JANUARY 



IRISH GARDENING 



possible, but dispensing- with all the old soil. The 

 collar of the plant should be on a lev^el with the 

 rim of the pot, and for larg-er specimens a com- 

 post consisting- of rough fibrous peat, loam and 

 sphag-num moss in about equal parts, adding- 

 some broken crocks and charcoal to keep the 

 soil free and porous. For small plants use 

 peat and sphag-num in equal parts, with small 

 crocks and a little silver sand. The fresh 



A Border ot Shrubs. 



By J. W. Besant, Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin. 



THIS, like the border of herbaceous plants, 

 can be made perennially interesting^ and 

 a source of much beauty if judiciously 

 planted and the site prepared with care. 



The position of such a border is usually 

 g-overned by some special circumstances or 



Cypripedium insu;ne. 



[J. M. Troup. 



material should be made thoroughly firm about 

 the roots. The appearance of a newly-potted 

 plant is improved if some heads of Ii\e sphag-- 

 num be pricked in all over the surface. While 

 the plant is making- new growths a little stimu- 

 lant of weak liquid manure may be given, which 

 will help to make stronger growths. It is a 

 useful plant to grow, as it bears remoxing fVoni 

 the greenhouse to the drawing-room, where it 

 can be used with advantage for ornamental 

 purposes J. M. Ti?oup. 



Sionnont Cusllc, Belfast. 



requirements. It may be an eftecli\e screen is 

 needed, or a boundary defined, or a certain 

 amount of shelter is necessary from some par- 

 ticular direction, and so it is decided to make 

 a shrubbery. 



Preparation of the Site. — IIa\ing decided 

 on the position, tlie dimensions must be accur- 

 atel}- marked out before proceeding to prepare 

 the ground for plantir.g. Under any circum- 

 stances it is advisable to trench the whole area 

 to a depth of at least two feet. Should the 

 staple soil be poor, some form of manure must 



