IRISH GARDENING. 



more feet from the stem of the tree, as the roots of such 

 trees have spread a g-reat deal. Liquid manure, where 

 obtainable, is also of g'reat service to old trees, making- 

 thorn more \ig-orous, and improving the size and the 



uiialitN- of the fruit. 



The Flower Garden. 



By J, G. TONER, Horticultural Instructor, County Monaghan, 



Spake full well in language quaint and olden. 



One who dwelleth by the castled Rhine, 

 When he called the flowers, so blue and golden, 



St.Trs. that in earth's firmament do shine. 



PERHAPS at no season art' Howi-rs mori' valued than 

 al present, when the dark days of dismal winter- 

 liokl the sway. Where even a little care has been 

 given lo flower cultiu-e, the eyes are g-laddened and the 

 heart cheered by the sight. 



Chief amongst these are the late flowering chr\san- 

 ihemums, aiul few plants indeed afford a better return. 

 Where only a limited number can be grown, a selection 

 of varieties should be inade that would be likely to give a 

 succession of bloom during the season. Now, and 

 during- next month would be a suitable time for taking 

 cuttings, which should be dibbled in firmlv in sandv 

 compost either in pots or boxes, selecting the best when 

 potting on later. Primulas will now be making a good 

 show, it will pay to be sparing with water and the season 

 of flowering will be much prolonged, and the 

 appearance of the plants improved if the seed pods are 

 ]iicked off; P. stcUata and P. obcuiiat are great fa\our- 

 ites, probably on account of the length of the flower- 

 spikes ; the latter, to:i, blooms nearly all the year round. 



Earl}- cinerarias should now be in evidence, and ma\- 

 be lighth- fed initil part of the flowers open ; plenty of air 

 should be aft'orded to later batches in pits or cool 

 houses. An unusual degree of brightness will be 

 afforded if Zonal Pelargoniums are grown ; the\- 

 require a rather dry atmosphere and a temperature 

 of about 55 degrees. Cuttings for siunmer displa\- ma\- 

 be put in now, and old plants may be repotted and grown 

 on, the youngsters howe\er are better value. 



H\-acinths, Tulips and Narcissus, if potted at the proper 

 period, can easily be flowered now. The\- are without 

 exception to be had cheaply, and \\\e\ respond immedi- 

 ately to a little heat. They should o.:cup\- a light and airs- 

 position, otherwise flowers and foliage will be weak. \o 

 attempt should be made to force them until the pots have 

 been well fiUetl -with roots. They may with advantage be 

 shaded for a while after being removed from the plunge. 



There is not a great deal to be done in the outdoor 

 garden just now, but preparations should be made for 

 overhauling herbaceous borders, room made for new 

 occupants, or for division or transplanting of old ones. 

 If the necessary mulching has not been put on, it should 

 be no longer deferred. Where, as is nearly always the 

 case, there are numbers of bulbs established in these 

 borders, care must betaken that they are not damaged 

 when using forks or spades. To guard against this 

 danger they should be labelled. If this is objectionable, 

 pegs may be put down to mark them, or, better still, defer 

 the work if possible until the}' have become \-isible. 



The Vegetable Garden. 



By WILLIAM TYNDALL, Instructor in Horticulture, Co. Kildare. 



C "CONSIDERING the very wet time we have 

 ji had I think it not out of place to remind 

 all who have allowed dig-g-ing, trenching-, 

 and other garden work to get into arrear to 

 push it forward as quickly as the weather will 

 permit, as from this month onward each week 



will bring- as much work as can he enicient]\- 

 performed. 



Seed catalogues ha\e arri\ed, and the seed 

 order must receive due and early attention, for 

 my advice to kitchen gardeners is to clear out 

 most of the old seeds in stock, with the excep- 

 tion of cucumber, melon and vegetable marrow. 

 I admit old seed may germinate wxU enough, 

 but very seldom does old seed produce as good 

 a plant as new, and it is better not to run the 

 risk of failure. In the present issue of Irish 

 CiARDENiNG a Calendar is published in which 

 the names of sc>me of the most useful xarieties 

 of the several kinds of vegetables are given, 

 and I would advise readers to go carefullv 

 through this list before sending the seed order 

 away. Bear in mind that some varieties of 

 \ egetables do well in one county and are ver}- 

 inferior in another county, while to owners o'i 

 large or small gardens, I would ask them to 

 let the gardener select his own seeds, as 

 liioiigh the collections put up b}- seedmen are 

 \ery good value, yet to my mind this is a ver}- 

 unsatisfactory way of buying seeds, as often 

 one has to take something that is not required 

 and too little of the vegetables wanted. 



.\e\-er spread maniue on the plots or put in small 

 heaps till immediately before you are read}- to dig it 

 into the soil. Yet this is an every-day occurrence ; but 

 the practice is bad, as much of the nitrogen, &c., of the 

 manure is carried awav by air, &c. Leaves should be 

 collected — if this has not already been done — for mixing ^ 



with manure for hot beds and to put in large heaps to 

 deca}- into vegetable moulil. 



Skkds, &C. — Afaii}- kinds of seeds will lequire to be 

 sown in boxes, in heat, in Januar}-. Onions, leeks, 

 tomato, cucumber, cauliflower, lettuce, and early peas — 

 the last-named in cool houses or frames ; while radishes, 

 carrots, and potatoes should now be sown in frames on 

 well-prepared hot beds, covering the glass each night 

 with mats. Useful sized boxes for raising onions, leeks, 

 tomato, lettuce, and cauliflower plants would be two 

 feet long, fifteen inches wide, and foiu- or five inches 

 deep ; if the boards in the bottom are close, bore in 

 them four or six holes i '4 inch diarneter ; put drainage, 

 such as broken crocks or bricks, in the bottom of the 

 box, and co\-er with leaves or moss, fill with soil com- 

 posed of loam two parts, one part leaf mould, one part 

 well-rotted stable manure, as from a speiit mushroom 

 bed, and enough sand to keep the whole porous. After 

 mixing, the compost should be put through a quarter- 

 inch riddle. Sow the seed thinly, and press firmly down 

 with a smooth piece of board, cover lightly with fini' 

 soil, atid give a good watering. I know that man}- 

 gardeners who require very large onions and leeks sow 

 the seeds in small pots, but I have found the boxes to 

 answer quite as well, and they are much more con- 

 venient, occupying less room, so that many more plants 

 can be grown. For the above kinds of seeds give a 

 temperature of about 60 degrees after sowing, and 

 when the seeds are up give air on all favourable 

 occasions when weather is mild. 



CfCL'MBERS should be sown in pots and plunged in 

 bottom heat of 70 or 80 degrees, and if the soil, that 

 gi\en for the other seeds will do well, is moist, little will 

 be required till the plants grow up. Great care is neces- 

 sary early in the year to avoid giving the plants a chill 

 by exposing them to a draught or applying cold water 

 to roots or leaves. 



Pras can be sowii in long, narrow boxes, giving fair 



