JUNE 



IRISH GARDENING. 



83 



Of our common Harebell Campanula rotundi- 

 folia, it is g-rowing- in the meadows with \'iola 

 cornuta and calcarata, presenting- a most 

 marvellous harmony in blues with the fresh 

 g-reen of Alpine meadows. 



Campanula Zoysii, a most charming, diminu- 

 tive alpine g-rowing- on the moraine slopes of 

 the Spanish territory of the Pyrenees, and it is 

 almost impossible to re-establish it in this 

 countrv. It grows on a slatv formation, amonir 



mixture I have found for its cultivation in 

 Ireland. 



Then we have the Soldanellas, which play a 

 very important part in the flora of the stream 

 sides and damp slopes of these mountains. 

 The most common is montana, its fring-ed 

 cyclamen-like flowers, sitting like jewels in the 

 surrounding spaghnum moss, giving a beautiful 

 contrast in is blue flowers appearing in associa- 

 tion with the various Pvrolas. 



Saxifraga Mlscoides. 



a kind oi' shale which, when exposed to the air, 

 crumbles to dust, and it sends its roots into the 

 half-decomposed rock, and is most difficult to 

 extricate. However, I succeeded in saving 

 about half of what I brought home. I think 

 this Campanula is about the choicest sweet- 

 meat for slugs I know, for they are not content 

 to devour the tops only but proceed to the 

 roots, so diminishing the chanc£ of re-establish- 

 ment. So any one trying this little plant must 

 keep very close watch .for this arch enemy. 

 It should be planted in a mixture of stone- 

 rubble and leaf-soil, this being the most suitable 



Soldanella minima is of a beautiful refined 

 delicate pink, of such minute size that one 

 almost needs a microscope to collect its roots, 

 although the flower is comparatively large to 

 the size of the plant, and it is found growing 

 among very short moss along the banks of the 

 stream-sides which have a stream washed 

 moraine foundation, and it is common to see 

 patches one yard across. I find in nature that 

 these plants vary considerably, and there is 

 field for study for those who have time for the 

 more minute details. 



The Dianthi, which I promised to speak of 



