74 



IRISH GARDENING 



Clematis montana and Varieties, 



This Clematis is well known as one of the most 

 beautiful of all 3Iay-flowenng eliml)ers. I'seful 

 for covering lough fences, pergolas, or arbours; 

 often it may l)e seen trained to a wail covered by 

 a sheet of white blossoms, each about 2 inches 

 across. 



Our illustration shows the large- flowered form 

 covering an arch in Mr. Smyth s garden at Dalkey, 

 wliere it is wondrously beautiful in May. On 

 ])art of the arch, so closely are the flowers packed 

 together that they com])letely hide the foliage. 

 This grandiflora variety should always be grown 

 in preference to the type, for it is equally free- 

 growing, much finer, and more decorative. 



C. montana rubens is rapidly becoming a 

 favourite on account of the rose-))ink flowers 

 which distinguish it from the tyi)e : even when 

 not in flower 

 it may be told 

 by the dark- 

 coloured foli- 

 age. Seedlings 

 which have 

 been raised 

 seem to be in- 

 ferior and too 

 pale in colour. 



C. montana 

 Wilsonii is a 

 new variety 

 which will be 

 welcome be- 

 cause it i)ro- 

 duces its flowers 

 in August ; 

 otherwise it is 

 very siniilar 

 to the tyi)e 

 for garden pur- 

 poses. It was 

 sent out by 

 Veitch about 

 1908 to 1909 

 a s Clematis 



flowering, and fortunately the same plants are 

 not always flowering simultaneously in all parts 

 of the country. 



As evidence of what can be seen in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Dublin, it is only necessary to glance 

 at the accompanying illustration, taken last May 

 at Mount Henry, Dalkey. To the right may be 

 discerned a glorious mound of Ibcris gibraltarica, 

 a delightful, but sometimes elusive, plant, revelling 

 in a sunny ])osition. but disliking dam]j in winter. 

 Near by, too, are cushions of Aubrietias, Mossy 

 Saxifrages, Cineraria lobata, with bright yellow 

 flowers, Alpine Auriculas, ICrigeron mucr(jnatus, 

 a most accommodating plant for the sides of paths, 

 steps, and on walls, bearing innumerable win- 

 some daisy-like flowers all svimmer : also the 

 ])rostrate blue-flowered Veronica Teucriu)ii dubia, 

 and many others. Then, too, the Achilleas make 

 mounds of white, and several Anthemises are 

 pictures of beauty. Rock Koses and Rock Cistuses, 



too, in endless 

 variety, give 

 warm gleams 

 of colour here 

 and there ; 

 while Wahlen- 

 bergias, Cam- 

 ])anulas, Sapo- 

 n arias, and 

 Dianthusesare 

 a never-failing 

 source of plea- 

 sure. In the 

 lower reaches 

 of the rock- 

 work, in shady 

 bays and moist 

 recesses, Cyp- 

 ripediums and 

 Orchises, Trol- 

 liuses and Pri- 

 mulas add de- 

 light to the 

 merrv month 

 of MAy. 



R. 



Clematis Montana grandiflora at Mount Henry. Dalkey. 



rep ens. 



These Clem- 

 atis thrive in 



any ordinary good soil, but prefer that of 

 a calcareous nature. So where lime is absent 

 in soil, it pays to give a sprinkling of slaked 

 lime. 



Priming is not necessary where this Clenuitis 

 has ample space to si)read, but in a limited space 

 where ])lants have to be kept in bounds, ])runing 

 should take lAaec immediately after ffoivrritxj, for 

 C. montana and its varieties flower on the young 

 wood, and if pruned in winter the flower buds 

 will only b:> cut away in ]U'uning. 



The Rock Garden in May, 



From March onwards through the sj^ring and 

 early summer months there is much of beauty 

 and interest in the rock garden, and perhaps in 

 May we get the greatest show of the year. Then 

 many of the earlier things have not yet lost their 

 pristine freshness, and the early summer Al])ines 

 are ap])roaching the zenith of their beauty. Of 

 course locality has nuu,-h to do with the Time oi 



The Indian Azaleas. 



These charming i)lants have been known since 

 the seventeenth centiu'y. but it was not till fifty 

 years or so ago that they became a desideratum 

 in greenhouse decoration. They produce a 

 magnificent floral dis])lay from December to May, 

 and can be obtained in all shades of red, pink, 

 red and white, and various combinations of 

 coloiirs, winle the i)vu'e white forms are always 

 adniired. There are both single and double 

 varieties, and they are grown as standards, half- 

 standards, pyramids, A:c., but the dwarf er plants 

 are more useful for rooms and ordinary green- 

 houses. A great number of plants are im])orted 

 annually, and with a little care and attention they 

 may be grown on to produce a wealth of bloom 

 for many years. As they ]jass the flowering stage, 

 all the dead blooms and stems must be removed. 

 The plants are then placed in a light structure 

 where the temperatiu-e averages about (iO° Fahr., 

 and syringed twice each day whenever the weather 

 warrants the use of the syringe. Careful water- 

 ing will be necessary, and on no account must 

 they get dry at the root. 



