IRISH GARDENING. 



The Month's Work. 



The Flower Garden. 



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



WHEN the glory of the pelarg-onium bloom is past, 

 cuttings in more than sufficient numbers may be 

 put in. Let medium growth be selected, and 

 space and time will be saved if a number, say six, be 

 dibbled in around the edge of four inch pots, using a 

 firm, sandv compost. After the old plants have been 

 cut back, and indeed for some time before, they should 

 be kept on the dry side, and when the 3'oung growths 

 are about half an inch long they should be turned out 

 of their pots, the ball of soil considerably reduced, the 

 stronger roots cut back, and the plants repotted in small 

 pots, say fives or sixes. These plants, when shifted on 

 during the season, will make large and fine specimens. 



Azaleas, camellias, rhododendrons, and plants of a 

 similar nature, if their growth has been made, should be 

 stood in the open so that the new wood may be thoroughly 

 ripened. A sunny position will suit them well, but there 

 must be shelter from storms, and watering will require 

 very careful attention. Here again the usefulness of 

 plunging the pots is seen ; when they are treated in this 

 manner there is not the same danger of sudden drought, 

 which in regard to plants of this class is very damaging, 

 and often proves fatal. 



Sow mignonette for winter flowering ; the greatest 

 success is perhaps attained when the seeds are sown in 

 the pots in which the plants are intended to bloom, as 

 they resent any little root disturbance. A really good 

 compost would be — four-fifths loam, one-fifth mortar 

 rubbish, leaf-mould and sand in equal proportions. 

 This should be made very firm before sowing, and the 

 pots filled only to one and a half inches of the rims, so 

 as to allow for future top-dressings. Shade while seeds 

 are germinating, and less watering will be required. 



The potting and growing on of primulas, cinerarias, 

 calceolarias, cyclamens, &c. , will require much watchful- 

 ness and care. All of these will require slight shading, 

 and cyclamens will be much benefited by being syringed 

 or watered lightly overhead on the evenings of warm 

 sunny days, of which the past month has not been very 

 productive, to the great sorrow of the gardener. 



Place zonal pelargoniums intended for winter bloom- 

 ing in a very sunny position in the open, attend to water- 

 ing, and pick off all flower trusses as they are seen. 

 These plants always flower more abundantly when 

 grown in small pots, therefore those exceeding five or 

 six inches in diameter should never be employed. What- 

 ever extra food may be required later can be supplied 

 by regular feeding. 



Gloxinias, begonias, &c. , now in flower will require to 

 be shaded or the blooms will not last long ; plenty of 

 ventilation is also essential to their welfare. Early seed- 

 lings should by this month have grown into strong 

 plants, many or all of which will flower ; and how 

 anxiously the grower will watch for his reward in the 

 shape of good things. For the purpose of propagating 

 these the leaves of gloxinias may be easily struck, 



taking them off with an inch or two of leaf-stalk, and 

 inserting them in small pots filled with a very light and 

 sandy soil ; bottom heat is desirable in this operation 

 but not necessary. However, if there is a hot-bed in use 

 for cucumbers or melons the pots may be plunged in it, 

 and roots will be formed in a very siiort time. If cut- 

 tings can be obtained from begonias they may be treated 

 in the same way, and will succeed : but please spare 

 the water. 



Layer carnations as soon as the grass, as the growths 

 are termed, is strong enough to bear the knife (see 



j illustrations and description in Irish Gardening, 

 July, igo6, and June, 1908). Dahlia growths must be 

 thinned if fine flowers are wanted, and even when they 



■ are required in quantity it will be well to limit in some 

 degree the numbers i .f shoots. Trap earwigs, which do 

 much damage by eating the young growing points and 

 foliage, by placing small pots partially filled with dry 

 moss on stakes, or pieces of bamboo cane will be found 

 useful for the same purpose. Do not forget the tying of 

 the branches as they advance in growth. 



^ ^ ^ 



The Fruit Garden. 



By GEORGE DOOLAN, Instructor in Fruit Culture, Department of 

 Agriculture. 



AMERICAN GOOSEBERRY MILDEW. — This 

 _£'\^ destructive blight infesting the gooseberry crop 

 has appeared very early this season. It has proved 

 a most infectious disease, and no eff'orts should be spared 

 to check its progress. It is to be hoped, with the efforts 

 the Department of Agriculture are using and the special 

 Order dealing with this disease in force, that it will 

 before long be effectually stamped out. The disease is 

 easily recognised, being of a white, floury nature in its 

 earliest stages of growth. In about a week or ten days it 

 changes to a chocolate colour. The berries usually are 

 first attacked, then it appears on the soft young tips of 

 the growing shoots. Birds, insects, and animals carry 

 the spores of the mildew from garden to garden, and 

 doubtless it has often been carried on men's clothes. 

 Owners of clean plantations should keep a sharp look 

 out that the disease does not appear imawares. Pre- 

 vention is better than cure, and if the bushes be sprayed 

 a few times with sulphide of potassium, two ounces to 

 three gallons of water, there is every possibility of the 

 disease not infesting them. In case of a bad attack, 

 burning the bushes is the surest and most economical 

 remedy. Should the attack be a light one, pick off all 

 infested berries, and cut off diseased branches, and burn 

 them ; spray immediately with above mixture. Spra3ing 

 every ten days will be necessary where the mildew has 

 been noticed. 



Insect pests, caterpillars, and greenfly have been very 

 prevalent this season, giving a lot of trouble to fruit 

 growers. The sawfly caterpillar has been very active 

 on gooseberries, two sprayings being necessary in some 

 cases to stop his ravages. Remedies for these will, be 

 found in the April issue of Irish Gardening, page 60. 

 American blight is already making its appearance on 

 young apple trees, and no time should be lost in taking 

 measure to check its progress. If allowed to spread, 

 this pest does a lot of injury to young trees, and it is most 

 difficult to eradicate. Its presence on young trees is 

 indicated by the white, cottony substance covering its 

 body. Infested parts of the trees should be painted with 

 pure paraffin oil, using an old paint brush for the 

 purpose. 



Strawberries. —Where a supply of good, sturdy 

 runners is required for making a fresh plantation, a start 

 should be made as early as possible. Select the first 

 runners from fruitful plants, soften a small patch of 

 ground on which to place the runner. Some propa- 



