144 



IRISH GARDENING 



SKPTKMHKR 



and also for Lady Siidi-loy. J. |aiiu-soii. ICsq.. (iloii- 

 cormack. Bray (gardener, Mr M'lntosli), was fust for 

 Irish Peacli, and Mrs. Nesbiii, Tuberdaly, Kin.n s 

 County, first for any other variety dessert with Quar- 

 renden. Tlie Karl of Meath was first for Lord 

 Cirosveiior ; Lady Miisifrave, Toiirin, Waterford, 

 first for Ecklinville ; and A. Claude Ellis, Esq.. first 

 for Early Victoria, and first also for any other variety 

 cookinj? with large fruits of Clrenadier. 



Pears were a poor lot, first prize going to Sir K. 

 Cochrane for a dish of Clapps Favourite. 



Plums were fairly well represented, the Earl of 

 Meath winning first with good specimens of Victoria 

 in the red class, and first with Kirk's in the black or 

 purple class. 



Lady Rathdonnell was first lor red currants and for 

 red gooseberries, the Karl oi' Mcitli winning the white 

 currant class. 



Tomatoes were well shown, Lord O'Neill being first, 

 N. Hone, Esq.. second, and Mrs. Goodbody third. 



Vegetables were very good considering the very 

 severe season. For the collection of twelve varieties, 

 N. Hone, Esq., was first, and Mrs. Brown second. 

 There was good competition in the collection of six 

 varieties. Miss Field being first, Major Henry second, 

 and Dr. O'Donel Browne third. 



In the trade section gold medals were awarded to 

 Messrs. Hogg & Robertson for a magnificent collection 

 of gladioli ; to the TuUy Nursery. Kildare. for a large 

 collection of very choice gladioli ; to Messrs. W. 

 Drummond & Son for a very large collection of hardy 

 flowers, which were well arranged ; and to S. A. Jones. 

 Gowran, Kilkenny, for an excellent collection of very 

 choice gladioli. 



A silver medal was awarded Messrs Pennick & Co., 

 Delgany, for a group of shrubs, hardy flowers and fruit. 



A bronze medal was awarded to W. S. Ryland, Grove 

 Nursery, Stillorgan, for a very fine collection of violas. 



Messrs. C. Ramsay & Son were very highly com- 

 mended for a very nice exhibit of cut flowers, table 

 plants, and floral designs. 



Messrs. Watson & Son, Clontarf, were also very 

 highly commended for a nice collection of ferns, 

 clematis, and floral designs. 



K. Wells-Bladen, Esq., French Garden, Dundrum, 

 was awarded a cultural certificate for a magnificent 

 exhibit of Canteloupe melons. 



The following acted as judges :— Messrs. J. Kearney, 

 W. J. Besant, T. Moorhouse, Rev. J. H. Pemberton, 

 W. Owen, W. S. Irving, H. J. Digges, E. Bevvley, and 

 R. .A.nderson. 



Catalogues . 



W. Baylor-Hartland's list is, as usual, full of in- 

 formation of great interest to growers of bulbous plants, 

 the sections devoted to tulips and narcissi being 

 particularly so. There are illustrations. 



Bulbs and Flower Roots is the title of a dainty 

 little catalogue issued by Edmondson Bros, of Dublin. 

 We note that this firm makes a speciality of decorative 

 bowls for bulb culture. The list of plants includes 

 apparently all the varieties popular with growers. The 

 illustrations are numerous. 



l?i LUs i-OK (Jakdkn a.n'I) Gkkk.niioisk is the title ol 

 the autumn catalogue issued by Sir James .Mackey, Ltd. 

 ll is beautifully produced and abundantly illustrated, 

 the majority of the cuts being from original sources. 

 There is a good deal of interesting information scattered 

 throughout its 32 ample pages. 



McGrkdv and So.ns bulb catalogue (Portadown) is a 

 descriptive list of all the varieties likely to be required 

 by gardeners. It is well illustrated, and will prove use- 

 ful. The culture of bulbs in bowls is described and 

 illustrated, and a descriptive list of novelties in roses 

 raised by this firm is given on p. 29. 



Drt.m.mond's Flower Bilhs, 191 i, is the name of a 

 very fine catalogue issued by W. Drummond & Sons, Ltd., 

 of Dublin. This list of varieties are full and clearly 

 described, while the illustrations, which are numerous, 

 are beautifully printed. The culture of bulbs in howls 

 is described and illustrated. 



Ritchie's autumn catalogue (Belfast) is an illustrated 

 descriptive list of bulbs, roots. &c., for immediate 

 planting. 



A WRITER in the Field gives an interesting and useful 

 note on raising trees from seed which very clearly 

 describes the methods to be followed in this branch of 

 forestry: — 'A useful nursery for the growing from seeds 

 of alder, birch, ash, beech, and other hardy trees which 

 require, in the seedling stage, good soil and plenty of 

 moisture, and which on account of their small size in 

 the first year are liable to suffer from frost, scorch, or 

 weeds, was made as follows. It covers roughly an 

 acre in extent, and is situated by the side of a stream, 

 which can be dammed at any time. Numerous irriga- 

 tion channels about i8in. deep and a foot wide, which 

 can be filled or emptied at will from the main stream 

 supply water, and a moderate shade is afforded by a 

 number of tall willows iSalix alba) planted at regular in- 

 tervals between the beds. The soil consists of a mixture 

 of sand and well-decayed humus, to which from time to 

 time superphosphate is applied. In April the soil is dug 

 over, thoroughly cleaned from weeds, and then levelled 

 and raked. Furrows are drawn by means of a ringed 

 iron roller, the seeds are sown, and then a light wooden 

 roller is passed over them. The stream is then 

 dammed, the irrigation channels are filled, and within 

 a very short time the whole of the soil is thoroughly 

 moistened. When the seedlings are strong enough 

 and the roots have grown a few inches the water is 

 gradually lowered, but it is raised again in periods of 

 drought. When a situation, such as is here described, 

 cannot be found good results can be obtained with beds 

 about a foot deep, lined with bricks without mortar. 

 The bricks are to prevent damage from moles and to 

 a certain extent from insects, and to regulate the water 

 supply. Water must be obtainable in the neighbour- 

 hood, and movable screens of some kind (cheap ones 

 can be constructed of rushes, thatch, straw, &c.) must 

 be erected in summer to protect the seedling from the 

 scorching effects of the sun, and in winter from severe 

 frost. Such beds need constant attention, and are con- 

 sequently expensive to manage, but as the seedlings 

 are so small the seeds can be sown very thickly, and 

 the young plants transplanted in their second year." 



