Xll 



IRISH GARDENING 



Notes. 



Rhamnus frangula. 



Pterostyrax hispidum. 



Tlil> ratlirr li;iiulsuiu.- .small trr.- is a ualivc t.t' 

 China and Ja|)an, and was introdmod in lt<T5. 

 It is ni>w Uowoi-in^ freely in the Botanie (hardens 

 at. Glasnevin. and is so distinct in ai»i)earanee as 

 to attract considerable attention. Tlie leaves 

 are ami»le, <)f a somewhat oval shape, with a 

 slight down on the under surface. The flower.s 

 are i)roduced in ]>endulous panicles 6 to 8 inches 

 long, and are white and fragrant. Well grown 

 plants in good soil and in a sheltered i)Osition 

 will reach a height of 20 feet, and then form 

 strikingly handsome specimens during the 

 suniMK-r months. 



Iris chrysographes. 



The above species lias flowered very iinely this 

 season, and was one of the most charming water- - 

 side plants during .June. It was introduced 

 from China some years ago, and should ])rove 

 popular among lovers of hardy flowers. The 

 flowers are of a rich dark violet inirple with yellow 

 lines, and are i^roduced on stems, some 18 inches 

 high. The leaves are about as long as the flower 

 scapes and half an inch or so broad. It grows 

 freely, and makes a pretty disijlay in the bog 

 garden. 



Iris Shelford Giant. 



This is a gardeii form of immense statvire, nearing 

 6 feet high in a rather dry sunny border, and 

 would probably exceed this in the bog garden. 

 It is in the way of I. ochroleuca, the flowers of a 

 pale creamy-yellow, produced well above the 

 leaves. It is a truly noble plant, flowering at 

 the end of .June, and destined to become a general 

 favourite with lovers of hardy flowers. 



Till'; u.mmI 111' tills small li is at jiresent much 



wauled Ini' liic manufaclurc of line gunpowder. 

 Formerly it was imported froiu Gcriiuiny, where 

 ap|)arently the tree was cop|)iced in order to get 

 straight stems. The wood i.s required free from 

 bark, but the bark has also a market value as a 

 mild but very efTeetive imrgative, and was much 

 used before Cascara Sagrada (Rhamnus Pur- 

 shiana) was so largely advertised. There is 

 nevertheless still a demand for the bark. Those 

 who know whei'e the tree grows in fair abundance 

 should make known the fact, because at this time 

 of year the bark peels off readily, and the peeled 

 wood is necessary for the purpose of gunpowder 

 manufacture. The wood is known commercially 

 as " Dogwood," but is quite a different plant 

 from the true Dogwood (Cornus sanguinea). The 

 wood is recognised by the manufacturer by having 

 a reddish stain around the small pith which the 

 wood of Cornus does not possess. Rhamnus 

 frangula grows on siliceous sandy soil in shady 

 woods, where there is some moisture and leaf 

 mould. The leaves are oval, entire, and feather- 

 veined, and the few yellowish flowers in the axils 

 of the leaves are now in blossom. The bark, 

 when scratched with the finger nail or a knife - 

 blade, shows a crimson colour underneath. I 

 hope this description will enable the jjlant to be 

 recognised by those who do not know it. Wood 

 about one inch in diameter is required. I shall 

 be pleased to identify any specimen sent to me 

 for the ]jurpose, and to advise as to the profitable 

 disposal of it. In view of the present difflculty 

 experience should teach the necessity of cultivat- 

 ing Rhamnus frangula in woods in this country. 

 In the New Forest and the Dartmoor ravines and 

 Cornish valleys, and in similar woods and hilly 

 districts in the southern and midland counties, 

 it could be easily grown. — E. M. Holmes, Ruth- 

 ven, Sevenoaks, in the Gardeners' Chronicle of, 

 June 12th. 



