36 



IRISH GARDENING. 



Notes. 



Veratrum Wilsoni, 



Hitherto tlie species of Veratrum, or False 

 Hellebore, commouly found, in our gardens have 

 been natives of Europe or North America. The 

 best known perhaps is V. nigrum, a strikingly 

 handsome plant when well grown, producing 

 handsome, broad, strongly-ribbed leaves, sur- 

 mounted by tall branching s^jikes of dark 

 chocolate-brown flowers. In V. Wilsoni, how- 

 ever, we have a new comer from China, distinct 

 in habit from the older species, and a welcome 

 addition to our herbaceous plants, introduced by 

 Mr. E. H. Wilson for James Veitch & Sons. I 

 first saw this species in Mr. Allgrove's nursery 

 at Middle Green, Langley, ai^d was attracted 

 by its handsome appearance. The leaves are 

 much narrower than those of the older species 

 and tapered, to a fine point. The inflorescence, 

 too, as seen in our illustration, is less dense ; 

 the flowers are white with a greenish zone at the 

 base of the petals, and in a strong plant they are 

 quite attractive. The plant figured hercAvith 

 was growing in a nursery bed. in the Botanic 

 Gardenia, Glasnevin, and could, not be shown in 

 its entirety, but was about 4 feet high. When 

 established it will evidently be higher and bear 

 a larger inflorescence, and will be a distinct gain 

 to the hardy j)lant border. 



Solanum jasminoides. 



With reference to the query in the December 

 number regarding the colour of this delightful 

 climber, a corre,si)cndent writes : — '' It is 

 nothing new, you will find the question raised 

 in the second volume of The Garden; curiously 

 it was by an Irishman or Scot, McDcnald, of 

 Phoenix Park. . . . You might very well say 

 there is enough blue in the flower to make it 

 look white, as much in fact as there is in a well 

 starched collar. Indoors it is pure white, outside 

 not quite so decided. You have evidently not 

 consulted the latest work on Chmbers by 

 William Watson. In this it is described as having 

 sprays of white flowers." 



We have looked into the correspondence on the 

 subject, and flnd there has always been a certain 

 want of unanimity, some even suggesting that 

 there may be two varieties, while others hold 

 that the colour is influenced by soil and i^osition. 

 In, any case all the figures of the flowers in books 

 which we have been able to examine show the 



colour as blue or purplish blue, which is certainly 

 not correct. 



We have also carefully examined living 

 flowers gathered from a plant growing in full sun 

 on a wall outside, and could never see any trace 

 of blue, except the faintest tinge on tbe calyx. 

 We have not. however, compared side by side 

 flowers grown indoors with others grown in the 

 open ; perhaps then it might be possible to 

 discern some blue in the outside flowers. 



Perhaj)s other correspondents will give their 

 opinions. 



Ligusticum aromaticum. 



A New Zealand Lovage. 



The genus Ligusticum is widely spread, being 

 found in Europe, Asia, America and New 

 Zealand. The best known species is probably 

 L. scoticum, sometimes called Scotch Lovage, 

 which is found wild in Britain. As a rule they 

 are rather coarse herbs, but in New Zealand 

 some at least are alpines. The species under 

 notice is described in Cheeseman's Flora of New 

 Zealand as being from '' 4-12 in. high, but in 

 al^Dine situations much dwarfed, sometimes 

 barely 2in. high." 



Our illustration shows a plant which flowered 

 last summer in the bog garden in the Royal 

 Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, where it reached 

 about a foot in height at flowering time. The 

 flowers, borne in umbels, are rather a dull white 

 in colour, but the dark green, fern-like fohage is 

 attractive. The leaves are mostly bipmnate, 

 though described as varying in this respect. 



The species is widely distributed in New 

 Zealand, being found from East Cape to Foveaux 

 Strait. B. 



Buddleia asiatica. 



With further experience gained m the cultiva- 

 tion of this winter-flowering shrub, the more is it 

 proving of value as a cool greenhouse pot plant 

 or climber. If not already tried as an outdoor 

 shrub it is worth experimenting with against a 

 south or west wall in the warmer parts of 

 Ireland. 



Cuttings inserted from March onwards in a 

 close propagating frame provide a ready and 

 rapid method of increase. If the points of the 

 young growths are removed twice or thrice 

 during the summer useful bushy plants in 5-inch 

 pots for the side stages will be available the first 

 winter. Pruned back in spring after flowering, 

 little or much, as reqiured, the shrubs eventually 

 become large specimens. One of their best uses 



