.4S 



IRISH GARDENING 



(k-ii(lu(iiis trc'i'.s which aic Icallcss wlicii tlir 

 SM(t\\(ln>]is aiv ill llnwcr luit whicli later pul 

 fiirth thi'ir leaves and ]ini\ idc L'rateful shade for 

 the inaturiiiif foliai^e of tlie Siii>\\dr(i|). IMaiit iiii; 

 ill ,i:rass. too. is often sueeessliii. and. sliaiiiic to 

 say. the doiihle form of the eoiiiiiioii Siiowdro)) 

 establishes itself more readily than the single, 

 at least in some plaees. althouj^di it miyiit not Ik- 

 true to say that this is al\va\s the ease. In 

 iarire gardens and jjarks line elTeets are jiossihlc 

 l»y i)lantin<j: in <;(>nerous l)rea(lths under trees 

 and hy the sides of woodland walks. l»iit even in 

 (jiiite small suhurhan gardens a few {Ininiis 

 ina\ he sueeessfully <rro\\ ii in an\ cool corner of 

 the garden. 



Tile liotanical name of the Snowdrop is 

 (ialanthiis and tiu- common sp(>cies is (;alaiitlnis 

 nivalis, hut there are (piite a number of sjiecies 

 and varieties, many of tliem lai'^e and liandsoine. 

 thoniih perhaps not exceeding in charm tli<' 

 common one. Of G. nivalis there is. as stated 

 above, a double variety and also, nuicli raivi. 

 an Oetober Howering form, known is (1. ni\a!is 

 octobrensis. This latter, howcxcr. is more 

 likely to api)eal to the botanist and cnlhiisiastic 

 collector tlian to the ordinary iiidixidual to 

 whom the .Snowdro]) is a harl)inger of sjiring. 



Some of the larger kinds are notable for the 

 large size of the bulbs, almost rivalling in that 

 respect some of the Daffodils. One of the finest 

 is G. Ehvesii, now happily becoming quite cheap. 

 This is an Asia Minor species with long, broad 

 glaucous leaves and very large beaiitiful flowers. 

 A variety known as G. E. ungiiiculatus is if 

 anything stronger, and also very handsome, 

 (i. Fosteri, likewise from Asia Minor, has broad 

 leaves and l)eautiful flowers borne on tall stems. 

 G. Ikariae is distinct and beautiful, with light 

 green leaves and prett}' flowers, the inner seg- 

 ments tipped with green. G. .Tmperatii is one 

 of the older species and one of the best of the 

 large growers, and cpiite reasonable in price. 

 (;. latifolius, a C'ancasian species, is at once 

 noticeable by reason of the very broad leaves, 

 though the flowers are not particularly large, 

 ti. phcatus is occasionally met with, and is so 

 named from the ])laited form in which the leaves 

 are produced. A form of this known as G. ]). 

 Xewr\- Giant is very fine, and is said to be 

 probably the largest Snowdrop in cultivation. 

 G. robustns is still another of the giant series 

 remarkable for the broad handsome foliage. 



The majority of these Snowdrops can be 

 ])urchased at ver}' reasonable rates, and a clumji 

 or so of each planted about the rock garden or 

 the front of the herbaceous border would lie an 

 annual source of pleasure for many years. 

 They should be planted not less than six inches 

 deep. 



Notes. 



Gentiana asclepiadea. 



THKUK seems to be at lca>l three b.riii.s of this ] 

 s])ecies in addition to the white \aricty. M the ] 

 IJoyal llolanic (;ai(l(ii>. (dasiicvin. a compara- | 

 lively dwarf lorni lloucrs carl\ in August. It 

 docs not Lirow iiiiich o\cr ls inches hiuh. and t he 

 llowers are relativel,\ sm.iM. .\ se.-oiid loriii 

 lloweis in Septemlier. and i> much taller and 

 stronger, with larger ilowers. and is altogether 

 a nioi'e showy and desirahlc plant, 'i'he third 

 form is known as I'eri \ s X'ariety. whicli grows ' 

 as strong as the last named, reaching well over I 

 2 h-et . but bearing distinct- llowers. which are ' 

 dark purplish-blue on the outside and light 

 blue within. Pe]-ry"s \'ariet\' is adist iiict ly good i 

 plant and should be grown by all those who I 

 \aliie lati' (lowering subjects. es])eciall_\- as 

 the colour is very welcome among autumn i 

 ilowers. 



(t. ascleiiiadea in all its forms seems to iiourish i 

 best in a deep, cool, moist soil, and can be used 

 in the herbaceous border, the rock garden, and 

 the bog garden. The white variety is the most J 

 troublesome to cultivate, and is rarely seen in 

 good condition. A deeply cultivated loamy ' 

 soil might suit it best, as it is not altogether ; 

 happy in i)eat. 



Propagation is best effected by seeds, whicli ^ 

 generally set freely. They may be sown when 

 ripe and placed in a cold frame, where the 3^ will 

 germinate as a rule the following spring. The ^ 

 seeds should be covered lightly and be 

 carefulh watered until growing and fit to prick 

 out. 



Stachys grandiflora. 



This is one of the most disthict, beautiful and ; 

 useful plants in the herbaceous border during 

 June and early July. The flowers, which are 

 large and of a beautiful soft violet colour, are 

 produced in whorls extending well above the 

 fohage. The leaves, too, are handsome, rather 

 ovate ui shape, wrinkled, and with crenate 

 margins. 



Introduced from Siberia over a hundred l 

 years ago, it is even yet not too common in 

 gardens, though perfectly hardy and flourishing 

 in any ordinary garden soil. The colour is very j 

 desirable early in the year^ blendhig well with 

 many other herbaceous plants blooming at the | 

 same time. Propagation is easy by seeds, j 

 (li\'ision of the old plants m autumn or sjiring or 

 by cuttings of the young shoots when a few 1 

 mches long. 



