IRISH GARDENING. 



The Flower Garden. 



By J. H. Ci MMI.VG, Overseer, Rojal Dublin Society, 

 Ball's Bridg-e. 



PERSON.\L. — In making' mj- bow as a new 

 writer of this column in Irish Gardening 

 for 1909 to its readers my wish is that 

 the comingf year may be to all a prosperous and 

 happy one, and that our mutual exchang-e of 

 thoug'hts and ideas may be helpful and encourag'- 

 ing. At this season one's thoughts are retro- 

 spective. Successes and failures with this and 

 that in our gardens are recalled, and it is to be 

 hoped experience has been g'ained to overcome 

 past failures by exchanged methods in the year 

 that lies before us. Gardening has become 

 in recent years such a popular and fashionable 

 recreation that a great improvement is seen in 

 the arrangement of even small g-ardens through- 

 out the country, and now nearly every month 

 must have its flowers. The disposition of 

 heights and colours, contrast and harmony, is 

 now studied as never before, with a correspond- 

 ing result in the pleasing and gorgeous effect 

 obtained from early spring to late autumn, 

 without the use of g'lass, and with very little 

 trouble. 



Applied to the flower garden as a whole- 

 be it borders or geometrical-shaped beds— every 

 portion of earth should be made to yield its 

 quota of beauty, from the birth of spring until 

 the ground is frost-bound. By this the enjo)-- 

 ment of a garden is extended and at the same 

 time increased. Again, hardy perennial flowers 

 provide such quantities of cut flowers that their 

 value is recognised everywhere, and to assist in 

 interesting by any small means in our power the 

 culture of kinds that can be grown easih' and 

 without undue expense will be the aim that 

 shall be continually kept in view. 



Seed Ordering. —With the Christmas and New Year 

 greetinjfs seedsmen's eatalof<-ues will also have been 

 delivered by post, and, doubtless, laid aside till the 



fri\'o]ities of the season were past. During recent years 

 much labour and money have been spent to make 

 these catalo§fues complete guides, both to the amateur 

 and professional gardener. That the seedsmen have suc- 

 ceeded there can be no question. What thej- want in 

 return is early orders ; and customers will consult their 

 best interests in making their selections and forwarding 

 same at the earliest possible moment. Later on, when the 

 rush of orders really commences, delay in the execution 

 of some is inevitable, and leads often to confusion. A few 

 novelties may be tried each year without discarding 

 older and well-tried things that have given satisfaction 

 previously-. 



Shribs for Forcing. — This is the month that shrubs 

 intended for forcing should be brought under cover. Do 

 not introduce them into strong heat at once. The process 

 must be gradual. .A cool vinery or peach-house is best, 

 and when the buds commence to swell remove to a warm 

 greenhouse where a temperature of 50 degrees can be 

 maintained. Keep the atmosphere moist by damping the 

 stages and floors, and when watering the plants see that 

 the chill is off the water. Lilacs, Deutzia gracilis. Azalea 

 niollis, Forsythias, Primus triloba Jlorc plena, P. japonica 

 flore alba plena, and some of the beautifully coloured 

 Japanese maples are reliable and suitable for making a 

 fine display indoors during the spring months. 



Roses. — The rose family is so varied that, where no 

 rose garden exists, a portion of the garden or a good 

 border should be given over to them. In one way or 

 another they lend themselves to every kind of treatment 

 and position. The rose requires a rich, rather stiff soil. 

 If considered poor, it can be improved by the addition of 

 some good loam, taken from an old pasture field, and 

 well-rotten manure, and the whole dug to the depth of 

 eighteen inches. Plant Hybrid Perpetuals and Hybrid 

 Teas three feet apart. The small-flowering bedding 

 sorts, such as Hermosa, will do at eighteen inches 

 apart. After planting, cover the ground with a 

 mulching of stable litter, which should remain as a 

 protection till pruning time in March. Too late planting 

 is often productive of unsatisfactory results, so no 

 time should be lost in having all rose planting com- 

 pleted this month. The Hybrid and Tea kinds are 

 best grouped in masses of distinct colours. Among 

 Hybrid Pepetuals, Capt. Havward, Gen. Jacquiraenot, 

 Margaret Dickson, Helen Kellar, the lovely white Frau 

 Karl Druschki, and that most charming sweet-.scented 

 Irish rose, Hugh Dickson, may all be planted in quantity. 

 Then for floriferousness till late into the autumn, I am 

 very partial to the Hybrid Teas. Six grand sorts are 

 Madm. Abel Chatenay, Marquise Lita, Mildred Grant, 

 Viscountess Folkstone, Liberty, and Kaiserin .-Vugusta 

 Victoria. For covering bare fences, rustic poles, or 

 unsightly corners, Dorothy Perkins is an unfailing 

 variety in yielding a wealth of pink bloom and glossy, 

 bright-green foliage. Immediately after planting, cut 

 it down to within six inches of the ground, when fresh, 

 strong growths will start from the base. 



Lawns. — .\ certain amount of care must needs be 

 taken in keeping the lawns in good order. It is a 

 pleasure to see green grass nicely kept. This cannot be 

 on an uneven surface, made so through neglect. In open 

 weather the turf should be lifted, and the sunken parts 

 made good with additional soil well rammed in, and the 



