IRISH GARDENING 



n 



named garden varieties are still opening, but their 

 charms are of a diiiferent kind. 



Rh,. azaleoides is a modest plant of four to six feet 

 in height as a rule, in some instances probably some- 

 what more. It is partly evergreen^ rarely being 

 wholly without leaves. The leaves are glaucous be- 

 low, gi'een above, three to four inches long, one to 

 two inches wide, tapered towards the base, and 

 broadest towards the apex. The flowers are produced 

 in clusters of from twelve to fifteen or occasionally 

 more, and are w^hite, irregulai-ly suffused round the 

 rim of the corolla with deep rosy lilac. As the 

 flowers are very freely produced, a bush or group of 

 bushes makes a very pleasing display which, coupled 

 with the deUghtful fragrance, makes this rhododen- 

 dron a desirable oue, particularly for small gardens 

 where the collection must be limited. 



Rhododendron calexdulaceum . 



For sheer brilliancy it would be very hard to beat 

 this North American Azalea. It is deciduous, the 

 leaves being from three to four inches long, from 

 half an inch to over one inch wide, somewhat oval in 

 outhne, and with short stalks. The flowers in the 

 specimen under notice are brilliant orange yellow, 

 though it is said to vary in nature, some being red 

 and others paler yellow. They are produced in ter- 

 minal clusters of half-a-dozen or thereabout : the tube 

 of the corolla is short, but the lobes are very much 

 longer, the stamens again being very much longer 

 and prominently exserted. To produce a brilliant 

 display in June no more deligh'Rul plant could be 

 desired. 



Leucothoe Davisije 



This interesting and pretty shrub is admirably 

 suited for association with Rhododendrons and 

 kindred plants requiring non-calcareous soil. It is 

 evergreen, reaching a height ultimately of three to 

 four feet, or perhaps a little more under peculiarly 

 favourable conditions. The dark-green leathery 

 leaves are from an inch to over two inches in length, 

 and an inch, or sometimes less, wide, somewhat 

 oblong, but widest at the base. The flowers are pro- 

 <luced in racemes arising in the axles of the terminal 

 leaves. They are pure white, rather pendulous, and 

 somewhat urn-shaped. A well-flow-ered plant of this 

 C'alifornian shrub is always much admired. 



Herbaceous Plants. 



THAr.ICTIilM AQIII.EOIFOUL-.M. 



For rich, deep soil this is one of the handsomest of 

 June flowering herbaceous plants. In the herbace- 

 ous border it makes a striking display provided the 

 soil is retentive enough, but it is a mere caricature 

 of itself in dry soil; hence where the staple soil is 

 too dry it should be relegated to the bog garden or 

 some place where the necessary moisture can be 

 ensured. Several colour varieties are obtainabl.^ — 

 viz., mauve, pink, and white, the first two being the 

 most ornamental. As the specific name imi:)lies, the 

 leaves resemble those of the Columbine, the feathery 

 inflorescences being produced well above the foliage, 

 the total height in good soil aj)proaching five feet and 

 over. Seeds are frerly produced and germinate 

 readily, hence a good stock of young jdants can be 

 raised when wanted. Some very good forms are ob- 

 tainable from Daisy Hill Nurseries, Newry. 



AsTEi; Farreri. 

 TTiis new Aster is a striking addition to the early 

 flowering section, and is likely to become popular 

 very soon. The lower leaves are from four to five 

 inches long, about an inch wide, and tapered to a 

 stalk; the stem leaves are smaller and sessile. The 

 flower heads are produced singly on stems about 15 

 inches in height, probably more in some cases, as 

 position and soil so much control height. The outer 

 florets are of a beautiful light mauve ; the central disc 

 of tubular flowers is in effect rich golden yellow — a 

 deUghtful plant for the rock garden or border, making 

 a worthy companion to A. lichiangensis, A. Purdomii, 

 A. ijunnanensis, lately come from China, and all of 

 merit for the rock garden or border. 



Good Dry Weather Pi.ants. 



During the dry windy weather of June no plant 

 was more conspicuous in the borders than the old- 

 fashioned single Rocket, Hesperis matroiialis. The 

 pure white variety is the most ornamental, and is 

 best treated as a biennial, sowing in the open in 

 May to be transplanted to the borders in October. 

 The plants grow three feet high, branch considerably, 

 flower abundantly, and are apparently indifferent to 

 the driest weather. It is worthy of note that the 

 double Rocket, especially the white variety, is toler- 

 ant of drought, and has seldom been finer than this 

 year. It is perennial, and thrives if divided and 

 replanted after flowering. The scarce double purple 

 variety is also a plant of merit, and should be care- 

 fullv tended bv those fortunate enough to possess a 

 stock. 



Anchusa Barreolieri. 



JJlue flowers seem to appeal to nearly everyone, 

 hence the popula"ity of Delphiniums and the well- 

 known Anchusas Dropmore and Opal. These, how- 

 ever, are tall growers, while the species under notice 

 ii of medium height, from two to three feet. 

 Although considered somewhat aggressive, because 

 broken pieces of root grow freely, and hence it crops 

 occasionally where not wanted, A. Barrelieri is 

 nevertheless a beautiful plant, and flowers over a 

 long period in early summer. It is mentioned here 

 as among plants which seem to enjoy heat and 

 drought, for all through the warm, dry days of mid- 

 June it has been a mass of blue flowers on high 

 knolls of the rock garden as well as in the borders 

 and elsewhere. Seeds are offered sometimes under 

 the tiame of dwarf blue Anchusa, and any piece of 

 root \\ ill grow. 



Shrubs. 



Genista tinctoria appenina. 

 This is a remarkably floriferous shrub, and is cer- 

 tainly one of the best forms of the very variable 

 " Dyer's Woad." Of dwarf habit, it is suitable for 

 the rock garden or front of a sunny shrubbery, where 

 it annually makes a very charming display. The 

 shoots are terminated by densely flowered racemes of 

 large clear yellow flowers in such profusion as almost 

 tf) hide the'leaves and branches. It flowers in June 

 and early July, and after flowering should have the 

 branches shortened back below the flowers to induce 

 strong growth for the following year and to keep the 

 plant in good form. 



