VI 



IRISH GARDENING. 



Reviews. 



Concrete and Constructional 

 Engineering.* 



We have loccivcd h copy o£ the ;ibo\ c Juuiiuil, 

 containing a'uong other interesting items a 

 supplement dealing with the use of concrete for 

 garden edgings. As a rule we do not care for hard 

 stiff edgings in the garden, but there are 

 situations in which they are necessary. For 

 instance, a strong edging is very often necessary 

 to a carriage drive where there is much traffic 

 and where it is undesirable to have grass. Suit- 

 able stones are often difficult to procure, and in 

 norrnal times cement is not expensive. Again, 

 stone edgings are frequently used in conjunction 

 with flagged paths, now so poj^ular in certain 

 styles of gardening. In suburban and other small 

 gardens pernianent edgings are frequently prefer- 

 able to grass on account of the labour in keeijing 

 the latter, and the hard line of the permanent 

 edging can be broken by the use of low-grow'ing 

 plants. 



In the supplement referred to different types 

 of edgings are illustrated with instructions as to 

 their manufacture. Probably when this method 

 of using concrete becomes better known through 

 the medium of the gardening Pre^s there will be 

 a considerable extension of its use. 



Annuals and Biennials.! 



By GERTKUDE JEKYLL, witli Cultural Notes by 

 E. H. Jenkins. 



Despite the abnormal conditions of the last 

 two and a half years there are still people 

 enthusiastic enough to write books on gardening 

 matters. 80 long as it does not interfere with 

 the one great object of national importance we 



* Published at 4 Cat!^.arine St., Aldwych, W.C. 

 t Published by Country Life, Ltd-, 20 Tavistock 

 .Street, Covent (Jarden, W.C : George Newnes, 

 Ltd. , 8-11 Southampton Street, W.G. New York ; 

 Charles Scribner's Sons. Price, 7s. (id. 



arc glad, and it augurs well for an early resump- 

 tion of gardening when more peacefid times 

 return. 



The present volume juaintains on the whole 

 the higli standard we woidd expect from such a 

 patron of gardening as Miss Jekyll and from such 

 a well known practical cultivator as E. li. Jenkins. 

 Needless to say, the printing and general produc- 

 tion of the work is in the usual higli class style 

 we associate with the "Country Life" Library. 

 Piiiited ill bold, clear type on good paper, reading 

 is a pleasure, while the numerous illustrations, 

 several 'n\ colour, are of the highest excellence. 



The book is divided into three parts — the first 

 of numerous chapters describing various ways of 

 using annuals and biennials, seed raising and sub- 

 sequent cultivation : part two gives an admirable 

 and most complete alphabetical list, with descrip- 

 tions and colour of all the best annuals and 

 biennials, and part three gives a colour chart 

 with heights and also selections for various pur- 

 poses — surely no amateur could ask for more. 



Generally speaking, the cultural recomnieiula- 

 tions are sound, though the autliors — skilled 

 though they be — have not, we think, realised to 

 the full the value of annuals for a summer 

 display, nor the comparative hardiness of so- 

 called half-hardy annuals. The use of hardy 

 auTiuals sown iti situ for a border display may be 

 good enough for those who want a brief show, 

 but from the middle of Jidy to end of August 

 is too short ; far better sow half-hardy annuals in 

 a cold frame in early 31arch, plant out in June, 

 and have a display from July to October, Here 

 practically all our half-hardy annuals and some 

 hardy ones are sosvn in cold frames early in 

 Mai'ch and pricked out when large enough ; 

 they provide fine sturdy stuff for planting out in 

 June. Two things which benefit from a little 

 heat are Verbenas and Petunias. Our best hardy 

 annuals are those sown in cold frames in seed 

 trays during October and November and pricked 

 out by the workmen on wet days during winter 

 and early spring ; treated thus, Larks^jurs. 

 Clarkias, Godetias, Chrysanthemums, A:c., grow 

 very strongly and flower nearly all summer. 



We have derived much pleasure from a perusal 

 of this book, and heartily recommend it to 

 amateurs and others desirous of realising the 

 immense possibilities in annuals. 



DICKSOINSV 



CHAMPION ROSES 



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 FINEST OBTAINABLE 



and grown on an 



exposed situation 



succeed where 



others fail. 



Illustrated Catalogue 

 : on application : 



HUGH DICKSON, LTD 



ROYAL NURSERIES. BELFAST. 



Have You a Garden? 



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AWARDED 97 FIRST PRIZES IN 1914-15 



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