To6 



IRISH GARDENING 



produced in abundance ui early suninu'i, .tud 

 prove quite attractive. 



Heliclirysuin rosmariniloliuni, lntti.i known 

 as ozothamnus, is the Australian "Snow \n 

 Sunmier ■' husli, and makes an atlracti\e wall- 

 sluuh. I'he leaves are small and narrow, and 

 the crc.iniy-white flower heads arc produced 

 Ireely in summer. 



Jasniinum fruticans and J. rc\olutuni. two 

 c\ cij^iocn, yellow-llowered jasmines, make use- 

 ful shrubs on walls, though the hrst-named, at 

 least, is often cultivated as a shrub in the open. 



The olearias are well adapted tor i^rowinj^ 

 aj^ainst sunny walls, and tlower tVocl\ in sum- 

 mer. Two of the best are O. niacrodonla, witii 

 spiny, holly-like leaves, and O. stellulata with 

 smaller leaves but most altraclise white flower 

 iicads. Vo furnish shaded walls much use is 

 made ol' i\ y. l""or such a position there is no 

 lietler self-clin>;-in«;- everg-reen shrub. There is, 

 how ever, such a wide and varied selection ot 

 varieties that the use of the common or Irish ivy. 

 lo the exclusion ol others, is to be deprecated. 

 The larj^est leaved variety is Hedera Helix 

 dentata, which bears enormous leaves and is 

 eminently suitable for a lofty wall. There is 

 also a beautiful \ariegated form oi' this. 

 Smaller-leaved sorts are Civnwoodiana, palmata 

 minor, sag-gilifolia, &c. There are numerous 

 silver and gold and variegated forms, and a 

 very pretty effect can be got by planting the 

 green leaved forms alternately with the varie- 

 gated kinds. Euonymus japonicus and its varie- 

 gated forms are also useful for shaded walls, and 

 however much some people may despise varie- 

 gated forms of shrubs, there is no denying their 

 value for brightening up what would otherw ise 

 be rather unattractive places. 



Another useful, self-clinging evergreen for 

 shade is Krcilla spicata (Bridgesia). This grows 

 rapidly, and soon covers a considerable space. 

 The small, rather dull-coloured flowers are not 

 of much interest. Azara microphylla, which 

 bears numerous small, shining-green leaves, 

 grows strongly against a wall, and does not 

 object to a fair amount oi' shade. 



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FOK liHiiging haskols wf ai.l\isi' our readers to try 

 tropa'olum, using preferably llie variety Fire Ball. Use 

 a larg-e basket, and we promise a magnificent effect. 

 Growers of tropa.'olum know how necessary it is to 

 remove the old flowers as soon as the petals fade in 

 order to prevent fruiting and to encourage the continua- 

 tion of the flowering period. 



(lardcn Notes. 



Thi-: teci-nl exceptionally long sjiell ol dry weathei 

 lias bi-en very Irving in ganlcns, and especially in 

 shallow soils. It has demonstrated the great inipotl- 

 ance of so cultivating tin- soil that it stores up and 

 retains as large a quantity of water as a soil in a well- 

 drained condition is lapahie of doing. The nu'thotls 

 pursued by ^ooi.[ gardeners aie deep digging ami 

 trenching, thorough pulverisation of the broken earth, 

 incorporation of organic manure, ami then mulching 

 earl\- in the summer. The finer the particles of soil the 

 greater is the quantit\- of water (he soil can hold. The 

 presence of organic matter, such as farmyard manure, 

 leaves, iVc, increase the soil's water-holding power. 

 and mulching the surface of the soil with litter prevents 

 loss of water b\ evaporation. 



Thk mulching of young fruit trees during the hot 

 weather is an operation of the greatest benefit to them. 

 Mulching ought not to be done, however, too early in 

 the \ear, as time must be given for the earth lo get 

 warmed to some depth before the covering is applied. 

 The material used should be of a loose nature only, so 

 as not to exclude air. If the trees want feeding well or 

 partially, rotted farmyard maiuire may be used ; if they 

 do not need additional food then any litter will serve 

 the purpose. But before laying- the mulching material 

 down, the soil should be lighllj' hoed so as to have the 

 surface loose and powdery. 



I'LOW'KK borders also benefit greatly by mulching 

 iluring the earl\- summer — June being pi'rhaps the best 

 month to begin. Well-rotted manure is an excellent 

 material to use. The greatest good, of course, will 

 follow in cases of light, shallow, or gravelly soils. 

 -Some people object to the appearance given to the 

 flower border covered with mulching material, but the 

 plants grow so luxuriantly under the favouring condi- 

 tions as to food and water that in a little time an}' 

 objectionable appearance will all but disappear. But in 

 cases where an added mulch is really out of place, then 

 careful and constant hoeing is the next best thing 

 to do. The loose, dry powdery soil will act as a 

 most efficient protection against loss of water by 

 evaporation. 



The Cornfloweror Hluohottle (Centaureacjamis ofthc 

 botanist) is a good example of a native plant, useful as 

 a border decoration. It is annual or biennial in dura- 

 tion, and flowers from June to September. Grown as it 

 ought to be grown (in masses) it is charmingly effective ; 

 it is good too as a cut flower. Some excellent varieties 

 are sent out by seedsmen. We are very fond of this 



