IRISH GARDENING 



103 



offered by nurserymen, luit will \>r f.)niul io in- 

 clude some of the best. 



All wlio have not yet given a fair trial to these 

 beautiful autumn-fioweriug shrul)S should try to 

 see them in flower, and older a few for planting 

 in spring. Plants from ])ots are most satisfactory , 

 as Ceanothuses when once planted dislike future 

 disturr)ance. Grower. 



Hydrangeas. 



Large buslifs of the eomiiKiu II i/d rdiKjid linrfcnsis 

 are not uncommon in the milder parts of Ireland, 

 where thev flourish and flower annually with very 

 little attciition; both the ])ink-flowered and blue- 

 fiowered forms are strikingly beautiful when seen 

 in big, masses. 



Hmwcvit. till- species i> not luiifdrnily hardy 



and September, be;ii-ing numerous large corymbs 

 of white sterile flowers, which make quite a fine 

 di.sphiy at this sea.son. Both species should be 

 liberally treated when well established, an annua' 

 dres;5ing of rich manure being a decided advan- 

 tage to them. Hard pruning back in March l>< 

 essential to encourage vigorous young growth 

 during summer. 



The Belladonna Lily. 



A M A H\ ixi s Bella donna . 



The popular name of this plant is misleading, as 

 it does not belong to the Lily family, but to the 

 same order as the Narcissus, viz,. Amaryllidese. 



It is notable this year on accomit of the freedfim 



ph(,t. 



taken in the Roval Botanic Gardens. Gh 



all over Ireland, where the mild climate is much 

 ovei-iated by non-residents, and it is only in mild 

 districts near the sea or in specially sheltered 

 positions that bushes such as grow in Devon and 

 ('ornwall can l)e seen. Tiie flowering of H . hm- 

 ten.sis dei)ends on the formation of a terminal 

 flower bud in autunm and on the survival of 

 that bud during wintei- and early spring. 



Two other autunm flowering species, however, 

 uie fairly reliable everywhere; these are H. 

 jHiiiirulafa and II. m hoK scms. In both cases the 

 type plants have large cdrymhs of fertile flowers 

 of no gi'eat ornamental valui'. but If. pdniculdtn 

 has the outermost flowers sterile, the large l)racts 

 ]iure white. l)ecoming pink as they fade. By some 

 ])<'(, pie the tvpo is j)refeir(Hl to the variety, which 

 has all the flowers sterile, ihe large infloresceiiee 

 being made up entirely of showy bracts. \ 

 vigorous well-grown bush of either the type or 

 the variety forms a striking jokI Keiuitifiil ot)ject 

 in August' and Septeml)er. 



II. (irlxirr.srrus has ])ractically all the flowers 

 fertile in the type, and is hardly worth growing 

 for ornament; II. (trhon'.^ci ns (irdiulifJuni. liow- 

 t^ver, i> a magnificent shrnli. flowering in August 



with which it is flowering. This is, no doubt, 

 due to the thorough ripening of the bulbs dm-ing 

 the hot, dry months of early summer. The plant 

 is a native of the Cape of Good Hope, and in its 

 native land enjoys a hotter sun than we are 

 accustomed to. Nevertheless it is a much valued 

 plant in our gardens, and requires only to be 

 planted deeply at the base of a sunny walTin well- 

 drained, loamy soil, to establish itself and live for 

 years. It may not flower freely every year, in 

 fact it seems to do .best in alternate years, and 

 a sunless wet sunnner may delay it even longer, Init 

 the glorious rose-pink flowers borne in clusters 

 at the smnmit of a tall, stout, leafless scape are 

 worth waiting tor. In the Botanic Gardens at 

 Glasnevin it is now flowei-in<i in abundance at 

 tile has. 

 (•( nipauK 

 AgapantI 

 picture. 



Several varieties are availal)le varving in shadt: 

 of colour. One of the best is tliat known as thf. 

 Kew variety, which has many more floweis ii 

 each umbel than is generally tlie case. 



B. 



