DF.CEMBER 



IRISH GARDENING, 



1^3 



pulverisation of the clod. In intense cultivation the 

 efforts of the natural processes of the soil ma\ he 

 supplemented by the addition of farmyard manuii' and 

 other fertilisers. 



That we do not avail ourselves to the full extent of 

 our resources as to land is illustrated by the fact that if 

 the land of the three kingdoms was. on the averaore, 

 tilled as the soil of I'eltfium is at present it would be 

 able to produce, according- to the estimate of one 

 authority, sufficient 

 food to feed ^^7.000,000 

 people. 



The task of feedins^ 

 ourselves is a matter 

 of supreme importance 

 to us in Ireland. At 

 present our ports are 

 kept busy with the 

 handling- of imported 

 food-stuffs that miglil 

 be easily, and with 

 much profit to our- 

 selves, produced within 

 the confines of our own 

 seas. But to do this 

 we must educate our- 

 selves in the best 

 methods of culture, ami 

 co-operate, for busi- 

 ness purposes, in or- 

 der to secure the full 

 advantag-e of our la- 

 bours. Mr. Smith gives 

 most excellent advice 

 to the prospective 

 small holder, and after 

 discussing tlie methods 

 and prospects of mar- 

 ket-gardening, i-ightl}- 

 observes that after all 

 the most potent factoi- 

 in success is the man 

 himself. We can con- 

 fidently recommend 

 this book as a com- 

 plete and reliable guide 

 to any one seriousK 

 engaged in the produc- 

 tion of crops for com- 

 mercial purposes. It is 

 obviously the outcome 

 of the author's own 

 experience, and no- i„ ,1,^. ^^..1 



thing is included that 

 may be disregarded b)- the cultivato 

 the best results from his holding. Th 

 fully treated, such as packing, grading and marketing, 

 There is also a most u.seful and clearly-written chapter 

 on pests and diseases, with numerous figures of the 

 pests described. Reference tables are also given 

 The book as a whole is well arranged, clearly written, 

 abundantly illustrated, and handsomely presented bv 

 the publishers. 



Eryngium Rromeliaefoliiim 



THK plant here illustrated is a fine specimen of 

 the Bromelia-leaved Eryngium growing on the 

 banks of the river Liffey in the grounds of 

 Harristown House, Brannockstown, Co. Kildare, the 

 seat of P. La Touche, Esq., D. L. The plant is a native 

 of Mexico and is half-hardy in most places in the British 

 Isles. The height of 

 the plant, as given b}- 

 descriptive writers, is 

 usually stated to be 

 about four feet, but the 

 gardener (Mr. Winstan- 

 ley) gives the height of 

 this specimen when in 

 full bloom as fourteen 



Thi> genus Eryngium 

 is f o u n d spread 

 throughout the tem- 

 perate and subtropical 

 regioris of South Ameri- 

 ca, and belongs to the 

 order Umbellefer;e or 

 parsnip famih'. The 

 fiowers are arranged in 

 roundish, dense heads, 

 each protected as a 

 rule In- spiny bracts 

 foi-ming a cu|i-like in- 

 volucre. The ortiinary 

 le.-ives are large and 

 sheathing at the base, 

 and the majority of 

 species form very strik- 

 ing objects when placed 

 in iiositions sirited to 

 their r-ecuriiernents anil 

 habit. They love a 

 light, sand\- medium 

 for their- r'oots, especi- 

 alh' if the\' can get 

 abundance of water by 

 searching for it in the 

 depths of the soil. 



The species here 

 illustrated is provided 

 with long lanceolate 

 radical leaves and 

 large, handsome stem 

 lea\i's, with parallel 

 \eins and margins pro- 

 eeth. The flowers are 

 arance ir. I.rlv. 



^* V'^ t^^ 



• Ciive fools their goki. anil kn;ives their power. 

 Let fortune's bubbles rise and fall ; 

 Who sows a field, or trains a flower-. 

 Or plants a tree, is more than all." 



- Whit t in r. 



