54 



IRISH GARDENING 



Piardy Bamboos. 



Not so many yrars ago bamboos were scai-cely 

 considered in ' the planning of gardens and 

 pleasure grounds, but since the formation of the 

 bamboo garden at Kew and the itublicalion of 

 Lord Redesdale's charming book their us.; and 

 cultivation has extended rapidly. 



There are at least three dozen siJeties and 

 varieties suitable for outdoor cultivation in 

 Britain and Ireland, though some are hardier than 

 others. Ideal conditions are found where the 

 climate is moist and equable and the soil deep 

 and rich. Thus in the south of Ireland, notably 

 at Fota, noble specimens are a feature of a collec- 

 cion rich in many other rare and beautiful plants. 



Bamboos are at their best from August to 

 February or early March, after that they begia 

 to look shabby, and if in anyway unhappy through 

 poor cultivation they become distinctly an eyesore. 



It is often desirable to form the collection in a 

 retired i)art of the grounds or woodland, where 

 during the " off " season the plants may quietly 

 rest and recuperate without attracting much 

 attention. On the other hand, there is nowhere 

 bamboos flovirish so well or look more suitable 

 than by the side of a stream or lake. There, in the 

 moist soil, the canes grow strong and the leaves 

 are green and ample. That the plants love 

 moisture at the root is often clearly demon- 

 strated by those placed near a stream, the rhi- 

 zomes making an unerring line for the water's edge. 



The greatest enemy of bamboos is cold harsh 

 Winds, which soon scorch and wither the thin 

 leaves, rendering the plants miserable and un- 

 sightly. When about to plant therefore it is 

 necessary to consider the direction of the coldest 

 wind in winter. 



The soil, as already stated, should be always 

 moist, and can hardly be too rich. To maintain 

 the soU in fertile condition it is a good plan to 

 give a heavy dressing of decayed manure every 

 spring, while during the growing season drench- 

 ings of liquid manure from the cowshed are very 

 beneficial to large clumps, consistirt? of perhaps 

 hundreds of canes, and which could hardly he 

 treated satisfactorily otherwise. Old clumps 

 which are showing signs of poverty may be 

 improved by lifting and dividing, or in any case 

 considerable portions niay be removed and 

 planted elsewhere in good soil, when a fresh crop 

 of vigorous young canes will be produced. The 

 portion left undisturbed will soon recover with 

 the application of fresh soil and manure around 

 it. The best time for planting and transplanting 

 divisions is during April and May, just before 

 growth recommences. It is essential that the 

 plants be kept moist subsequently, and if water 

 is not handy a heavy mulch of leaves should be 

 provided. Seedlings which have been grown on 

 in pots may be planted out any time during 

 summer, but the earlier they can be got into 

 jjosition the better. 



The propagation of bamboos is done chiefly by 

 seeds and divisions. As a rule, when any species 

 of bamboo flowers, it doef so in many gardens- in 

 widely separated districts — often in different 

 countries. This is in the nature of a calamity, 

 since usually the plants die on flowering, or 

 become so sick for a long time afterwards that 

 their removal is almost imperative. There is a 

 difference of opinion as to whether some specues 

 at. east would not ultimately I'ecover, and one or 

 two are |known to flower periodically, but it is 

 generally desirable that flowering should not take 



place. Seeds, when obtainable, are easily raised 

 by sowing thinly in well-drained boxes of sandy 

 soil, covering the seeds lightly. If sown in 

 si)ring and i)]aced in a warm greenhouse and 

 shaded from bright sunlight germination will soon 

 take place. CJradual exposure to light is essential, 

 and equal care must be taken in hardening off. 

 When strong enough a cold franie will accommo- 

 date the young plants, protecting them from frost 

 the following winter. In spring, again, they may 

 be potted into small pots and grown on till strong 

 enough to ]ilant out in nursery quarters or in 

 permanent positions. 



Division of established clumps niay be done in 

 April and May, and consists in removing clumps 

 of several canes with rhizomes attached, and 

 replanting in beds of suitable soil or merely 

 planting elsewhere in pe^n^anent positions. 

 Cuttings may also be formed of young rhizomes, 

 each consisting of several joints or nodes, planting 

 them four or five inches deep in moist soil. 



Cuttings are sometimes made from the canes 

 alone, especially with scarce species. The canes 

 are cut down to within a foot or so of the ground 

 and carefully detached, preserving the swollen 

 nodes at the very base. Dormant buds exist in 

 the basal nodes, and when the cuttings are i>otted 

 up in spring and placed in a warm house these 

 buds " break " and young growths are produced. 

 These young growths must be carefully guarded, 

 as they are easily broken off, and the hardening 

 off process must be gradual. 



For purposes of classification botanists separat-^ 

 the hardy bamboos into three genera, viz. : — - 

 Arundinaria, Bambusa and Phyllostachys. It Is 

 unnecessary here to attempt a description of the 

 botanical differences which'separate the various gen- 

 era and species. A better purpose will be served by 

 notingthemoregenerally useful speciesandvarieties 



Dwarf species — Arundinaria auricoma, A. chry- 

 santha, A. Fortunei, A. humilis, A. pumila, A. pyg- 

 maea, A.Veitchii, Bambusa disticha, B. tessellata. 



Tall species — Arundinaria anceps, A. Hindsii 

 and variety graminca, A. japonica, A. Kumasasa, 

 A. macrosperma, A. nitida, Phyllostachys aurea, 

 P. fastuosa, P. Henonis, P. mitis, P. nigra and 

 varieties Boryana and jjunctata, P. Quilioi, P. 

 castillonis and P. viridi-glaucescens. 



The dwarf sorts embrace those of a foot to four 

 or five feet high, while the taller kinds vary from 

 six feet to twenty feet, according to the species. 



J. W. B. 



Tomatoes 



These remarks on the cultivation of the tomato 

 are intended for the amateur gardener who has 

 a small greenhouse, and finds a store of pleasure 

 and many disappointments in endeavouring to 

 cultivate most of the subjects known to him in 

 the hoi'ticultural world in that small space. 

 The tomato is a tender plant, but by no means 

 difficult to grow, and fruits well during our 

 summer and autumn months ; it requires a 

 moderate tem])erature, plenty of air (but not a 

 draught) and to be grown in full sunshine. 

 It is very im])oi'tant that strong, healthy plants 

 be obtained as early as possible. Very many 

 failures to ripen fruit can be attributed to a late 

 start. Seed should be sown in March. To obtain 

 the necessary warmth at this time, where pipe 

 heat is not available, a few loads of fresh stable 

 manure, covered by a small frame on which the 

 seed pan or pot is ])laced, will start germination ; 

 once the young plant appears it is necessary to 

 place it close to the glass, where it will get full 

 light, and be carefully watered. Indeed, a 



