t;2 



IRISH GARIM^NING 



various slopes was Saxif'raj,'-a Cot\ li.i.Kin. NLiulini; 

 forth garlands of dewy sprays. 



There were many forms of this plant, some 

 flowerinj;- with long conglomerated pyramids, 

 others opening their flowers down in the crown, 

 yet the flower itself was full sized. This lalter 

 form was particular to certain plants, anJ one 

 wonders if cultixation will spoil its clianii. 

 They were growing in close association uiiii 

 their more p\ ramidal bicthren. 



Saxifraga aizoides was scarce, as was S. 

 aretioides. i^assing along a small stream I 

 noted that Silene acaulis had there niatle its 

 home. What line cushions oi' green I what 

 glorious patches ot colour! It is a gem at 

 home, and is master of the situation where it 

 grows. Various saxifragas and diantlii were 

 in possession along a sunn\- moraine, and the 

 oiMy plant of mossy saxifraga was seen on the 

 opposite bank, which I think was moschata ; 

 and very unhappy it was, it probably came 

 down from above with the falling rocks. 



Away up the mountain side, amid tiie snow v 

 slopes, was Dryas octopetala, and Primula 

 farinosa and P. glutinosa were in abundance. 

 Where it chanced to be more moist P. integri- 

 folia or some form very similar was growing. 

 Ranunculus thora was flowering here in very 

 fine style. On the cliff" above I found a solitary 

 plant of Primula minima, with one of its fairy- 

 like flowers hanging over as if watching my 

 work of destruction at a fine plant of P. viscosa 

 alba. But we were at the top of our cfimb, and 

 around us was the ever persistent Parnassia 

 palustris. Dryas again was plentiful, and 

 while wandering around looking at the snowy 

 giants before us Saxifraga pygmaea gave us 

 the last signs of the weary struggle for 

 life. 



As I stood and ."-urveyed in that celestial 

 calm, where the din of commerce had no 

 meaning and the human \oice seldom defiled, 

 I saw below the rugged pillars of rock the 

 scene of inert life, the home of many a gem — 

 and I listened ! From below came the sound 

 of rushing waters, subdued by distance but 

 refined in their charm, still rolling on and on, 

 making deeper dales and higher hills, carrying 

 with them the memories of their rugged cradle 

 of birth. 



"To him who in the love of Nature holds 

 Communion with her visible forms, she speaks 

 A various language." —Flemivell. 



lowcrinij 



Sh 



runs. 



Hy F. U. Mo.'KK, M.A. 



Till', .iitii-K-s on t1owiTin;< .shriil>s whiih ajipianil 

 in ilio issiii's of Ikisii (l.xuni-.Ni.Nt; for Jaiuiary, 

 i'\'l)ruary, ami .Maiili represent a series of 

 noil's taken twice each month during the year iijotj. 

 riu-y will serve as a guide to niteiuiing planters who 

 iiiinire general information as to the best shrubs in 

 llower at each season o^ the year. The present list 

 was made in connection with these notes, and contain'^ 

 I lie names of all the shrubs noted in flower in the Ro\al 

 Kotanic Ciardens, Cilasne\in, in igog. Such a list m;ule 

 ill any one \'ear must necessarily be more or less 

 incomplete, as sonn- shriihs may ha\e bei-n passetl 

 over and others may not haw tUnveri'ti. It is, however, 

 sullicientU' comprehensive and complete, and will, I 

 trust, be found useful for the purpose for which it was 

 prepared. Owing to the ienglh oi this list it was 

 obviously undesirable to incorporate it with the general 

 text of the article ; hence it is now published separately. 



