ii6 



IRISH GARDENING. 



large and striking, and all things considered it 

 must be reckoned one of the best of the large 

 growers. 



For purely decorative planting where colour 

 effect is important some of the newer double 

 varieties are to be recommended. Conspicuous 

 among theni is P. Virginale which bears abun- 

 dantly large white flowers, the broad outer 

 petals surrounding a central '' boss " of smaller 

 ones intermixed with the remaining stamens ; 



A^'ith its clusters of pale pink or almost white 

 sweet-scented flowers. It is a deciduous species 

 of the Azalea group and comes from Eastern 

 North America. Among true Honeysuckles 

 none is more striking than Lonicera tragophylla, 

 a native of China, introduced by Mr. Wilson but 

 discovered previously by Professor Henry. It 

 apparently likes a cool moist soil, for I lately 

 saw it growing with remarkable luxuriance in 

 Mr. Armytage Moore's interesting garden in 



Campanula pulla. 



this fine variety appears at some distance away 

 to be a mass of white. A rather older, but 

 equally fine, variety is P. Rosace, with handsome 

 semidouble flowers. 



Among Spiraeas which have been lately 

 attractive S. japonica ovalifolia has been 

 noticeable. It is one of the Chinese forms 

 introduced by E. H. Wilson, and is at present 

 about 3 feet high, the majority of the shoots 

 terminated by a corymb of white flowers. 

 Althouth not so showy as the rose and pink 

 varieties, it flowers earlier and has merits of 

 its own. 



Most Rhododendrons are over in July, but 

 the Swainp. Honeysuckle R, viscosum is welcome 



County Down. The long-tubed bright yellow 

 flowers are produced at the ends of the branches, 

 while the leaves, which are glaucous beneath, 

 have in general effect a somewhat brownish 

 appearance, adding considerably to the whole 

 effect. 



Allied to the Honeysuckles is another remark- 

 able shrub, namely, Kolkwitzia amabilis, also 

 from China. This I saw early in July flowering 

 beautifully in Sir John Ross's wonderful 

 Arboretum at Rostrevor. The flowers, which 

 are pink with yellow throats, are borne in pairs 

 like many of the bush Loniceras. When the 

 flowers fade the calyx persists surrounding and 

 extending beyond the fruit. 



