184 



IRISH GARDENING. 



are : — 0. Francheiii, C. applanata, C. Siiuonsii, 

 and the older species, sucli as C. rotundifolia, 

 O. buxifolia, &c., wnile some of the black-fruited 

 species, though not showy from afar, are 

 extrejnely interesting and attractive at close 

 quarters ; among them may be instanced 0. 

 bacillaris, 0. Lindleyi, and C. moupinensis. 



An uncommon genus in gardens is Kleutiicro- 

 coccus, now included by Botanists under Acantho- 

 panax. Just now some of the species are pro- 

 iiinent by reason of the spherical heads of black 

 fruits which show up conspicuously against the 

 foliage : E. Henr> i, E. leucorrhizus, and E. 

 Simoni are exau^ples. 



Everlasting Flowers. 



Throughout the winter and early spring 

 months, when outdoor flowers are scarce, it 

 becomes a problem how to make rooms cheerful 

 where there are no greenhouses to draw upon 

 and when flowers are dear to buy. At the 

 present time owners of greenhouses in private 

 gardens have reduced flower growing indoors to 

 a minimum, rather dev^oting the space to the 

 production of food crops for home consumption 

 or tor sending to the hospitals or the fleet. This 

 is a laudable and much to be commended work, 

 as not only does it ensure a supply of fresh 

 vegetables to the soldiers and sailors, but it 

 heliDS in rendering supplies more plentiful in the 

 market for people not fortunate enough to have 

 gardens or allotments. The result is that much 

 more value is now attached to e\ ery flower that 

 can be grown outside and which can be cut for 

 the house. All summer there should be no lack 

 of material where a proper selection of perennial 

 herbaceous plants has been grown in the past. 

 ]\lichaelmas Daisies and Border Chrysanthe- 

 mums will probably finish with October, though 

 with mild weather continuing through JS'ovem- 

 ber, as it often does, there may be pickings for 

 some time. Generally, however, there will not 

 be much to count on from now onwards. It is 

 all the more necessary then to preserve all we 

 can. 



Some of the Eryngiums a.re useful for filling 

 vases during winter ; their blue prickly " heads " 

 retain their colour and form for months and are 

 quite attractive. E. Oliverianum, E. amethysti- 

 num, E. planum and E. Zabelii are good, and look 

 well mixed with the feathery sprays of Statice 

 latifolia, which retains its graceful form for a 

 long time. 



Gypsophila paniculata, though it loses its 

 colour, nevertheless remains wiry, and preserves 

 its form through the winter. To mix with it 

 the Helichrysums, commonly called " Ever- 

 lastings," are very pretty. These are really half- 

 hardy annuals which may be raised in a cold 

 frame in early spring and planted, where they 

 are to flower, in IWay ; many colours are found 

 in the Helichrysums —white, yellow, red and 

 brown — and they retain the colour though placed 

 in the vases without water, but, of course, the 

 leaves dry up and fall. 



There are some i^lants of which the seed 

 vessels are attractive, for instance, " Honesty " 

 Lunaria annua ; in this case the silvery central 

 partition of the seed vessel is quite attractive 



and will last through the winter, going well with 

 other " everlasting " flowers. 



Some of the grasses are pretty and interesting 

 when cut, kept through the winter, notably the 

 three forms of Quaking Grass — Briza maxima, 

 known also as Pearl Grass ; B. media, and B. 

 minor. All three are light and graceful, and 

 make a pretty setting for any other flowers, 

 " everlasting " or not, which may be available. 

 Of course, the giant Pampas Grass, Cortaderia 

 argentea, is handsome, but best suited for halls 

 or large rooms. 



Other annuals useful for our purpose are the 

 Helipterums or Rhodanthes, sometimes called 

 " Immortelles," and which come from Australia. 

 They can be sown in the open in April, and are 

 attractive all summer. If cut in the autumn, 

 they will keep attractive for a long time, mixing 

 well with the grasses aforesaid. Helichrysum 

 arenarium, a perennial with golden yellow 

 flower heads, is useful. Helichrysum orientale 

 is the source of the " Immortelles " so largely 

 used by florists, and which can be purchased in 

 the shops dyed blue, red and other colours, 

 though perhaps quite as pretty in its natural 

 colour of yellow. This species is rather tender 

 for outdoor cultivation in this country, the 

 dried and dyed flowers being in ordinary times 

 largely imported from France. 



Xeranthemum annuum is another annual 

 which we can grow outside, sowing in the usual 

 way in April, preferably in a sunny position. 

 The colour varies from white to purplish-violet, 

 and, in addition to being attractive in summer, 

 the flowers are useful for winter decoration. 



Ammobium alatvim grandiflorum, the Winged 

 Everlasting, so called from the stems being 

 winged, is a rather handsome plant easily raised 

 from seeds. These are better sown in a cold 

 frame in spring, planting out when large enough. 

 Though not sti-ictly an annual, it is better to 

 sow annually, as the plants often j)erish in 

 winter, no doubt missing the more genial 

 climate of Australia. The flowers are white and 

 last for months after cutting. 



It will thus be seen that we have quite a 

 selection of plants which can be grown out of 

 doors all summer and which will provide 

 flowers to brighten our rooms through thd 

 winter. It will be well then to preserve all we 

 can now and take note to obtain seeds of as 

 many as possible next spring, with a view to 

 providing against a continued dearth of indoor 

 flowers. Anon. 



Honeysuckles and other Handsome 

 Fruiting Shrubs. 



How many people have noticed the unusual show 

 of berries on shrubs and plants this autumn ? 

 The Hollies are covered already, some of the 

 varieties showing colour. The Honeysuckles are 

 covered with shining berries, most of them scar- 

 let. In other years one may notice an odd one 

 here and there, but notliing remarkable or in the 

 same quantities as they are this season. 



Among the Honeysuckles specially noticeable 

 are Lonicera Henry i, a climbing evergreen species 

 which has quite unattractive flowers in the sum- 

 mer, but is now covered with clusters of leaden 



