IRISH GARDENING 



SiilXJiiative, probably the bej^t rasplxniy grown. 

 The berries are dark reel, very sweet, and ripen 

 early— one of the best for eating and most 

 suitable for bottling. The canes are strong and 

 \dgorous, it is a most suitable variety for tralUs. 

 Norwich Wonder, a vigorous sturdy grower, 

 most suitable for large plantations where no 

 stakes are used. It is s])lendid for preserving. 

 Baumford's Seedling and Hornet are also to be 

 recommended ; they are good growers of well 

 proved merit. G. Vennard. 



(Sternbergia liitea, commonly known as the 

 Winter Daffodil, is the supposed Lily of the Field, 

 of Scripture, a native of the Mediterranean 

 region from Spain and Algeria to Syria and 

 Persia. There are several forms of this, but 

 the variety angustifolia is by far the best, as it 

 soon becomes established and blooms more freely 

 than any other. This and the type are always 

 an attractive feature in the Cambridge Botanic 

 Gardens at this season of the year, with their 

 rich deep yellow flowers. Sternbergia Fischeri, 



Photo hij] 



Sternbergia lutea 

 lu Cambridge Botanic Gardeuis. 



[F. G. Preston 



Sternbergias. 



Few plants are more valuable and attractive 

 than the genus Sternbergia either in the rockery, 

 the open border, and even for the edge of 

 shrubberies, for they brighten up the garden 

 Avith their beautiful yellow Crocus-like flowers 

 at this season of the year for quite two months, 

 and with such bulbs as Zephyranthes, Colchi- 

 cums and Crocus, that flower during the autumn, 

 they add a touch of warm yellow, which others 

 lack. It is essential that they should be planted 

 in a warm spot in well-drained soil and should 

 be left undisturbed ; apart from that their 

 requirements are so easily met, that one wonders 

 why this beautiful class of plant is not more 

 often grown. 



a native of the Caucasus, somewhat resembles 

 S. lutea, and by some authorities is considered 

 only a form of that species ; it differs, however, 

 in blooming in the spring, and by its stijjitate 

 ovary and capsule. Sternbergia macrantha. 

 from Asia Minor, is a handsome species, but not 

 so reliable as forms of S. lutea, although its large 

 bold flowers are double the size ; the flowers 

 appear in the autumn, but the foliage does not 

 appear until the spring. Another species not 

 usually seen in cultivation is S. colchiciflora, a 

 native of S. Europe, and another autumn- 

 flowering species, the foliage of which appears in 

 the spring ; it is of diminutive growth when 

 compared with forms of S. lutea, and the 

 perianth segments little more than an inch long. 

 Cambridge. F. G. Preston. 



