ii; 



IRISH GARDENING 



Marguerites, 



Dear Sir, — 1 emlose i)hotu ol' a bed of 

 Marguerites grown in our garden. The ])lant.s 

 were put out three years ago, and have lived 

 through the winters in a most exposed place. 

 They have grown into this shape without any 

 training whatever. The bed measures 40 feet in 

 circumference, 10 feet across, and 4 feet 6 inches 

 high. Yours truly, 



E. tl. BOURCIIIER. 



Dromline, Foxrock, Co. Dublin, 

 Jiine 15, 1914. 



Gloxinias. 



At this season of the year Gloxinias are our 

 greenhouse favovirite. and no doubt they deserve 

 to be, more es- 

 pecially of late 

 years, since 

 they have been 

 so greatly im- 

 proved. Hence 

 I would like to 

 give a few 

 hints on their 

 culture. The 

 best time to 

 sow the seeds 

 is in early 

 spring (March), 

 but those who 

 have not done 

 so can sow the 

 seeds now and 

 keep the seed- 

 lings growing 

 steadily at a 

 temperature of 

 05 degrees. For 

 seed sowing, 

 prepare boxes 

 3 or 3 1 inches 

 deep, place 

 some coarse 

 compost for 

 drainage in the 

 bottom, then 

 a mixture of 

 finely-sifted loam three parts, leaf mould one 

 and a half, and silver sand half a i)art, fill the 

 boxes, give a watering and leave to soak. 

 When well soaked sow the seed and cover with 

 about three-eighths of an incli of soil, place all 

 in a house or propagator where 05 degrees can 

 be maintained, cover the boxes with a slieet 

 of glass and " brown paper," so as to maintain 

 heat and moisture, till the tiny seedlings ap- 

 pear, when the boxes may be removed, and 

 by degrees bring them into more light. Al- 

 though they like light and do best in it, they 

 resent strong sunshine, and should be shaded at 

 all times from the strong sun ; this can be done 

 by tacking a sheet of ])aper inside the glass, but 

 my plan is to whitewash the glass outside. When 

 the seedlings are large enough to handle prick 

 them out into boxes, vising a compost the same 

 as used previously. With slight care and atten- 

 tion they may remain in these boxes till the 



I'lioto hjjl 



A Bed of Marguerites which 



at Dromline, Foxrock, Co. Dublin 



foliage dies off and they become ri|)e : they can be 

 taken u]) and the soil shaken away from their 

 roots and put in their winter quarters just like 

 tuberous Begonias. The corms should be started 

 in March and April consecutively, in order to get 

 a continuation of bloom for the summer; start in 

 boxes, and when three leaves appear put tlnsm 

 singly into their flowering pots, which should be 

 5| or 0-inch size. The comi)ost for this ■|)otting 

 niay be coarser and contain loam four parts, 

 leaf-mould two and a half i)arts, and half a])art of 

 sand, with some good fertiliser added, also a little 

 charcoal, as it tends to sweeten the soil. Kee]) 

 thenx growing steadily and in good light, but 

 make sure and shade them from strong sunshine. 

 Watering is one of the i)rincipal ])oints to be 

 careful of in growing Gloxinias ; never water till 

 the plants require it ; do not throw water on the 

 plants every time you go into the house, as this 

 is what ruins them and causes them to die 



off. A good 

 plan, when 

 ])otting, is 

 to have the 

 soil si ogling 

 from thecorm, 

 so as not to 

 have the 

 water going 

 to the stem 

 and rotting 

 it. 



When grow- 

 i n g freely 

 liquid manure 

 may be given 

 twice a week, 

 with an occa- 

 sional dose of a 

 good fertiliser, 

 to ensure a 

 good display 

 of bloom, 

 (ireenfly at- 

 tacks the 

 young leaves, 

 so the plants 

 should be fu- 

 migated as 

 often as the 

 fly a])pears. — 

 Jn. Cleaby. 



[A. Coates 

 has stood in the open for 3 years 



TroIIius pumilus- 



The majority of the Globe flowers are strong- 

 growing plants more suitable for the bog garden 

 than the rockery. The above named species is, 

 however, an exception, being of quite moderate 

 stature. From a tuft of palmately-lobed leaves 

 the sturdy flower stems arise to a lieight of about 

 a foot, each bearing at its summit a solitary 

 flower. The flowers are of a deep golden yellow 

 colour, flat or open like a large Buttercup, some 

 2 inches across, and possess a rather sweet 

 fragrance. This Himalayan plant seems to 

 flourish best in a light peaty soil with a full 

 exposure to sun. 



