IRISH GARDENING 



173 



Camellia reticulata 



Of all the beautiful Canaellias this is undoubtedly 

 the noblest and tinest species, and unfortunately 

 it still remains very rare. It is of Chinese origin, 

 from whence it was introduced in 1820. In the 

 early days horticulture was greatly enriched by 

 the enterprise of explorers, army and naval 

 officers, who irom tinae to time collected plants 

 which were sent to this country, and in regard to 

 the above-named ])lant we are indebted to the 

 famous East India ("(>m])any, who were the means 

 of introducing C. reticulata to the gardens of the 

 Royal Horticultural 

 Society. The bright 

 rosy-lake or rich rose 

 flowers, which are 

 furnished with a 

 cluster of golden 

 stamens, are about 

 six inches in dianxe- 

 ter, and they are 

 quite distinct from 

 other Camellias. We 

 usually associate a 

 stiff, fonnal appear- 

 ance with this flower, 

 but the subject under- 

 notice is a brilliant 

 exception, for the 

 blooms are wavy and 

 irregular to a de- 

 lightful degree. Ex- 

 amples are occasion- 

 ally seen at the 

 London and other 

 shows. The magnili- 

 cent specimen grown 

 in the Temperate 

 House at Kew has 

 reached a height of 

 u])wards of twenty 

 feet, and sonxe speci- 

 uxens are thriving in 

 the open in Cornwall 

 and in the milder 

 parts of Ireland. 

 Camellias may be 

 planted out in a cool 

 greenhouse or grown 

 in ])ots, but buyers 

 should try and ])ro- 

 cure Hritish raised 



stock, as Continental ])lants often sicken and 

 die. This I attribute to the unnatural way 

 in which they are grown. (J rafting is the 

 mode of proiiagation. an,d to secure a quick 

 return the ])lants are placed in heat to encourage 

 ra])id growth, hence the reaction when brought 

 under normal conditions. J)uring the winter 

 months sufficient heat should be providcnl to keep 

 out frost and ample ventilation allowed, while 

 they must be carefully watered to i)revent the 

 buds falling off. Aft(;r flowering, tlie syringe can 

 be used among the tdants to encourage growth, 

 and with the arrival of .June those in tubs or ])ots 

 may be removed to the op(!n ground. A shel- 

 tered position is advised, such as that provided 

 with rather dwarf J'oplar trees or a large Privet 

 hedge. Drip from trees and heavy shade nxust 

 be avoided. In October they are returned to the 

 greenhouse. When any repotting is needed, it 

 should be carried out in August, using a- mixture 

 of peat and flbrous loam, tlie latter forming tlu^ 



CaRPENTERIA cam I'OK'NK'A. 



bulk. At no time ought the plants to become 

 really dry, or much damage will be done. Prun- 

 ing is seldom required, and then it nxust not be 

 done severely, just sinxply keeping them in shape 

 and properly balanced should be the ride. 



T. W. B. 



Carpenteria californica. 



In Carpenteria californica we have one of the 

 nxost distinct aixd beautifid of hardy shrubs. 

 When in full flower it is exquisitely beautiful, its 

 pure white flowers somewhat resembling a 

 white Cistus. 



The leaves of the 

 plant are broadly 

 lanceolate, attaining 

 a length of 2 to 3 

 inches, and are of a 

 greyish-green colour, 

 the under surface 

 being covered with a 

 minute white pubes- 

 cence. 



It belongs to the 

 Saxifrage order, and 

 is a native of Cali- 

 fornia, being intro- 

 duced some thirty- 

 four years ago. 



Its culture offers 

 no serious difficulties, 

 but there seenxs to 

 be souxe scei)ticisnx 

 regarding its degree 

 of hardiness, although 

 recent exi)eriments 

 conclusively point to 

 its perfect hardiness 

 iix England and Ire- 

 laixd, as it has conxe 

 through several try- 

 ing winters qu ite 

 successfully without 

 any protection. 



It grows and flow- 

 ers almost anywhere, 

 but when given the 

 jjrotection of a wall 

 its flowers are ])ro- 

 duced in greater 

 quantities. Its propa- 

 gation is effected by 

 cuttings and suckers. 

 TT. C. Elsuon. 



Autumn Flowering Laburnum. 



Tiiouciii freqiunxtly given under the name of 

 Laburnum autumnalis in nurserynxen's cata- 

 logues, this is really only a variety of the comuu)n 

 La])urmna. and though there are several other 

 varieties of this well knowix tree, the above is 

 surely the mo.st remarkable. Its flowers are in 

 colour and ai)pearance <(uite similar to those of 

 the type, but instead of producing them at the 

 normal tinxe — si)ring — this form unfolds its 

 flowers in the nxonth of October. At that tinxe 

 nxost of its leaves have fallen, and the racemes 

 of yellow flowers hanging fronx the almo.st 

 leafless branches give the tree a ixxost ])eculiar 

 a.i)])earance. On fii-st seeing the tree in flower 

 at such an unseasonable period mo.st people 

 think the flowering diie to the vagaries of the 

 season, but such is not the case, as it flowefs 

 regularlv at the same tinxe of veap. 



