IRISH GARDENING 173 



The Arboretum. Germination in Gill of Goldfish. 



NOVEMBEK is an ii)i]i()i-taut inoutli in this de])ai't- '^ taTKious ease of geriiiinatiou of grain has been 

 ment, as practically all liardy tleciduous trees l\'"""/'^ t^lie Itoj-al Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin. 

 and shrubs can be safely moved and got into /Vi° ^^^^ gardeners noticed a goldfish in the tank 

 permanent quarters, Young stock may be °L, ^^t'^l'^ouse with what a])]>eared to be grass 

 transplanted into nursery rows as recommended ^^ttach( d to its head. On taking' the lish on 

 for evergreens last month. It is, perhaps, need- 

 less to labour the subject of thorough preparation 

 of the ground before planting a tree or shrub in 

 what is to be its home for many years. In thos ■ 

 fortunate localities, where the stajjle soil is deep 

 and rich, or the atmos])heric conditions are con- 

 ducive to good growth, preparation of the site 

 may be less im])ortant. but as a general rule the 

 areas devoted to the cultivation of ornamental 

 sjx'cies or s])ecimens are such as have been found 

 unsuitable for more vitilitarian ])urposes, hence 

 the need for a good start. 



Trees idanted closely under forest conditions 

 shade the surface of the ground and prevent 

 evaporation of the soil moisture to some extent, 

 and also shed their leaves and provide an 

 annvial mulch of leaf-mould. Isolated specimens 

 in Arboretums, however, are usiuxlly planted in 

 grass — that is to say, a hole of sufficient size is 

 opened, and if the soil is poor and stony, fresh 

 soil of better (juality must be added or entirely 

 substituted. It is a good plan to remove 

 entirely a cii'cle of the grass sod at least four 

 feet in diameter, assuming the plant is a young 

 one, and then roll back the sod for a further 

 two feet all round, breaking up the entire area 

 thus strip])ed and incorporating better soil, leaf - 

 mould, or thoroughly decayed garden refuse. 

 This will give the young tree or shrub something 

 to grow in and make a good start, and it is 

 surprising how a tree or shrub will withstand 

 the poverty of the natural soil if it has been 

 encouraged to grow strong and vigorously for 

 some years after planting. 



Now that leaves of deciduous trees are mostly 

 down, an effort shoiild be made to collect as 

 many of them as possible for conversion intn 

 leaf-mould. A good heap of leaf-mould is in- 

 valuable in any garden or arboretum not only 

 for ])otting purposes, but for mixing with poor 

 soil, as stated above, and particidarly for 

 l)ointing into nursery beds. Half-decayed leaves 

 too are excellent for pointing into shrubberies, 

 which, for the sake of neatness, are often raked 

 clean, but become impoverished when deprived 

 of their natural mulch. Further, for dressing 

 beds or plantations of Rhododendrons and other 

 cricaceous shrubs half-decayed leaves are 

 invaluable, and will often restore to health 

 specimens which have become starved and un- 

 happy. 



During this month seeds of many of the iinest 

 I'ndting shrubs may be secured, and afford n 

 ready means of getting up stock. Barberries, 

 such as B. Prattii, B. aggregata, B. Wilsonse, 

 H. Darwinii, and many others are beautiful in 

 fruit, and are also useful coveit ])lants, and 

 make line ornamental hedges, and the same may 

 be said of many of the new and old Coton- 

 casters, juch as C. Applanata, C frigida, C. 

 monpinense, ('. aiiupna, anfl othersof tlu> older 

 kinds. 



.Many other shrul)s. of 

 fruit, and so any (piantily 

 can sooTi be available. 



.f h 



ire b(;aring 

 ais.Ml stock 



the water and examining it he found that a grain, 

 Ijrobably millet seed, had lodged hi the gill 

 o])ening. The young leaves grew out of the gill, 

 and were quite green, the roots had penetrated 

 through the body of the fish and forced their wav 

 out through its stomach. 



Pots of rice and millet are i)laced round the 

 tank, the water of which is maintained at about 

 75°.- W. P. M. 



Roses for the Beginner. 



Quite recency we were told that the Roses at 

 Dunsinea, Castleknock. Co. Dublin, had been 

 remarkably fine late into the autumn. The 

 owner, Mr. A. .T. M'Xeile is a keen rosarian, but 

 modest, as all successful growers are. In reply 

 to our request to give readers of Irish Gardening 

 the benefit of his advice, he declares his know- 

 ledge is limited, and says : " All I could advi^e 

 would be strong pruning, most extensive dis- 

 l)udding, and to confine oneself to a very moderate 

 number of thortuighlv i)roved Roses, such as 

 Alfred Colomb, Hugh Dickson, General M'Arthur, 

 Richmond, Lady Ashtown, Mad. Abel Chatenay, 

 .Joseph Hill, The Lyon Rose, T>ady Hillingdon, 

 Lady Roberts, Harry Kirk and Pharisaer. 



" I have found Abel Chatenay the most useful 

 Rose in wet weather, and .Toseph Hill the best 

 in fine weather. The Lyon is splendid, l)ut does 

 not grow here into a good bush. 



'•Of course one has a great many other Roses, 

 but if one were beginning a small Rose garden 

 one would do i)rettv well with the above doztui. 



••There are so many Roses of different ty])es 

 now that we would be glad to hear from other 

 Rose growers which varieties they think best for 

 (uitting and garden decoration." 



