IRISH GARDENING 



73 



secure a ])lioto of some rosettes, from which 

 ourilhistration is taken In tnis exposed i)osition 

 the lime encrustation of the leaves is vividly 

 white. If we pull off a leaf of Saxifraga 

 Cotyledon and examine it we find a depression or 

 small ]»it encrusted with lime in each tooth 

 at the margin of the leaf. The base of the 

 pit is lined with thin-walled cells, and a vein 

 starts beneath. In wet weather the water ex- 

 creted from the veins contains carbonate of 

 lime , which is left behind by evapora- 

 tion, and a white scale ot lime forms, wnicb gives 

 the name " Encrusted 

 Saxifraga " to this 

 section. In di-y weather 

 the lime scale is tightly 

 pressed over the ]nt, 

 and acts as a stojjper; 

 but in damp weather 

 the scale is loosened 

 and admits water 

 beneath it. In times 

 of drought many of 

 these Saxifrages are 

 exposed to desiccation, 

 but they have a very 

 thick skin, excepting 

 for the lining of the 

 pits where covered by 

 the lime scales. When 

 rain or dew falls on a 

 leaf, the water soaks 

 under the crust of lime 

 and fills the depressions 

 and is taken up the 

 absorptive cells, and in 

 dry weather the stopper 

 again fits the pit 

 closely to prevent 

 evaporation. 



A somewhat similar 

 arrangement is found 

 in the Acantholimon 

 and some Statices. 

 exce]jt that the pits 

 are not confined to the 

 margin, but are dotted 

 over the surface of the 

 leaves. Some of these 

 ])lants inhabit steppes 

 and desert ]) laces where 

 a small amount of 

 rain falls for months at 

 a time. ('. F. Bat.t,. 



Regal Pelargoniums. 



By John Creaky. 

 Foi{ greenhouse embellishment the Kegal Pelar- 

 goniums are absolutely indis])eiisable, and ere 

 this issue of Ihish (Jakdeninc; is obtainable they 

 will be showing their beauty, ])r<jvided they re- 

 ceive cool greenhouse treatment. A nice batch 

 can bj had for next spring by the following 

 treatment: — As they go out of bloom harden 

 them off by gradually withholding water; 

 thentake them out of doors and place the 

 ])ots lying on their sides, and after about 

 a fortnight this way, the young growtlis will 

 t)e in nice form for taking cuttings. First 

 prepare a good comi)()st of fibrous loam 

 witii one-fourth leaf-mould and fine sand, 



Saxifhaoa 

 (irowing on a ( 



sift all and mix well together, putting the 

 compost in boxes 3 or 4 inches in depth, with 

 good drainage ; give a good soaking of water, 

 then take cuttings, which can be prepared 

 in two ways — viz., by pulling off with the heel 

 attached, or by cutting oft' slanting with a 

 sharp knife ; in either case leave tlie cut- 

 tings about 4 inches long. Insert them about 

 li inches deep, placing them in a frame till 

 rooted, which will take place in about six weeks 

 when they should be jdaced singly in 3 or 

 4-inch pots, which should be well washed 



beforehand. If desired, 

 they may re-main in 

 those pots till .lainiary, 

 when they should have 

 their final shift into 5i 

 or tj-inch pots, always 

 remembering that clean 

 pots and sufficient 

 drainage are of primary 

 importance. Use a 



compost of good fibrous 

 loam, with one part 

 each of leaf-mould 

 and sand to five of 

 loam, sifting only the 

 leaf-mould in order to 

 take out the bits of 

 sticks ; add an S-inch 

 pot full of bonenu'al 

 and a like quantity of 

 soot to each barrowload 

 of compost. The plants 

 require to be i)inched 

 back, as they make 

 very rami)ant growth 

 when they get any 

 heat. Pinch when six 

 inches high in order 

 to obtain good, bushy 

 l)lants, and again 

 according as t liey 

 require it. As they 

 do very well in a 

 m o i s t atmosi)here, 

 they should be fre- 

 quently syringed, as 

 this not alone en- 

 coiirages growth, but 

 also keeps them clean 

 and healthy. As they 

 are gross feeders when 

 gn)wing, they recjuire a 

 (•o])ious supply of water. Weak liquid numure 

 twice a week and a good fertiliser once a week 

 would be very beneficial, and hel]) to give large 

 spikes of bloom and fine healthy foliage. 



They are greatly addicted t») greenfly, so the 

 house should be funiigated often to prevent tliem 

 from being destroyed. 



It might be advantageous to amateurs to know 

 a good dozen, so 1 will here give the names of the 

 best dozen which I grow : — Exmouth lUval, 

 carmine, scarlet, or salmon : Albert Victor, rysy 

 red and white ; Duke of Connaught, cherry far- 

 mine : Lady Decies, flesh tlamed with red : liosy 

 C!em, rose suffused scarlet : Magiuficent. soft rose 

 and cliocolate : I'.arl, ])ure wliite ; William Haufi', 

 salmon rose : Atalanta, mauve and white ; Airs. 

 Lion, pure white : Duchess of Albany, purple 

 violet ; Lady Coleridge, delicate rose. 



Cotyledon. 

 •lift' in Switzerland 



