IRISH GARDENING 



II' 



Eremuri. 



The great family of Liliaceous plants contains 

 no more noble members than the various 

 species, varieties and hybrids of Eremurus. 



At one time considered somewhat diihcult 

 to grow, a better understanding of their require- 

 ments has led to a rehnquishing of that idea 

 and a large increase in popularity. Quite 

 recently at the Holland House Show in London, 

 Messrs. Wallace, of Colchester, put up a remark- 

 able exhibit of Eremu- 

 rus hybrids which Irish 

 visitors have reported 

 as something unique. 

 Ireland, generalh', is 

 well suited to the cul- 

 tivation of Eremuri, 

 and, as our illustration 

 from the gardens of P. 

 LaTouche, Esq.,D.L., 

 at Harristowu House, 

 Co. Kildare, shows, they 

 are not being neglected . 

 Eremuri usually seed 

 freely, and the seeds 

 germinate readily, but 

 patience is required ere 

 they reacli the flower- 

 ing stage. Five years, 

 and possibly longer, is 

 not too long to wait, 

 and for the first two 

 years the seedlings may 

 remain undisturbed. 

 Afterwards they may 

 be given more space, 

 as found necessary, 

 lifting the roots care- 

 fully after the leaves 

 have died off in late 

 summer. A deep, warm, 

 loamy soil is ideal for 

 the growth of Eremuri, 

 and the crowns should be quite six inches below 

 tlie surface when planted. During winter a 

 covering of dry ashes is beneficial, and some 

 l)rotection should be given to the young growths 

 as they advance in spring ; in fact spring 

 frosts are more injurious to the plants than 

 anything el.«e, and are probably the cause of 

 failure to flower more frequently than any other. 

 The best flower spikes are produced from single 

 crowns, and when, after a year or two, several 

 crowns appear, and the throng-like roots are 

 seen to be coming to the surface, they shoidd be 

 lifted carefully, separated, and replanted as 

 detailed above. 



Of late years a considerable extension has been 



Ekkmukus 

 In the Gardens at 



given to the flowering period by the discovery 

 and introduction of new later flowering species 

 and by the successful efforts of the hybridist, 

 who has succeeded in producing a number of 

 magnificent hybrids, showing considerable varia- 

 tion in colour, and it is quite probable that other 

 charming colours will shortly be produced. The 

 best known species are : — 



E. himalaicus, a native of the Himalayas, and 

 producing handsome spikes of pure white 

 flowers ; total height of the flower stem — 4 to 5 

 feet ; introduced over 

 thirty years ago. 



E. Bungei, a Persian 

 species, introduced 

 about thirty years ago, 

 is a beautiful plant, 

 producing a spike of 

 lovely clear yellow 

 flowers-'. This species 

 has been used by the 

 hybridist to produce 

 some of the beautiful 

 bronzy shades now 

 coming into vogue. 

 There is a very fine 

 variety of this species 

 known as E. Bungei 

 magnificus, a consider- 

 able advance on the 

 type, growing much 

 taller, the flower scape 

 reaching seven feet 

 and producing a large 

 number of lovely clear 

 yellow flowers. 



Eremurus Olga?, a 

 Turkestan species, was 

 originally described in 

 the Dictionary of 

 Gardening as white 

 flowered, but the plant 

 now obtainable under 

 that name has pink 

 flowers, and has also been used in hybridizing 

 with excellent results. 



E. robustus, also from Turkestan, is one 

 of the giants of the genus, reaching, when 

 well grown, a height of 8 to 9 feet, and 

 clothed for several feet on the upper part 

 of the scape with charming soft pink flowers. 

 The variety E. rob. Elwesianus is even more 

 gigantic, producing very large pink blossoms, 

 and the white form E. 'rob. Elwesianus albus, 

 which is similar in habit, but has large 

 pure white flowers, is considered by some 

 the gem of the family. It certainly is a 

 noble plant worthy of the best attention 

 possible. 



KOBUSTl'S 



Harristuwn House. 



