IRISH GARDENING. 



43 



The Kook ok Garden Pests. By R. Hooper 

 Pearson. London : John Lane. — This little work forms 

 one of the volumes in the " Handbooks of Practical 

 Gardeningf " series issued by the Bodley Head Publishing 

 House. The author has effectively utilised \n its pre- 

 paration the peculiar information acquired during- a 

 fifteen years experience as Sub-Editor of the Gardeners' 

 Chronicle. The text is well arranged, clearly presented, 

 and abundantly illustrated w^ith plates and drawings. 

 After an introductory chapter the book gfoes into details 

 concerning- Insecticides and Fung-icides, and then 

 proceeds to deal in succession with the various pests in 

 different groups of plants and animals, concluding- with 

 a sliort chapter on " Generalities." As an example of 

 the style of the work we take at random the following : — 



"Damping off Fungus ( Pyihium de Baryanum). — 

 This is a fung-us disease, which attacks very young- seed- 

 ling- plants oi BrassiccE and other cruciferous species, also 

 cucumbers and other plants. The tiny plants are 

 attacked just above the g-round level, and the tissues 

 become destroyed, the plants fall over from that point. 

 Excessively damp conditions are necessary for the spread 

 of the fung-us. The remed\- should be to sow seeds only 

 in perfectly drained soil and to ventilate the atmosphere 

 sufficiently if the seeds are sown indoors, taking- care 

 also not to employ more shade than necessary." 



The author does not profess to deal with the purely 

 biological side of his subject, and therefore no attempt is 

 made to even outline the life histories of his pests. He 

 evidently keeps the busy working- gardener before him in 

 every line he writes, and the result is the production of a 

 work the usefulness of which it would be diflicult to over- 

 rate. For those who wish to study the biolog-y of the 

 subject, there are several works already available, but for 

 the practical gardener or fruit g-rower this is the very best 

 book he can have for ready consultation and immediate 

 help. We reg-ret, however, that the author was unable 

 to carry out his orig^inal intention of adding- a g-lossary 

 of the technical terms used in these chapters. It would 

 have been a great aid towards its intelligent use by the 

 non-scientifically trained man. The price of the book 

 is half-a-crown. Every Horticultural Instructor should 

 carry it about in his pocket, and every g-ardener should 

 have it on his shelf for ready reference. 



List of British Plants found either as Natives 

 OR Growing in a Wild State in Britain, Ireland, 

 AND the Channel Islands. By Georg-e Claridg-e Druce. 

 Oxford : At the Clarendon Press. 1908. — This is an 

 indispensable little book to the field botanist. It is an 

 authoritative list of all the species and varieties of wild 

 plants known to occur in the British Islands, including- 

 flowering- plants, ferns and charas. From it we learn 

 that there are 1,390 native species, 401 sub-species, 

 and 89 doubtfully native species. In addition to these 

 there are 144 well-established alien species and 940 

 more or less fug-itive aliens, making- a g-rand total of 

 1,084. Of these there aie 52 trees, 210 shrubs (of 

 which 129 are Rtibi), 7 climbing- plants, 1,020 perennials, 

 76 biennials, and about 350 annuals. It is interesting- 

 to note the result of the compiler's audit as to the 

 habitat or place of g-rowth of these species. To gfet 



better proportional totals the Hieracia and Riibi are 

 disregarded. F"irst, as to the dry-soil loving species, 

 of which there are about 580, species, 180 are rock plants 

 ( 12 affecting- moist rocky places and 20 distinctly lime- 

 lovers), 100 are sun-loving species requiring- free drain- 

 age, while 120 prefer dry turf (20 of which are lime-lovers), 

 100 are salt-lovers, and about 80 are heaths, which of 

 cours e are lime-haters. The water-loving-species numbe 

 nearly 700 species, of which 250 species are marsh and 

 bog plants, while 120 are distinctly aquatic. The 

 larg-est sub-g-roups, however, is made up of woodland 

 plants or those demanding- shade and moisture, and, 

 as the compiler remarks, its size (300 species) throws 

 a sidelig-ht on the ancient condition of these islands as a 

 wooded country. Alpine plants (that is those that do not 

 normally occur beloA' an altitude of 1,000 feet) number 

 about 1 10 (besides about Tp Hieracia). Ag-restals (that 

 is, those found as weeds on tilled land) number about 

 110. The aliens listed reach the high total of 1,100. 

 Their origin may be traced to a variety of causes, to 

 seeds broug-lit in ballast and in imported forag-e, and 

 ag-ricultural seeds and to g-arden escapes, town refuse, 

 and so forth. The book is issued in paper covers, and 

 costs half-a-crown. 



The Culture of Fruit Trees in Pots. By Josh 

 Brace. London : John Murray. — A copy of this now 

 well known book has reached us, and containing- as it 

 does full directions for the culture of fruit trees 

 of all kinds in pots, including- details of the desig-n and 

 erection of the structures necessary for the protection 

 of the trees, it forms a most reliable g-uide to the subject. 

 One o{ the most valuable features of the book is the 

 calendar of work in which directions are g-iven for 

 the treatment of the trees throughout the year. To the 

 cultivator anxious to grow fruits in this way the present 

 work can be safely recommended. 



^^^ 9^^ t^^ 

 A Few Hints on Seed-sowing in Pots. 

 It is the best plan to sow tender annuals in pots, and 

 then transplant to open g-round towards the end of 

 May. A few remarks on the methods and principles of 

 sowing- may be helpful during the present month. As 

 the majority of the seeds are small it will be necessary 

 to use finely sifted soil. To favour g-ermination and 

 enable the seedling-s to develop unchecked, it is impor- 

 tant that the soil used should be capable of holding a 

 sufficiency of moisture, while at the same time it must 

 be open enoug^h to contain air, and to allow of its free 

 interchang-e with the surrounding- atmosphere. To 

 secure such conditions the soil should be specially pre- 

 pared by mixing- together a distinctly sandy loam and 

 sifted leaf mould in about equal proportions. The 

 organic matter will hold moisture, while the presence of 

 the sand will keep the soil well aerated. \Vith such a 

 soil, too, transplantation can be done with a minimum 

 check to growth owing to the ease with which it is held 

 by the mass of rootage. The pot must be well provided 

 with drainag"e, and over the crocks should be spread 

 moss or some fibrous material to prevent the soil from 

 choking up the outlet for water. The soil may now be 

 put in the pot, firmed down, and the surface levelled. 

 In sowing the seeds, especially if they are small, great 

 care should be taken not to sow them too thickly. 

 It is a too common mistake, and brings about an 

 altogether luinecessary ruinous struggle for room 

 among the seedlings afterwards. V'ery small seeds 

 must be lightly covered with sifted earth. In most 

 cases no artificial heat is absolutely required for 

 germination, all that is really needed being the protec- 

 tion of a cold frame. Care must be taken to shield the 

 seedlings from intense sunlight, but at the same time 

 light is necessary for sturdy growth. The seedlings 

 should be pricked off so soon as they may be conveniently 

 handled. When all danger of frost is past they may be 

 planted out. 



