IRISH GARIJEI^JING 



39 



species is one of tlie best aiu] most attractive of 

 sliniljs at the present time; it is literally covered 

 with erect racemes of wliite flowers like Lily-of- 

 1 he-Valley, well set off by the li^ht-brown pedicels. 

 I'itto.sporum paucifloniin hi a-iccdyj-, yellow, is 

 worth growing; also 1'. bicolor, which seems likely 

 to develop into a small tree ; it bears tiny l)los- 

 soms, red outside, yellow within, and has very 

 neat foliage, the under-leaf formed of sulphur- 

 coloured tomentum. Coiiaiid siniai and one re- 

 ceived here as (.'. nepaleiisis maxima are two up- 

 right shrubs, 10 to 12 feet high, like each other in 

 some respects; the latter seems much the best of 

 the two, and is now covered with tassels of red 

 flowerets on white pedicels; those on the former 

 are not so conspicuous. The pretty Aplopappus 

 inilrhellus is beginning to show its blue-purple 

 daisies; so also the well-known Lithospentiuin 

 prostnitum, C/ieiranilius (l'(inya) Menziesii, and 

 even C. variuhiUs is producing bloom, but before 

 its proper time, while the half-hardy and handsome 

 CalreiAaria fiichs'urfoUa is on the point of opening; 

 it has been outside now for some winters, and 

 may, it is hoped, become acclimatised to our 

 weather conditions. As at tlie fall of the leaf we 

 look to autumn colouring, so in spring we are 

 attracted by the young growth which marks the 

 birth of a new season. Nearly all the I'liofiiiiax 

 are remarkable for their red shoots, especially P. 

 ■leirulata and /'. <lni-i<Js<j)iiiiita {crenafu-seniitu) 

 The spring dress of t'atueUia ruspidata. of 

 Kuoiij/mux prnduhis (fimhi iatus), jMrtrosiflcros 

 liiruhi, Vuccinium amo'iiu in . and of Leucotliof 

 ('iit<\sli:i:i is also pleasing. The new growth of 

 Pupiihis halsaiiufeni is nearly yellow, and the 

 swelling buds of Salix hypateuca become bright 

 crimson. Pa'onia Cumhessedesii, a new and rare 

 species introduced by Miss Geoghegan from 

 Minorca, should also be noted; the young bushes 

 are brilliantly red, gradually changing to grey- 

 green on the upper surface of the leaf, imder- 

 neath varnished red, with pink fiowers in a few 

 weeks' time. Cotyledon roseata, which is fairly 

 hardy, assumes a general rosy appearance, and, 

 moreover, develops large rosy-carmine buds, that 

 are almost more effective than when the flower 

 actually opens. As the season advances, the 

 colour taken by the young shoots is to be seen on 

 a larger number of plants; for instance, those of 

 liliddddendion xino-grunde. later on, are dark 

 brown, turning through many shades into green, 

 with a conspicuous yellow midrib. 



The more common Xarrifisi are earlier than 

 usual; not so. perliaps, .V. cyclamineus and A'. 

 iiiiiniiius, which were followed almost at once by 

 the Daffodil {X. Pseiido-nanissus), and by some 

 of the garden hybrids. Iiix leficuh.iia has lieen in 

 splendid bloom, .so also Ciocns rernii.t, lirodinn 

 iniifloni, Jiulhocodium vernum, Chionodo.va iji- 

 iliiiifea, ('. lAicilliii', C. sardensis, Tulipn kaufmaii- 

 uiann are now at their best. The Dog-tooth 

 Violets, Erythronhnn Dens-canu, and the yellow 

 K. amcricaniim. are beginning to show their 

 flowers; as well as Miiscmi J}iifiyoides, M. nenlec- 

 tum, M . szovitsianum, Piischl-iiiin ni-dloidrs 

 iHliiuiotiid), Scilla sibirica, and the curious Hei- 

 iiiodactyluH tuherosus, green and dark purple. To 

 these may be added Anemone fuUjenn. Cychimen 

 ihirlciim (Atkinsoni), Gentiana acaiilis. Piiniidn 

 dentinilafa, Synth i/ris venifovmis, and Slioitin 

 i/ahici folia. This last plant, which grows and 

 spreads well in peat, is small and suited to a rock 

 garden; it has a very beautiful white flower, 

 which is now on the point of opening, Eerns are 

 not at the present moment at their best; but 

 add much to the appearance and to the 



nllrartii.n.-i of fli.- wild gaidcn, and il is 

 the proper time i.i plant them. A few words 

 on some of tliciii may close these notes. 

 The most interesting is j)i<h.i:onia anfairtica, a 

 Tree-Fern from New Zealand, to be associated 

 with laige shrubs, having handsome arching ever- 

 green fronds .some 8 teet in length. Lomaiia 

 alpina. L. maijelln nira, L. pvuvera, also Cyrto- 

 niiniii lavyofiileuiii. C. fatratum, ('. Fortunei, 

 Polypodiuni BHIaidicrii. Pohiiiti<hum acrosti- 

 rliuides, P. niunifnni. and Pteris liingifolia, seem 

 to succeed in this climate; they have' a somewhat 

 stiff habit which contrasts we'll with others that 

 look more like lace-work— such, for instance, as 

 Asplcnium buUiifei nm, ]kn-alliu ranariensis, 

 Hare's foot fern; Lasinra erytlirosoiii, L. Siebol- 

 dii, I'oli/sfii-Jtum setosum, P. t.ius-siniense, Pteris 

 fienndd, ]\'oodn'ardia radicans, with long and 

 graceful fronds. The plants just mentioned are 

 among those that have not died down this winter; 

 but there are many others now still dormant, 

 soon, however, to revive into life. Of the latter 

 it may be sufficient to note Adianttim pedotum, 

 Onorlea sensihilis, O.tmunda claytoniana, and 

 Stiuthiopfeiis ijeiniiinica, the Ostrich Feather 

 Fern. The numerous British Ferns and all their 

 wonderful varieties, are too well known to re- 

 quire comment; Lasfni'a pseudn-mas and some of 

 its varieties are very attractive. SelaijineJla 

 amd'na is a Fern-Ally, which appears to be hardy 

 in very good shelter; it is a handsome, upright, 

 little plant, and wortli trying in a mild district. 



.1. R. of B. 



tS.\.\lFR.40.\ lONGlFUHA .41 t'LIKTON. D.^LKEY, 



Co, Dublin, 



