IRISH GARDENING 



2^ 



Howtn'S. It is very tree fluweiiiifi, and will be 

 useful in beds or shrubberies. 



Sarcococca humUis and S. ruNci folia are two 

 useful evergreens thriving well in shady pieces, 

 and valuable for growing under trees. The bright 

 green glistening leaves are (i(uite attractive, and 

 will be ai>])reciated by those who have wanted 

 something that will do iu shade. The last named 

 species has received an award of merit. 



Sahx tmniiiifica must receive notice since 

 it is, perhaps, the most striking willow known. 

 The fully developed leaves are said to be 6 inches 

 long by 3 inches wide, glaucous above and pale 

 purplish-green below. The catkins are said to 

 reach a length of one 

 foot. Plants in culti- 

 vation here are yet 

 small, and have not 

 shown their true chai- 

 acter. An award of 

 merit has been con- 

 ferred. 



*S' y m ph oricar p u s 

 occident(iIis, now called 

 S. Icevigatus, is the best 

 of the " Snowberries," 



l)roducing in profusion 

 long "ropes" of white 

 fruits which are highly 

 ornamental in autumn. 



It api)ears to require 



good cultivation to do 

 really well, and should 



be given good soil to 



grow in. 

 Spirrra arhorca (/raiidi.s 



is a new form of autumn- 



tlowering Spiraea in the 



way of the better known 



si)ecies Aitchisoni and 



Lindleyana. The im- 

 mense flower heads are 



said to grow 18 inches 



in length. It should 



])rove useful for massing 



in large ])arks and 



pleasure grounds. 



Sh/rax Wilsoni is a 



iu!W dwarf species, form 



ing stiff wiry growths 



which produce clusters 



of wliite flowers at the 



tijjs of the short side 



growths. It ap])ears 



to want protection in 



cold situations, but is 



worth persevering with. 



award of merit. 



Viburnum Davidii has also received an awai'd. 



and is a choice little shrul) of dw.'ji-f liabit l)eaT'ing 



ovate leaves and white flowers, followed in 



autumn by blue berries. 



Vibunnim harri/nintm is another dwarf ever- 



gret'U sjiecies with small round leaves, and seems 



likely to be usefid for situations I'eciuiring a plant 



of limited dimensions. 



Viburinim propinqidim, with ovate leaves and 



bearing clusters of white flowers in early summer. 



is 3lso evergreen, but of more spreading habit. 

 Viburnum Veitchii, anotlier evergreen, is more 



in the way of some of the older species, and makes 



a larger Inish, bearing coarsely-tootlied leaves and 



])anicles of white flowers. This should be a good 



A Spray from the Bush 



FLOWERING AGAIN 

 It has received an 



shrubbery i)lant, adding beauty and variety 

 where they are often wanting. 



Viburnum Henriji is worthy of juention on 

 account of the panicles of coral-red fruits borne 

 in autumn. It is an evergreen species witli lance- 

 shaped glossy green leaves, and will yet prove a 

 l)oi)ular shrub. 



Viburnu7n utile is yet another evergreen, with 

 ovate leathery leaves, and bearing white flowers 

 in spring. 



Viburnum phlebotrichum is deciduous, produc- 

 ing white flowers in spring ; and a similar, but 

 more vigorous, species is Viburnum thcifcrum, 

 which is proving a good grower, and seems likely 



to i)rove a useful shrub. 

 .1. W. H., Dublin. 



Prunus Miqueliana- 



The number of hardy 

 trees which jjroduce 

 conspicuous flowers out 

 of doors during the 

 winter months is ex- 

 tremely small, and 

 plants which ])ossess 

 this peculiarity are 

 therefore most welcome. 

 Prunus Mi(pieliana is 

 one of the earliest and 

 most free of the winter 

 flowerers. Formin'; a. 

 branching shrub or 

 small tree, it commences 

 to open its starry 

 flowers in November, 

 and from then well 

 into Ai)ril it never 

 lacks a few blooms. 

 Even in the very dei>th 

 of winter, if the weather 

 be at all mild, it pre 

 sents a gay apix-arance. 

 The flowers, which are 

 about three-cpiart ers of 

 an inch aci-oss, open 

 an almost jjure white, 

 but as they get older 

 assume a i)inkish colour. 

 j.'.iving them ((uite a 

 dift'erent ai)i)earance. 

 The flowers are peiulu- 

 lous, on jtedicles I l 

 inclies lojig, and Iwive 

 about If) jietals. ea(di 

 slightly toothed at the 



a,H'x. They are arrangi-d in twos and threes on 



the twiggy leafless branches, and wlien at their 



best the bush is really beautifid. 



The leaves, whi(h unfold in April, aic ovate in 



;diape and somewhat acuminate, (piite glabrous. 



aud having the margins (inelv serr.ited. .At t he 



cut 



OF 1'rum's .Mii7ri;i.iAN.\ 



LAST DecKMHKK. 



- linely 



.Ini.in. .ini 



base of e;i( h leaf is a pa-ii' of v 

 si ipules. 



I'runus .Mi(pieliaiia is a naii\(' 

 w vs given an Awanl of Mei'it by t h" H. 11. S. 

 (liOiulon) in December, llMli. 



This shrub belongs t() the cherry section of the 

 I'lunus family, and is i)erfectly hardy, but it is as 

 well to i)lant in a sheltered corner to i)revent the 

 flowers being damaged by frost, even when one 

 ci'op of flowers is spoilt another one usually 

 follows after a short interval. 



