IRISH GARDENING 



67 



Notes. 

 Douglasia laevigata. 



This is one of the most delightful spring alpines, 

 flowering in April or early May, and is well 

 worth some little trouble to succeed with. Tt 

 is not exactly an easy subject, and, like its near 

 allies the Androsaces, is impatient of winter wet. 

 The flowers are of a pretty pink shade, borne on 

 short stems just above the glossy green leaves. 

 A very sharp sandy compost is necessary, in 

 which a small proportion of fine peat may be 

 incorporated. This has the effect of retaining 

 sufficient moisture in summer for the healthy 

 grow t h o f 

 the plant 

 without be- 

 coming sour 

 in winter. 

 The bettei' 

 k n o w n D. 

 vitaliana is 

 oftener seen 

 in gardens, 

 and is also a 

 most charm- 

 i n g r o c k- 

 garden plant, 

 rejoicing in a 

 sandy soil . 

 The name 

 Doug la si a 

 commemo- 

 rates the 

 famous tra- 

 veller an d 

 plant col- 

 lector, David 

 Douglas, who 

 found the 



now little known Douglasia nivalis near the 

 source of the Columbia River. Alpini.st. 



Adonis volgensis. 



During the early part of April this was one of 

 the most conspicuous plants in the garden. 

 Growing in the corner of a small bog in the 

 rockery, the large yellow flowers surmounting 

 the not fully expanded leaves were most 

 effective, and attracted the attention of visitors 

 at once. 



Just at present, mid-April, Adonis vernalis is 

 opening its first flowers, and will soon contribute 

 a share to the first real flush of colour which is 

 at last stealing slowlv over the rock garden, and 



Photo &//] 



AXEMOXK Pl'LSATILI.A A].B\. 



which, by the time May is here, should culminate 

 in a riot of glorious colour. 



A Gardener. 



Anemone Pulsatilla alba. 



A GROUP of the Pasque flower itself is an 

 imposing sight, but the variety alba is perhaps 

 still more beautiful and attractive. It is a cause 

 for regret that it is not seen more frequently in 

 our English and Irish gardens, as it is so easily 

 grown and requires little attention beyond a 

 suitable soil and position. 



Tt is absolutely essential for the plant to 



thrive that 

 the soil 

 should con- 

 tain lime,antl 

 it also cer- 

 tainly prefers 

 an open posi- 

 tion. 



1 have seen 

 the t y p e 

 growing wild 

 in Cambridge 

 shire, and 

 there it 

 grows on an 

 almost ]icr. 

 pend icular 

 l)ank.the soil 

 <(.nt a ning 

 much chalk. 

 The white 

 \' a r i e t \' 

 comes per- 

 fectly true 

 from seed, 

 aiid is easilv 



[// C Ehdn 



raised in this way : 

 ripe in a cold frame 



the seed sown as soon as 

 the seedlings being potted 

 up when quite small ; it is preferable to pot 

 them in single pots, as they dislike too great a 

 disturbance at the roots when planting in 

 their permanent quarters. 



There are .several other varieties of the Pasque 

 flower known to cultivators, and all are worthy 

 of cultivation. 



H. C. Rlsdon. 



Dianthus x Woodfordiensis, 



This is a particularly free-flowering plant, likely 

 to become popular with lovers of alpines. It 

 originated in the garden of Mr. R. A. Malby. an 

 enthusiastic cultivator of rock plants, and in 



