IRISH GARDENING 



139 



Acantholimon venustum 



Although there are about a hundred recognised 

 species of Acantholimous, only a. comparatively 

 small number are cultivated in uardcus. These 

 are all delightful subjects for the rock garden, 

 and well worth a place and any attention they 

 may require. Without doubt the gem of the 

 whole genus is Acantholimon venustum; this 

 luiudsome Priclvly Thrift has narrow foliage 

 sonxewliat resemliling a Dianthus, which in the 

 early stage is cpiite soft, but as it gets older be- 

 comes stiff and rigid and vi-ry sharp at the points. 

 It forms thick, close growing tufts which are of 

 a slightly glaucous shade, and that alone is very 

 ornamental, while in July it ])roduces on arching 

 sprays, from eight inches to one foot in length, 

 its bright rosy- 

 pink tiowers. 

 with a rich 

 cinnamon col- 

 oiired calyx, 

 which finally 

 develops into 

 a s a u c e r - 

 shaped frill, 

 prolonging the 

 beauty of the 

 plant after the 

 llower is over. 



It is a very 

 s 1 o w-growing 

 plant, and not 

 so readily in- 

 c r ease d a s 

 some plants. 

 Seed is un- 

 doubtedly the 

 1j e s t nx e a n s 

 when it can be 

 obtained, but 

 seldom if ever 

 does it mature 

 in this country. 

 Layering is a 

 reliable means 

 if outstanding 

 pieces are peg- 

 g (! d do w n , 



placing a stone on to]) to I'etain the ju()i.sture. and 

 left for a year and tlien taken off and potted up. 



(Sittings are ahso a m(>ans dui-ing .luly, and I 

 ha\'e lu'ard that a good percentage can be ob- 

 tained by ])utting pieces of the old gi'owtbs in 

 about October, )»utthis method I have not yel 

 ti'ied, wliile good ])lants can be obtaint'd from 

 root cuttings. 



It recjuires a sunny as])ect in dei^p. well-drained 

 soil, composed of loam, leaf-mould, with a. little 

 old nu>rtar rubble added. Then; apjx'ars to be 

 sev(!ral forms, one having erect s])ikes, tlu^ one 

 illusti'ated being pendulous, while occasionally 

 one meets a bntad leaf form. It is a native of 

 tlie Cilician ^fountains, growing at an elevation 

 of from 4,000 to 7,000 feet, aiul was inliodueeil 

 into this country about 187:5. 



The iiluslration was taken of a ])lanl (twenty 

 inches in diameter) growing on the rock garden 

 in tin; iiotatuct (iai'dens, Cambridge, where tlx- 

 'Oiulitions appear to suit this handsome class of 

 ])laut. Apart fi"om this one, there is also a. line 

 [)lant of A. acerosum, over thirty inches in 

 diameter, as well as other line specimens — 



ACANTHOLIMOM VENUSTUM 



almost as large — of other species, growing on a 

 slo])ing wall against a bank, which seems to be 

 the ideal .s])Ot for them. 



F. G. Preston. 



Freesias 



Theue are many bidbs suitable for greenhouse 

 work, but few can equal the Freesias for their 

 delicate fi'agrance. They are natives oT Soutli 

 Africa, and ai'e of easy cidture. With proper 

 treatment they will flower annually, and the 

 stock can be increased by the numerous little 

 side bulbs that are formed each year. At the 

 •l)resent season they should be re])otted in a com- 

 post of loam, leaf-mould, rottcui cow nuinure, and 

 silver sand. Five and six inch ■|)ots are a con- 



venient size, and either should lie filled one fourth 



of tlu^ir de])th 

 with drainage. 

 Before com- 

 iiLencing o])er- 

 a t i o ns t h e 

 bulbs shoidd 

 be graded into 

 three lots and 

 then re])otted , 

 keeping each 

 lot separate. 

 About eight 

 1 a r g e b \i 1 b s 

 will be enough 

 for a (ive-inch 

 pot. and a doz- 

 en for a six- 

 inch, while the 

 snialier bulbs 

 must be trea- 

 ted in accor- 

 dance to their 

 size. The bulbs 

 should be 

 planted ? incli 

 dee]). Tile ]iots 

 are then ])la- 

 ced in a cold 

 franxe, and for 

 the tinu' being 

 will only need 

 ]) r o t e c t i o n 

 from heavy rains. Asgrowth advances, attention 

 must be paid to the staking toi)revent the shoots 

 fi'om breaking down, and in Novembei'the first 

 batch can be gradually imired to waiiuth. aiul 

 linally given a light, airy position in the greeu- 

 liou.se. 



If a (piantity is grown, a succession of llowei-can 

 he ke])t up foi' siAhe months. When tirst i>otled 

 water ought only to be afforded in snudl (pian- 

 tities. but when root action is vigorous the supply 

 can b(( iiu leased with advantage. Aft«'r the flow- 

 ering season is ovt'r, the plants must be watered 

 until the foliage begins to decay. At this .stage 

 water is gradually reduced, and then wilhlield. 

 and tlu! pots are stood uijon a shelf full> exjidsed 

 to the sun to thoroughly lipeu the Imllis foi' 

 another season. 



A great advance has been nuuh? with Freesias, 

 and the hybridist has ])roduced sonu> grand 

 ac(|uisitions which will be laigely giown when 

 tliey become more pleiitifid. For tlie iiresent I 

 conttuit myself with the good old varieties, 

 F. retracta, F. refracta alba, and F. Leichtlini. 



T. W. B. 



