IRISH GARDENING 



rather smaller leaves and nval fruits. Growing 4 

 t>r 5 feet high, prohahly eventually more, li. su1>- 

 ciiHl'ntliiiii is an interesting subject for shrubhery 

 borders. In pul)lie parks it would be a useful 

 barrier with the very spiny and i-Uw- 

 irrowing brani-hes. In early winter the salmon-red 

 lierries are ainnidant and showy. All three speeies 

 are natives of China. 



VlBlKNl M HKiri.lKOLIU.M. 



This appears to be the most consistently useful 

 of several deriduous Vil)nrnums of recent intro- 

 duction from China, and valued for their attrac- 

 tive fruits. It is some H feet higli, a innnerously 

 red-brown branched shrub, having in autumn 

 i'oryndis of dark red fruits, which liang on tlie 

 liushes until early winter. Mr. Wilson describes 

 r. h>tul'iji>]\uin as a fairly conuuon shnd) in 

 Hupch and Szechuen. seeds being included in liis 

 litOI, 1907 and H)in collections. It is readily raii^ed 

 from seeds, and thrives in most soils. 



Erica ali'ina. 

 This is the most hardy of the Tree Heatlis. In 

 a large group of plants at Kew some of the bushes 

 are 10 feet high, while si-veral shrubs growing as 

 lawn subjects are beautiful specimens 8 feet high 

 and as nnich in diameter. The rich, lively green 

 leaves are attractive at all seasons, though par- 

 ticularly effective in winter. The white flowers 

 are borne in spring later than on the bushes of 

 E. nrltoren and K. hisitanicd (cndoiKxIt's). E. 

 olpiiKi is a native of the movnitains of Cuenca Spain. 



SaRCOCOCCA RU8CIFOL1A. 



There is much to admire in this low-growing 

 evergreen shrub introduced by Mr. E. II. Wilson 

 from Ii-hang in 1901. It has small fragrant white 

 flowers produced in winter, but it is as an evergreen 

 to carpet beneath trees that this Sarcococca will be 

 n)ost valued. Its dark, rich leathery-green leaves 

 form an attractive carpet l.i to 2 feet high. 



Notes from my Rock Garden. 



By Amahaxthe. 



The following extract from Mrs. Earle's delightfu 

 little book, " Pot-pourie from a Surrey Garden ' 

 exactly expresses the frame of mind in which I an 



tackling sonu' strenuous work in the rock garden, 

 and I am sure I am not the only one who would 

 echo her words : " People say, what coiild you do 

 in the garilen in winter r' " Hut no true gardener 

 wo\ild mak»' this remark, as tlier*' is so much to be 

 done at all times and seasons. Half the interest of 

 the garden is the constant exercisi- of the inuigina- 

 tion. You are always living three or. indeed, six, 

 inonths hence. I believe that people devoid of 

 imagination never can be really good gardeners. 

 To be content with the present and not striving 

 about the future is fatal." I would go a step fur- 

 ther, anil say that there is always ()uite a satisfac- 

 tory return for tlu' carefid work that we do and the 

 visions that we see. 



" Patient conciuering of difficulties " — to again 

 quote Mrs. Earle — is the keynote of success. 

 Spring brings so nuich to be done, that I consider 

 every moment now s|)ent in re-arranging nuitters 

 is valuable and interesting by reason of the imagi- 

 nation being exercised as well as the hands and 

 feet. 



All through tlie winter, in suitable weather, path- 

 ways can be made or improved, the position of 

 stones may be altere(l to please the eyw. all weeds 

 or their tiniest seedlings eradicated, the plants 

 that flourish by being wedged round witli stones 

 can be made firm for the winter. Amongst these 

 plants are ('(imixi imlii (juKja itiai , hirxtitu and 7/r/- 

 nioiHlid Xdfdliii , placing round the roots fine leaf 

 mould first — the former plant here has been in 

 masses of bloom for inonths, and is still blooming 

 away. The pale lilac, starry blossoms are very 

 effective with the small, greyish, downy foliage. 

 Damj) or flat ground is fatal to this plant, and it is 

 one of the prettiest of easy Campanulas. 



Androsaces now require looking to. Fine sand 

 and leaf mould suit them with some gritty, limy 

 mortar. The tiny rosettes quickly form, and may 

 in spring be removed and planted in other quar- 

 ters. .4. pi'iinuhi'itU's is a very pretty variety. A 

 covering of glass to keep off winter rains is essen- 

 tial. Two nice plants that come in very suitably 

 amongst tlie carpeting and draping plants that 

 I)lay a large part in the vision of loveliness of six 

 months hence are roit.steinon azuicus, violet and 

 iblue flowered, and Astnnifid m'uinr, both of the 

 erect type of tufty plants. The latter little known 

 plant has just been divided into numerous snuill 

 plants that will flower next year. The pretty, 

 silvery white blossoms continue long, and the plant 

 is of most easy culture. 



WINTER SPRAYING 



OF FRUIT TREES 

 to remove Lichen, &c. 



Caustic Soda, 98 per cent. 

 Paraffin (Solar Distillate) 

 Pure S oft Soa p 



Copper Sulphate, 98 p er ce nt. 



Cooper*8 V 1 Winter Spray 



Fluid, &c., &c. :: :: 



Berger's Lime- Sulphur Wash 



SPRAYING AND FUMIGATING MATERIALS OF ALL KINDS AT ToWEST CASH PRICES. 



HORTICULTURAL CHEMIST 



61 South Great George's Street, 



D. M. WATSON 



Dublin 



Telephone 1971 



