IRISH GARDENING. 



Answers to Correspondents — contd. 



Manuring Friit Trees (" Slig-o Fruit Grower").-- 

 It is difficult to lay down hai-d and fast rules, as so 

 much depends upon soil and the a.ge and variety of 

 trees. In "feneral terms, if the tree is makinaf only 3 to 

 6 inches of <;rowth in leiig-th in the year, it requires 

 _<jfenerous feedins^ ; if from 6 to 12 inches it requires 

 some feeding-; but if makinof from 12 to 18 inches the 

 soil is most likely quite rich enoug^h. If you deem feed- 

 ing- necessary, apply at once (better if you had done so 

 in the autumn) 4 ozs. of basic slag- and i oz. kainit per 

 square yard as far as the roots extend. Then, in March 

 again apply 2 ozs oi' superphosphate and i oz. of sul- 

 phate of ammonia per square yard which latter dressing 

 ma}' be repealed later if the trees are heavily set with 

 fruit. Soot and bonfire ashes are excellent for fruit trees, 

 especially apples. These manures are not to be dug- in, 

 as dig-g-ing will injure the delicate surface feeding-roots, 

 but the hoe may be used with g-ood purpose. 



" R. M. P." — Your queries were referred to Mr Miles, 

 and he replies — ( i ). If violets are well bunched and care- 

 fully packed there is a g-ood market for them in the 

 cities and towns of England, Ireland and Scotland. The 

 more g-round you have in this flower the better averag-e 

 price you will realise through the season, as you will 

 have more flowers to send out in the early months, — t'.e., 

 October to end of December. (2). Kindly read article in 

 January number of Irish Gardening carefully. (3). In a 

 g-eneral way florists gfive 1/6 per dozen for ordinary- 

 violets and a higher fig-ure for Luxonne and Pi-incess of 

 Wales, &c. , subject to agreement. Prices are throug-h 

 the sea-son the same. 14). Also I think explained in the 

 article. A^.B. — In every business the grower has to 

 make his own market, it may be local or it mav be a 



long way from home. If he g-ives personal attention in 

 every detail he will find a good opening for violets. I 

 think myself that both the Irish Agricultural and the 

 Cong-ested Districts Board could help in this matter 

 through their officials attending the violet markets 

 occasionally, and sending- printed forms of instructions 

 to those forwarding inferior flowers (they are, I know, 

 in some cases taking the initiative). Irish flowers are 

 far superior to the French, because they are sweetly 

 scented, and should arrive perfectly fresh when opened. 



Seakale (" G. H."). — Seakale thrives best in a deep, 

 rich, sandv loam dug to the depth of two spits. Plants 

 may be raised from seed sown in April in drills 2 inches 

 deep and 15 to 18 inches apart. Thin out to 12 inches 

 apart. Water well in dry weather. Plants may be 

 also raised from root cutting-s. Side roots removed from 

 plants lifted in autumn about '< inch thick should be cut 

 into K-ng-ths of 4 to 5 inches, distinguishing- the top from 



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