to sprout; 



when these uiv aliout two inches long })lant in 

 nine or ten iiu-h pots three parts filled with light, 

 porous soil; the remaining space will allow for 

 top-dressing; later l)atches may be brought on in 

 frames. Examine those in the store, pinching out 

 any diseased tul)ers, and rub off iiny sjjiouts that 

 have started. 



Onions are not keeping too well owing to the 

 difficulty in getting them ripened; remove any 

 decaying bulbs. Shallots also should be turned 

 over. 



Sow Mustard and Cress at intervals according 

 to the demand. After severe frosts go over late 

 IJianted Cabbage, and tighten the soil round the 

 stems, run the grubber along the drills to keep 

 the soil loose, and, if required, draw more soil u]) 

 tc the stems. Young plants remaining in the seed 

 beds will require a dusting of soot and lime to 

 check slugs. 



The Fruit Garden. 



Operations in this quarter must be regulated 

 according to weather conditions, and on the state 

 of the soil; endeavour to comi)lete the plantinsx 

 this month if possible, if the ground is at all 

 workable. Push on the pruning and tying up of 

 wall trees, with the exception of Peaches and 

 Nectarines, which are better left till the buds 

 begin to swell. 



Collect and burn all primings and old ties, 

 spraying the trees afterwards with a good winter 

 wash. For scale on Pears or Peaches lime sulphur 

 is to be recommended at the strength of one 

 gallon to twenty gallons of water. For trees 

 coated with moss and lichen a stronger solution 

 will be necessary; one gallon to fifteen gallons of 

 water may be used with safety. Spraying must 

 be done on calm, dry days, and no opportunity 

 .should be missed to get it done early. Give fruit 

 trees and bushes a dusting of basic slag round the 

 roots, lightly forking it in. Complete the tying 

 up of Raspberries and Loganberries and avoid 

 overcrowding. About five or six canes from each 

 stool will be ample to cover the wires at a space of 

 six inches. 



Young Strawberry plants should be looked over 

 after severe frost and the soil tightened round 

 the plants. Apply a dressing of manure between 

 the drills if not already done.. Examine the fruit 

 in the storeroom occasionally, removing any de- 

 cayed samples. 



The Pleasure Grounds. 



Now that all the leaves have fallen give the 

 grounds a thorough elean up. When collecting the 

 leaves store them up in an out of the way corner 

 for making hot-beds and leaf-mould; when well 

 rotted they form a first rate top-dressing for 

 Acers, Ericas, &c. 



The weather during the early iiart of November 

 was ideal for planting, and if this work is finished 

 give the beds and Ijorders a light forking over to 

 give them a tidy appearance. Complete the ])1 ant- 

 ing of Roses as soon as possible. When planting 

 is "finished draw up some loose soil round the necks 

 as a protection from hard frost; for standards, 

 some dry bracken or straw secured round the top 

 of the stems will give the required protection. 

 Have an eye to rock plants liable to suffer from 

 damp; a little sharp sand or lime nibble i)laced 

 round them will help to dry up the moisture. 



END OF VOLUME XV. 



