IRISH GARDENING. 



89 



are of a deeper and more intsnse colour, quite 

 distinct, and at once conspicuous on the rockery. 

 Some peojjle contrive to grow these delightful 

 plants without any winter protection, but in any 

 but the very driest parts of the country a sheet 

 of glass is advisable. Any gritty, well-drained 

 soil seems to suit them, and they are quite 

 easily propagated. Some of the tinier species, 

 however, are by no means easy either to grow 

 or propagate ; for instance, alpina, helvetica 

 and i^ubescens, to mention no more. It is likely 

 that our climatic conditions are unfavourable. 



Androsace tibetica. 



In the July number of Trsh Gardening 1915 

 this pretty plant was illustrated from a plant 

 growing in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Glas- 

 nevin. We now illustrate the same subject 

 cultivated in a pan for early flowering in the 

 Alpine House. During the latter half of April, 

 while the weather was still harsh and outdoor 

 plants scarcely moving, it made a delightful 

 picture in the shelter of the unheated Alpine 

 House. During winter the leaf rosettes shrink 

 into small tufts through the decay of the lower 

 leaves and the incurving of the remainder, but 

 with the brightening days of spring they 

 expand and produce slender flower stems, each 

 terminating in an imibel of white flowers, each 

 with a yellow eye. At the same time stolons 

 are produced which terminate in a new rosette 

 of leaves, and thus the plant spreads, forming 

 quite a colony of new growths which will flower 

 the following spring. Seeds are not freely 

 produced as far as our experience goes, and 

 propagation by cuttings is not always successful. 

 At present cuttings made of the young growths 

 are being tried. 



Lonicera ciliosa. 



This pretty Honeysuckle is not often seen in 

 gardens, but is well worth cultivating. The 

 flowers are now opening on a sunny wall, where 

 the orange-yellow flowers are quite attractive. 

 The leaves are smooth and glaucous beneath the 

 upper ones near the flowers being clasped round 

 the stem. A native of British Columbia, it 

 seems quite hardy in a sunny position, but in 

 quite ordinary winters we have lost plants in a 

 shady position in heavy soil. 



B., Dublin. 



Pittosporum bicolor. 



A NATIVE of Australia, this interesting species is 

 only suitable for wall culture, and in that way 

 makes a useful evergreen. It is apparently 



hardy if growii on a wall for a large sp33im3n ; 

 on a sunny wall at Glasnevin is quite untouched 

 and is now flowering freely. The leaves are 

 about an inch and a half long, narrow, dark 

 green above and densely downy below. The 

 flowers are yellow, and although not con- 

 spicuously showy are nevertheless rather pretty 

 when closely examined. Propagation is easy by 

 means of cuttings of the half -ripened shoots in 

 summer. j ^ g 



Iberis tenoreana var. petraea. 



Dwarf ui habit, scarcely more than three or 

 four inches high, this is a delightful little plant 

 for the rock garden. It requires a well drained 

 position and likes to be wedged in between stones. 

 The leaves are very small and dark green, and 

 are surmounted by corj^nbs of pure white 

 flowers. 



Iris pumila cyanea. 



This lovely dwarf Iiis, though often quoted as a 

 variety of pumila, is more likely of hybrid 

 origin. In any case it is a most desirable plant 

 for the rock garden or border, and has been 

 flowering lately with remarkable freedom. 

 The flowers are a beautiful shade of violet-purple, 

 the falls being lightly feathered white towards 

 the base, the beard also being white, adding 

 greatly to the beauty of the flower. A sunny 

 position in Avell drained soil suits it admirably, 

 but it is so free and hardy that it will grow 

 nearly anywhere. t> 



Roll of Honour. 



STEPHEN GEORGE ROSE. 



Many readers will learn with regret that Mr. 

 Rose has been reported " missing, believed 

 drowned," and the sympathy of all will go out 

 to his bereaved relatives. 



A member of the ofifice staff of the Royal 

 Botanic Gardens at Glasnevin for over eight 

 years, he joined the R.A.M.C. nearly two years 

 ago, and was on his first voyage when he made 

 the great sacrifice. Of a cheery yet modest 

 disposition, Stephen was a general favourite with 

 all with whom he came in contact, and at the 

 Botanic Gardens, we have reason to know, his 

 services were greatly appreciated. A clever 

 photographer, with a deep love of flowers, many 

 of his photographs have appeared in the pages 

 of Irish Gardening. His knowledge of plants 

 was considerable, and he took more than a passing 

 interest in botanical science. A native of 

 Santry, Co. Dviblin, Mr. Rose was but twenty-five 

 years of age when he gave his life for his country. 



