IRISH GARDENING 



87 



well known that both species are eminently suited 

 for direct sowing, a method that ought to be 

 employed wherever possible, as by that method 

 the tree has an undisturbed tap-root ; and what 

 is also very imjoortant, the initial cost of estab- 

 lishing a plantation in that way is very much 

 less than by the usual method of planting four 

 year-old trees. A few shillings can purchase 

 40,0()0 embryo trees in the form of seeds ; 

 it would cost twenty or thirty pounds 

 to buy 40,()0() four- year old trees twice trans- 

 planted. 



Our expensive nursery system is open to 

 reform, and except where it cannot be avoided 

 and for experimental work, possibly elimination, 

 our steady aim should be to secure conditions 

 that would encourage natural reproduction or 

 make direct seeding possible. Good healthy 

 seed of known and well tried forest trees require 

 only suitable surface conditions and protection 

 from their natural enemies, and these con- 

 ditions ought to occur naturally at some period 

 in the life of every forest. 

 Abbey leix. A. Macgregor. 



Rhododendron spinuliferum 



Sir John Ross of Bladensburg has kindly 

 forwarded a flowering spray of this uncommon 

 species from his unique collection at Rostrevor 

 House, Co. Down. The flowers were somewhat 

 too far gone to make a good photograph, but 

 sufficiently showed the peculiar characters of 

 the species, which is a scarce plant in cultivation. 

 R. spinuliferum is an evergreen, compara- 

 tively dwarf in habit, the specimen at Rostrevor 

 being at present about 2 feet high. The young 

 shoots are thickly furnished with hairs, and the 

 rather lance -shaped leaves are scaly and hairy 

 on the under surface with a few scattered hairs 

 on the margins. The upper surface is rough, 

 and the margins tend to recurve, rendering the 

 leaves slightly concave. The flowers, which 

 are bright red, are peculiar in that, unlike most 

 Rhododendrons, the lobes of the corolla do not 

 sjiread outwards, but rather incline to form a 

 tube round the stamens which protrude slightly 

 beyond them. The plant is a native of Yunnan, 

 where it was first discovered by that industrious 

 collector, the Abbe Delavay, and Mr. Bean in 

 his recently published book on Trees and Shrubs 

 remarks that it was "' introduced to France by 

 Mr. Maurice de Vilmorin in 1907." The species 

 is doubtfully hardy, and further experience is 

 necessary before any definite statenient can be 

 made on this head. 



Lycaste Skinneri. 



This is a showy and easily grown Orchid which 

 will thrive either in a cool or intermediate hou.se. 

 It is a winter-fiowering s})ecies, and the large 

 handsome flowers are white suffused with rose, 

 the lip or labellum being thickly spotted with 

 crimson and rose. There are various forms in 

 cultivation which ha\e received such names as 

 alba, rosea, picta, &c., but for general purposes 

 the type is preferred. When growth begins in 

 spring the repotting may be carried out, but 

 this operation only need be performed every 

 third year or so if the soil is in a sweet condition. 

 The pots should be filled one-third of their depth 

 with drainage, and the rooting medium consists 

 of good fibrous loam and Osmunda fibre in 

 equal parts, with a moderate sprinkling of 

 sphagnum moss and crushed crocks. For a 

 few weeks water should be afforded somewhat 

 sparingly, but once the roots take i^ossession 

 of the fresh compost the supply may be increased 

 with advantage. Wlien the season's growth 

 is completed, the plants will need a rest with 

 less water at the base, but the bulbs must not be 

 allowed to shrivel. With ordinary care and 

 attention this delightful plant may be grown 

 successfiiUy, and kept in good health for a 

 number of years. 



A Fine Form of Orchis latifolia 



In the Royal Gardens at Glasnevin every year 

 a remarkably beautiful variety of Orchis latifolia 

 may be seetx blooming towards the end of May 

 or early in June. The plant was discovered bv 

 the late Dr. Moore, Ph.D., F.L.S., M.R.I. A., and 

 the following account of it was given by Dr. 

 Moore, and is taken from the proceedings of the 

 Xatural History Societv of Dublin. Vol. IV., 

 p. 180 : — 



" Found in 1856 in the neighbourhood of 

 Sandyford, Co. Dublin, in a meadow, in May. 

 The size of tlie plant and tune of flowering 

 together at once attracted my attention, and 'ed 

 me to dig up some of the i)lants with their roots, 

 which were planted in the Botanic Gardens, 

 where they have continued to grow ever since 

 that time'. . . The plant . . . has stems that 

 measure 26 inclies from the root to the apex of 

 the inflorescence, with light green leaves, which 

 are 2 inches wide in the centre and 6 inches long, 

 the spike of inflorescence 5h inches from base to 

 apex, anxon r which are ])artially coloured bracts 

 longer than the flowers." 



The above brief abstrac-t written so long ago 

 scarcely does justice to this beautiful hardy 

 Orchid, as it now appears after many years of 

 cniltivation. The stately spikes of velvety 

 l)urple flowers have increased in size and beauty, 

 and many a visitor may be seen every year wrajit 

 in admiration of its wondrous beauty. 



