February 



IRISH GARDENING. 



27 



however, rather rudely shattered that nice notion in 

 telling us of one of his pupils whom he had been 

 instructing- in the gentle art of pruning, after performing 

 the planting for him. A certain number of trees were 

 pruned as specimens of how and what the tenant was to 

 do. Did he do it? No, not he ; and after several visits 

 from our friend the instructor when asked plainly if he 

 intended doing it just as plainly said " No, that's what 

 \-ovi're paid for." 



We don't blame ///«; ; there is something else at the 

 bottom of all this, and we believe it is that "wretched " 

 potato. This is no hasty conclusion ; it was arrived at 

 after reading the analytical essay of a gentleman who 

 had been to the root of the matter, and who demon- 

 strated beyond a doubt that the potato was the root of 

 all evil in the "distressful " islet. Has there ever been 

 a vegetable so brilliantly belauded — so blatantly abused? 

 "Noble tuber," "wretched root," with other terms of 

 fond endearment over that plant which our office imp 

 tells us was discovered by Raleigh, who commenced 

 life as a newsboy in Belfast, and made his fortune when 

 Queen Elizabeth went to warble in the Town Hall by- 

 paving the path with papers for her to perambulate. 

 Well, we know all that, and all about his discovery of 

 the cigarette plant, the fruit of w-hich provides suctional 

 nourishment for three-fourths of the rising generation, 

 although, by the way, the generation might rise quicker 

 without it. What we want to know now is why, by all 

 the ethics of prateology-, is the potato good and abundant 

 after two consecutive summerless summers? Sprayed 

 or unsprayed all good alike (barring their scabby skins, 

 and the scabbier they are the better the)- boil) — a bad 

 precedent by leaving the Department's deputies in danger 

 of being told they are paid to spray as well as to plant 

 and prune. It is asked in all seriousness, and without 

 any apology for bringing the tuber into these topics — 

 for this is always current and a current like that babbling 

 brook of Tennyson's which means to keep going on — 

 it is asked, is not the cold, wet season inimical to the 

 spread of the potato parasite ? Might it not under a 

 series of such seasons disappear — be in fact drowned 

 out ? At first sight, of course, no — emphatically no ! A 

 little reflection may perhaps admit there is something in 

 it, and further and deeper thought may possibly lead up 

 to the parting of the w-ays from our old-time instructors, 



that rain meant d n: that is, dissemination of the 



disease, and carry on to the conclusion that they, like 

 poor Jo's friends, who went praying in Tom-all- Alone's, 

 prayed all w-rong. 



Reafforestation is another topic which looms large 

 o'er the isle where every prospect pleases and only — 

 only a little reafforestation and a few other 'tions are 

 wanted to put things perfect. There has been some 

 smart talk coupled with some telling statistics about the 

 same for some time, and it is just possible that some- 

 thing may at some time be done on a scale commensurate 

 with its importance over and above arbor day's mild 

 arboreal display. However, it is a big order and will 

 take some talking yet ; but of all opinions appearing on 

 the subject "An American View," put forth in a 

 letter to the /risA Times (January 14th), seems to 

 contain the gist of it in such a clear, convincing manner 

 by Mr. Angus Cameron, Berkeley, California, that it is 

 quite evident /le knows what he is talking about. 



We have kept the letter (it is w-orth keeping) and also 

 one by our own forestry expert, Mr. A. E. Moeran {Jn's/i 

 Times, January 20th), which amplifies it, for such letters 

 aie worth more attention than they generally get. When 

 this reafforestation gets a start in earnest it will presum- 

 ably be the biggest thing on earth— w-e mean Irish earth. 

 In the meantime, there are a few smaller ones possibly 

 worth consideration, and possibly, too, w-orth putting to a 

 practical test when they have ripened sufficiently under 

 the variable temperament of individual opinion to bear 

 fruit. 



What of the New Zealand flax, for instance? When 

 is this handsome exotic, which not only tolerates oui 

 climatic conditions, but seems to thoroughly enjoy them, 

 judging by its luxuriant growth in the County Dublin, 

 at least — when is it going to be put to a practical test ? 

 Surely there is more than one old water-mill stagnating 

 in idleness with "lashin's" of liquid motive power running 

 riot to the sea that might be utilised to manipulate the 

 flax, that of course after it is grown ; but the growing 

 is a simple matter compared with fruit culture, and 

 the phormium is too innocent a plant to bring a poor 

 tenant — beg pardon, landlord — into conflict with the 

 Department, for once the latter provided the plants, 

 and planted them, our flax farming friend need have no 

 worry anent pruning or spraying, and judging from 

 sundry confabs with the New Zealand representatives 

 at the Irish Exhibition there is money in it, or will be 

 when taken up, and taken up it will be, without a doubt ; 

 but when is another story. Here we r/u apologise for 

 what is not a current topic, but what is relevant to what 

 is a little " too previous " perhaps is the peculiarity dis- 

 played by the two phormium species, Colensoi and 

 Tenax, as evidenced in the numerous fine specimens of 

 both so common around the Milesian metropolis. For 

 two years P. Colensoi — the stiff, upright grower — has 

 flowered and seeded profusely, here, there, and every- 

 where, whilst only in one instance has the writer seen 

 Tenax flowering, in spite of many handsome clumps 

 which must have been growing undisturbed for years. 

 However, the exception was a disturbed youngster 

 which was transplanted in late spring, and we think 

 ourselves fortunate in the possession of a nice little lot 

 of seed. Our New Zealand fricTids did not seem able to 

 distinguish between the two species relative to what 

 they grow commercially, but there is a great difference 

 between them, and when the Erin-go- Bragh Phormium 

 Flax Co., Ltd., is in full swing, Tenax from its greater 

 Hexability will probably be the chosen leaf. There are, 

 too, a few other nice little industries yet to come ; what 

 of the cranberry which loveth the bog and will not grow- 

 elsewhere ; of the willow-osier, and a few other things 

 exempt from all the pains and penalties of neglected 

 pruning, and — but we have outrageously exceeded 

 space, so conclude with the opinion that the old land is 

 not played out yet. 



B.\RE places under trees may be greatly improved in 

 appearance by planting shrubs that naturally grow in 

 the shade of woods. Among such are periwinkles 

 ( Vinca), St. John Wort (Hyperiaim), ivy, butcher's 

 broom (I^uscus), privet, Dafl'iie niezeteum, box, spindle 

 tree {Euoiiymus), holly, yew and various kinds of 

 Primus. 



