IRISH GARDENING. 



5 



Tree and Shrub Notes, 



At this time of the year there is generally some 

 cutting or pruning to be done among large trees. 

 This work is best clone this month, for it may be 

 noticed that the pap of many trees, particularly 

 those with large leaves, such as walnuts, horse- 

 chestnuts, and sycamores, begins to flow early 

 in the new year. Any cutting required to the 

 members of the Conifer family should also be 

 done now and not left till the spring. 



A native of New Zealand, it was first seen in 

 this country about 1875. It is interestmg from 

 the fact that it belongs to the Viola family, and 

 is the only hardy genus of that family of a 

 shrubby nature. There is another species, H. 

 Chathamica, a native also of New Zealand, not 

 so well known as the former ; this is genuinely 

 evergreen, with much longer leaves, which are 

 toothed and prominently veined, but is not so 

 hardy. 



Cam bridge. F. G. P. 



Photo by] 



HyMENANTHE1{.\ C1!.\SSIF0LIA. 



[F. G. Preston 



Hymenanthera crassifolia. 



In the few jilaces where this little known shrub 

 is grown it stands out very conspicuous among 

 other berried shrubs at this time of the year 

 by its habit, neat foliage, but more particularly 

 by its white berries. It is of a deni-e semi- 

 evergreen habit, from 4 to 5 feet high, with stiff 

 cylindrical or somewhat angular branches 

 covered with ash-coloured wrinkled bark. The 

 flowers, which are almost stalkless, are very 

 small, with brownish reflexed petals, and it is 

 by no means beautiful as a flowering plant, but 

 in the autumn it is very attractive when ladened 

 with its masses of white berries, which remain 

 on the plant for a long time through the 

 winter. 



Rhododendron micranthum. 



In habit and foliage this is a very distinct 

 Rhododendron, and when in flower might be 

 easily mistaken for a Ledum at first sight. For 

 its introduction we are indebted to Mr. E. H. 

 Wilson, who sent home seeds from Western 

 Hupeh in 1901. With small narrow leaves it 

 is an informal bushy shrub up to 4 feet or more 

 in height and as much in diameter. The flowers 

 are white, half an inch across, closely arranged 

 in an almost flat terminal raceme. Found 

 growing at fairly high elevations the species is 

 quite hardy. It is quite a good subject for a 

 large rock garden, the front of shrubbery 

 borders and a lawn bed. A figure appears in the 

 Botanical Magazine, tab. 8198. A. 0. 



