IRISH GARDENING. 



133 



Notes. 



Rhododendron Sphaeranthum- 



This interesting new Chinese Rhododendron was 

 discovered by Mr. George Forrest in the moun- 

 tains west of the Fengkon Valley. It belongs to 

 the dwarf shrubby species already rej)resented 

 in our gardens by R. intricatum. The evergreen 

 narrowly lanceolate leaves are | to | inch long 

 and ^ inch wide, glabrous above, scaly on the 

 underside. It has a very small calyx and a 

 white or rose corolla reflexed to half an inch 

 in diameter. 



Mr. Forrest's specimen, No. 12505, collected 

 in June, 1914, at 12-13,000 feet elevation, 

 suggests that R. sphseranthum is a very free 

 flowering species which should prove a valuable 

 addition to the rock garden and borders of 

 Ericaceae shrubs. 



Prostranthera lasianthos. 



This beautiful flowering shrub is a member of 

 the Nat. Ord. Labiatse, and comes from 

 Australia. That it is fairly hardy is proved by 

 the fact that it came safely through the late 

 severe winter and spring at Rostrevor House, 

 Co. Down, where Sir John Ross of Bladensburg 

 grows so many plants successfully, but, never- 

 theless, lost a number during the winter and 

 sirring. In July the fine specimen at Rostrevor 

 was a mass of flowers, our illustration being of a 

 number of sprays cut at that time. 



Sir John Ross has kindly communicated the 

 following particulars : — '' Prostranthera lasian- 

 thos, as you know, is a very desirable flowering 

 shrub, and not as well known as it deserves to be. 

 It may not be hardy in every district in Ireland, 

 but it has stood out untouched here for several 

 years, and it was uninjured last cold winter and 

 spring, so it ought to do in many jDarts in these 

 islands. I got it about ten years ago, and at 

 first put it against a wall, but finding it hardier 

 than I expected I planted it out in the open 

 under shelter of some large Laurels, which, as 

 it grew, were gradually all cut away, so that now 

 it stands clear as you saw it the other day, 

 though in a sheltered position. It is evergreen, 

 with sweet -smelling leaves ; the flowers in 

 panicles composed of many white blossoms, each 

 a third of an inch or more across, with purple 

 throat. It flowers in July, and is very floriferous, 

 in fact it is a sheet of bloom. It now stands 

 about 14 feet high, some 9 feet through, and 

 the butt at the ground is some 5| inches in 

 diameter." 



Onion Mildew. 



This pest has appeared to a considerable extent, 

 during August, on spring-sown Onions. Fortu- 

 nately, Onions sown fairly early — say in April — 

 had attained a fair size before being attacked, 

 consequently the damage will not be so great. 

 The leaves are the part first attacked, and if 

 badly affected they soon collapse, thereby 

 putting an end to the swelling of the bulbs. In 

 the June number of Irish Gardening a timely 

 article appeared under the heading Garden 

 Pests. In this mention was made of Onion 

 Mildew with the object of warning inexperienced 

 growers to be on their guard. It was recom- 

 mended to dust affected plants with a mixture 

 of 2 parts of Lime to 1 of Sulphur, and where 

 this has been done no doubt the attack would 

 be at least checked and the Onion bulbs enabled 

 to continue swelling for some time longer. 

 Growers will be well advised to avoid growing 

 Onions near the same place next season. If on 

 an Allotment the ojjposite end, or as far away 

 as possible, should be chosen for the Onion bed. 

 Trenching the ground is also an advantage, 

 throwing the top sj^it of soil in the bottom of the 

 open trench, so that any spores lying about are 

 buried. If the ground is to be cropped at once, 

 and the subsoil is not in condition to bring to 

 the surface, at least shovel off 2 or 3 inches of 

 the surface soil and bury as deeply as possible ; 

 apply lime freely to the soil and dig it in, as it 

 helps to destroy the spores and mitigate attack 

 the- folio wing season. Practice. 



Caterpillars, 



There seems to have been a plague of Cater- 

 pillars in many districts this season, and com- 

 plaints are rife anent the destruction of 

 Cabbages, Cauliflowers, &c. It is not easy to 

 suggest a remedy when the plants are at the 

 stage of being tit for cooking. Poisonous or 

 otherwise objectionable applications which would 

 soon get rid of the Caterpillars render the 

 Cabbages unfit for food, and so " the cure is as 

 bad as the disease." 



A friend lately recommended the following 

 plan as being in his experience effectual in 

 saving the crop : — Take a handful of light 

 flexible twigs and go over the plot and lightly 

 switch over the Cabbages, thereby knocking off 

 the Caterpillars without doing any damage to 

 the plants. Then use the Scuffle freely between 

 the rows, and by so doing most of the pests will 

 be killed. Our friend avers that he has seen 

 considerable areas treated in this wa}^ with the 

 best results. It is well worth trying. 



