IRISH GARDENING 



botany is defective. A few botanical terms have, 

 of course, to be used, but they are carefully 

 explained in a glossary printed at the end of the 

 first part, and no one will find difficulty in 

 understanding them. The descriptions, made 

 from authentic materia!, are short and are 

 written in clear and simple language ; they give 

 all the necessary inforiuafion connected with each 

 species — e.g., heiglil of plant, habit, flower, fruit, 

 leafage, its lial)ita.f. wlu'u and by whom intro- 

 duced into tills country, anything specially 

 remarkable or interesting about it, and where a 

 good specimen may be seen growing, when such 

 exists. They give, in effect, the distinctive 

 character, the garden value, and the culture of 

 the numerous plants which the author has 

 included in his extensive list. The hardiness of 

 the species is also nientioned, when there may be 

 fear that it will not stand out in all ])arts of the 

 British Isles. It is obvious Uiat om- ciiiuate is a 

 variable qiiantity ; plants liaidy in Coiuwall and 

 in the more favoured districts of Ireland may 

 not grow in the Midlands. Mr. Bean has fvdly 

 gone into this matter, and in his descriptions lie 

 tells us 1.0W the plant thrives at Kew, how it is 

 treated, and where it is ])laced there. Every 

 grower knows his own climate and soil, and can 

 easily ascertain how they compare with the 

 conditions that prevail at Kew. We have thus 

 a standard of hardiness given to us, wliich is a 

 valuable addition to the useful information the 

 book contains, and which will be of great assist- 

 ance to those who desire to know wliat they can 

 try in their own gardens with a chance of success. 



The two volumes are well illustrated by sixty- 

 four plates representing sonie fine specimens of 

 various plants growing in different ])laces ; also 

 by numerous well executed line engravings freely 

 interspersed throvigh the Icttcrpi-ess. There is 

 moreover a full index, enal)liiig tlic I'cadcr to 

 get what he wants without trouble or difficulty. 

 The print is clear and good ; the volumes are 

 handsomely bound, and form a desirable addition 

 to the library. 



The preparation of this admirable work lias 

 evidently entailed much labour and trouble on 

 the author, who has spared no pains to make it 

 worthy of the object he had in view ; and we may 

 indeed congratulate Mr. Bean on its production. 

 All those interested in the subject may also 

 congratulate themselves that so useful and so 

 complete a work in ti'ees and shrubs lias now been 

 Ijublished and is accessible to them. It is a work 

 of permanent value, which will become more and 

 more appreciated as time goes on, and it will be 

 a welcome vade mecu7n to all those who are 

 anxious to succeed in their horticultural iiursuits. 

 It is much to be hoped, when the latest importa- 

 tions of Mr. Wilson, of Mr. Forrest, and of others 

 from the remote regions of China, are identified, 

 and when these plants have been tested and their 

 garden and scientific values ascertained, that 

 Mr. Bean may find leisure and opportunity to 

 continue liis important work, by giving us 

 descriptions of these newest trees and shrubs of 

 which at present we can know so little. 



STK .folTX 1?()SS OF Bl-ADENSBTKC, lv.(M}. 



Hardy White Broom — Cytisus albus. 



A NATIVE of Spain and I'ortugal, this is one of 

 the most charming of our hardy flowering shrubs. 

 Though flowering in May, when flowering shrubs 



are abundant, it is always welcome and con- 

 spicuous in its wealth of pure white blossoms. 

 For grouping or for single specimens the White 

 Broom is delightful, and should be rei)resented 

 wherever flowering shrubs are appreciated. Like 

 most of its family it does not bear well trans- 

 l)lanting from the open ground, and should 

 always be purchased or grown on in pots. It is 

 easily raised from seeds, and grows rai)idly, 

 making good specimens in three or four years. 

 To ensure well furnished bushes it is desirable to 

 prune back the growths for the first year or two. 

 Our illustration sliows a single specimen in 

 the garden of Mr. Murray Ilornibrook, Knapton, 

 Abbeyleix. B., Dublin. 



The Carob Tree. 



CeKATONIA SlLKH'A. 



This somewhat uncommon x>lant is hardy only 

 in the milder parts of Britain and li-elanct. 

 Where it flourishes it forms rather a striking 

 shrub, bearing pinnate leaves of thick leathery 

 texture. The flowers, which are not often seen, 

 are not showy, consisting of little more than 

 bunches of stamens, and occur on the older wood, 

 as shown in our ilhistration. In South European 

 countries, where the plant is found wild, it is often 

 also cultivated for its long brown pods, wliich 

 contain a great deal of sugary matter and are 

 valuable for feeding purposes. Occasionally the 

 ])ods are seen in shop windows in the British 

 Island?, and are a!so called Locust Bears. 



Ceratonia Siliqua belongs to the great order of 

 leguminous ]ilants. 



The Month's Work. 



The Flower Garden. 



By W. KinCt, Gardener to Lord Dunleath, Baliy- 



walter Park, Co. Down. 

 Roses. — All work remaining to be done in the 

 Rose garden should be pushed on when weather 

 conditions are favourable ; delay is fatal. The 

 earlier in the year tlie work is completed the 

 better are the results in the summer. A few of 

 the newer varieties should be jilanted annually 

 to keep the collection up-to-date. Dwarf Rosas 

 in beds are better lifted every third year, and the 

 beds thoroughly trenched and manured with well 

 rotted farm-yard manure, and if ]iossible a 

 portion of the old soil taken away, and replaced 

 by some good stiff loam from an old pasture. If 

 the loam has been in stack for a few months so 

 much the better. By lifting the Roses in this 

 way tiie blooms are larger and better, and the 

 growth more vigorous. To get the best effect the 

 beds in the Rose garden should be ])lanted with 

 one variety only. Teas and Hybrid Teas should 

 be largely planted ; varieties such as the followitig 

 !^ivc splendid results with the minimum of lal)our : 

 (icncial M-.Vrthur. Papa (ionticr, Corallina, 

 Warrior, Pharisil -r, .Melody, ].ad> Hattersea, 

 Madam Abel Chaft'nav, Krau Karl Druschki, J.,ady 

 llillingdoii. Lady Dunh-ath, Caroline 'Testout. 

 Madam f{avai'y. The climbing sorts are indis- 

 l)ensable for covering old stum])s, ])ergolas, &c.. 

 Nothing can be more beautiful in the late summer 

 than a pergola covered with Roses, including 

 some of the Wichuriana t>i)e, wliich may also 



