IRISH (lARDENING 



latter is not tluwering quit.- so fn-ely this year. 

 Heaths wore u riot of lolour. esponally a fnu' 

 colK'ition of Kncii runiai \'Brii'ties on a ptaly 

 l.aiik of tlu- rork jrardi-n; rlsrwhert- ni h.'.ls al.oiit 

 tlu' pond vU\. Kniu daih i/i itst$ um\ forms of tlif 

 Me<literranian Ht-ath nuule attractive hits of t-olour. 

 Anjonj? slinihs. one of tlu- most attrar- 

 tivf momhers of the Krica fjnii'ly, "* V'^' 

 Manzanila. at present wt>ll furnislu-d with han^Mii}: 

 clusters of wliite. pink-tintrd Howers; tho Howors 

 last in lu-autv for many w.tks, and as the plant is 

 evernreen. fuVnished witli l.'athery, ^Meyisii lcav«'s. 

 between whiili lanhe seon the red stem Ar,t<>- 

 »taiiln/h>s M,in:<iuit,i is a shruh of miuh heanty. 

 It ivuuirt's a soil free from lime, and throws appar- 

 ently six feet hi^h. and possil)ly a pood deal more. 

 Other shruhs now showiiUp' lolour in the flower l)e(ls 

 are Fo,f</{huis. rrunus fnh.l„i fl. pl.J'nnms mast- 

 frra and its varieties, and I'niinis Mini. Attractive 

 alreadv, and szivinp greater promise, is /'n/jn*s 

 deliisi'ciis. a miioh-l>raiuliod. rounded hush, hear- 

 in>: larire "pal.-piiik t!..w.>rs. B. 



Rhododendron moupinense. 



Among early llowering ilwarf spe.ies Bh. 

 moupliiensr is remarkable. The beautiful liirfje. 

 ■white, fragrant flowers place it in the front rank 

 of dwarf earlv flowering shrubs. An evergreen 

 with leatherv" rather oval leaves, it is admira'bly 

 adapt^-d for the rock garden, where it may be 

 planted in colonies in peaty bays, or on ledges 

 not exposed to drought in summer. The early 

 flowering nature of this species renders the 

 flowers liable to injury by frost, but the dwarf 

 habit enables the grower to nnnly ni'jhtly a cover- 

 inc of tiffany or branches just sufficient to ward 

 off frost. Treated thus, the flowers may be en- 

 joyed for several weeks. This year the flowers 

 have opened well in February, but in more 

 severe winters the main display is in March. 



Rhododendron Flavidum. 



This inlcre.-ting .-pciic- is unother of tlie many 

 lieautiful dwarf Rhododendrons introduced from 

 China. It is now. in the last week of February, 

 just showing the primrose yellow colour of its 

 flowers. Of twiggy habit, with small ovate. 

 thickish leaves, it forms a good shrub for the rock 

 garden in conditions ^uch as suit 7?/i. 

 moiijiinense. 



Rhododendron parvifolium. 



This i> iniotii-r -i.rcics fjf rlwarf twiggy habit 

 with small narrowly obovate leaves producing in 

 February and March clusters of rosy purple 

 flowers at the ends of the branches. As a rock 

 garden shrub it is quite effective, rarely exceed- 

 ing .3 feet in height, and associating well vith 

 <lwarf Heaths and other peat loving pi lats. 



Obituary. 



MR. .TAMES COEY. 



It is with sincere regret we have to record the 

 death of Mr. .Tames Coey. of Ardeen. L^rne, and 

 proprietor of the Donard Nursery Co.. Newcastle, 

 Co. Down. The late Mr. Coey was well known 

 in agricultural circles, but to readers of this 

 journal he was better known as a keen, capable. 



au.l . uihusiastic horticulturist Although the 

 Donaril Nurseries are run as a commercial con- 

 cern. Mr. Coey was a keen lover of good plants, 

 and spared neither time nor money to acquire 

 the very best things in cultivation. He visited 

 Continental gardens fre(iuently. and kncA' inti- 

 mately the best collections in Britain and Ireland 

 He" was indefatigable in seeking the l)est 

 methods of cultivation, and his numerous 

 successes at the leading exhibitions in the 

 British Islands bore testimony to the success 

 which attended his efforts. Mr. Coey was extremely 

 catholic in his horticultural tastes, and rejoiced 

 ('(pially in line Diiffodils. good herbaci'ous plants, 

 rare "trees and shrubs, and the best modern 

 Roses. 



A list of his succe-sses would be a lengthy one 

 consi<lering tlie comparatively short lime he had 

 been in business as an nurseryman, and include the 

 liigliest award of the Royal Horticultural 

 Society for dormant bulbs. together with 

 numerous cuy)s. medals, and other awards for 

 groups and specimens of rare foliage and flower, 

 ing trees and shndjs. His remarkable success 

 with the coloured Leptosperinunis. Pittosporums, 

 Lomatias. Tricuspidarias. and many other rare 

 shrubs placed the Donard Nurseries in the front 

 rank of firms catering for the highest class trade. 

 A man of the kindliest disposition and generous 

 to a degree, his tall somewhat .spare figure will 

 be sadly missed among ns, yet will his memory re- 

 main with us for many years to come, and as the 

 seasons come and go they will bring many re- 

 minders of .Tames Coey. 



As an near and dear relative of his has beauti- 

 fully said : " He has passed to an eternity of 

 joy." 



The Month's Work. 



Midland and Northern Counties. 



By Mr. F. Streetkr, Gardener to H. B. Barton, 



Esq., D.L., Straffan House, Straffan, 



Co. Kildare. 



KITCHEN GARDEN. 

 Asp.\RAGus. — Continue to lift and force sufficient 

 Asparagus to meet all requirements. The ijer- 

 manent beds should be carefully raked down at 

 the end of the month, the alleys given a dress- 

 ing of short manure and neatly forked in, ready 

 for planting eg/i'ly Cauliflowers or Lettuce, if 

 room is scarce. Seeds may now ,be sown in 

 ."i-inch pots and plunged in a bed of ashes till 

 germination has taken place. 



Artichokes. — liemove the protection from 

 the Globe Artichokes, give a good dressing 

 of manure, and fork over the beds. Where new 

 plantings are to be made the present is a good 

 time. Select various positions to prolong the 

 supply, and till the ground well, as this crop will 

 occupy the site for several seasons. 



Bro.m) Be.\ns.— Make two sowings of Broad 

 Beans during this month, choosing an open 

 well-worked piece of groiaid. Sow the seeds in 

 rows 2 feet 6 inches apart, and place the seeds 

 alternately 8 inches in the rows. Where room 

 is limited sow a row of Spinach, as a catch-crop, 

 between the rows. Exhibition and Mammoth 

 Long pods are excellent varieties, and Green 

 Giant and Unrivalled the best green-seeded 

 varieties. 



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