IRISH GARDENING. 



91 



of wallflowers. If a really good show is desired in spring, the 



following plan will prove successful — when the young plants are 



high they may be either lifted or pulled, 



three inches 



The Flower Garden. 



By J. G. TONER, Horticrulttiral Instructor, Co. Monaghan 



ONE of the most important operations requiring 

 attention during this month is the placing of 

 chrysanthemums in their flowering pots, and let 

 it be understood that these remarks are not ititended for 

 those who have reduced the cultivation of "mums" to 

 a fine art. Rather are they meant to help those who 

 grow them for greenhouse and general decorative 

 purposes. In this, as it may be termed, the ordinary 

 culture of the chrysanthemum, all that is necessary is 

 to use a substantial compost, sound and sweet, such as 

 three-parts loam, one of old manure or leaf-mould, and 

 a small proportion of lime rubbish, and sand ; it should 

 not be very fine, and, in the course of potting on, 

 the compost should be rammed firmly round the ball of 

 soil as turned out from the smaller pots, and only just 

 covering its surface. As much space as possible should 

 be left below the rim of the final pots, so that as the 

 plants advance in growth they may be encouraged by 

 giving them rich top-dressings. An amount of labour 

 in watering will be saved if the pots are plunged — that 

 is, sunk — one-half to four-fifths of their depth in a bed of 

 ashes or turf-mould. Care should be taken, however, to 

 place boards or slates underneath them so as to prevent 

 the ingress of worms, which play havoc with the drainage 

 scheme of the careful grower. Prick off seedlings of 

 all the Primula tribe, using a soil in which sand and 

 leaf-mould are well to the fore ; water very carefully, 

 and shade for a while. 



Cineraria seedlings will do better if placed in three- 

 inch pots ; keep cool, and make some arrangements that 

 will prevent the sun's rays shining directly on them. 

 The same remarks apply to calceolarias, but they 

 should be pricked off in pans. Tuberous begonias for 

 inside work should now be well established in their 

 flowering pots ; if there is reason to think that they have 

 quite filled them with roots, feed, and feed regularly and 

 liberally. 



It is not too late yet to increase stock of winter- 

 flowering carnations, of which there are now so many 

 easily grown and lovely kinds. If any reader is so 

 unfortunate as to be without them, for goodness sake 

 let a dozen or so of good kinds be purchased imme- 

 diately and grown on ; if necessary, the names of " guid 

 'uns," as they say in the north, will be given in these 

 columns. As space is somewhat limited, readers will 

 please refer to previous notes as to treatment of 

 various indoor subjects. Get dahlias at once into 

 their summer quarters, taking the precautions for 

 their protection given last month. Finish up as soon 

 as possible all details of bedding out. Mulch and 

 stake sweet peas. Prick off when ready seedlings of 

 biennials and perennials ; also take particular care 



bunch them evenly in 

 twenties or fifties, cut 

 the taproots to the 

 length of an inch or so ; 

 clean off", then dibble 

 out six inches apart if 

 possible ; water if the 

 ground be dry. In the 

 course of a month or so 

 go over them all care- 

 fully and stop them — 

 tiiat is, pinch out the leading growth, and then — — ? 

 Well, just try it, as the patent medicine pushers say. 



As border plants advance in growth see that proper 

 slakes are provided, and further see that the plants are 

 secured to them. How often do we see the stakes there 

 in their proper place, but the growths of the plants, oh ! 

 where are they ? Sometimes straggling about or lying 

 on the ground. What a show the old-fashioned tulips 

 made a little while ago, now "past is all their fame" ; 

 but not so their beauty or brilliance of colouring, and if 

 the craze for them has departed, they are still more 

 than worth the little attention they require. 



Thin annuals with an unsparing hand, and loosen the 

 soil about them. It is not necessary to mention the 

 keeping down of weeds ; so far as the flower garden 

 is concerned there should never be any visible. 



^^^ C^^ ft^^ 



The Fruit Garden. 



Ey GEORGE DOOLAN, Instructor in Fruit Culture, Department of 

 Agriculture. 



THINNING FRUIT.— Where the best varieties of 

 apples are grown and the choicest fruit desired, 

 thinning of the fruit should be carried out. In- 

 deed almost every kind of fruit is benefited by a 

 judicious thinning. Grapes and peaches are always 

 thinned, two-thirds and more of the fruit being removed, 

 and the result is that larger fruit of finer quality is pro- 

 duced. A certain amount of judgment is needed to 

 determine the number of fruit to leave on an apple or 

 pear tree. It is obvious, however, that weak-growing- 

 trees cannot develop so much fruit as their stronger- 

 growing neighbours, therefore they should have the crop 

 severely thinned ; whilst strong, sturdy trees may be 

 allowed to carry a much larger crop. Young trees, too, 

 need more severe thinning than old-established varieties, 

 and newly planted trees should not be allowed to pro- 

 duce any fruit the first year. A heavy crop is a severe 

 tax on any tree. In thinning remove all small and 

 deformed fruit. Old trees may be allowed two or three 

 fruits to each truss, but in case of young trees one fruit 

 to each truss is sufficient. If there is a difficulty in 

 severing the fruit, use scissors. The following varieties 

 of apples usually carry good crops, and would derive 

 great benefit by having the fruit thinned — viz.. Early 

 Victoria, Grenadier, Lane's Prince Albert, AUington 

 Pippin, and Stirling Castle. Gooseberries and red 

 currants making strong growths should have some of 

 the centre shoots removed ; this will allow air and light 

 to enter and ripen the wood for the following year. 



General Remarks. — Remove suckers growing from 

 the roots of all fruit trees, raspberries and currants ex- 

 cepted. Thin out suckers of raspberries to about six 

 canes, leaving the strongest. If the removed suckers be 

 planted without delay, they will make good canes at the 

 end of the season; plant in a nursery bed. Keep a sharp 

 watch for insect pests on fruit trees, especially greenfly 

 and sawfly caterpillar, and if any indication of attack be 

 noticed, apply remedies as directed in the previous issue 

 of Irish Gardening. Keep the ground clean and 

 aerated by the frequent use of the Dutch hoe. Where 



