IRISH GARDENING. 



43 



Flowering Shrubs 



Ky William n.w ihson, C.iitoii CiucU-iis, M.-iynoolh. 



IN tlio oarly inoiiths of llu' yt-ar liardy IIohits aiv 

 i-oniparatively .scarce, and wliorc space Is available 

 on a wall facing: .soulli, or some sheltered position 

 provided in the g-arden, several flowering shrubs can be 

 had lo loTul a touch of brightness to the otherwise dull 

 aspect. 



The Chinese winter jasmine {Jasmiiiniii nuihflnriini) is 

 a well known climbing .shrub suitable for covering walls, 

 and it has also a capital appearance when allowed to 

 ramble over the timbers which, as a rule, constitute 

 the roofs of pergolas, arbours, and other adornments 

 of the garden. It commences to flower in December, 

 and continues up to March and April to cover its leafless 

 shoots with bright yellow blossoms. It is txceedingly 

 hardv, and though it flourishes in any good and well- 

 manured loam it seems to thrive in the poorest soil and 

 in anything but favourable positions. Some suburban- 

 ites, possessed with a desire for tidyness, are in the 

 habit of clipping this plant close into the wall about the 

 month of November. This treatment removes the 

 flowering wood, and consequently the plant has a bleak 

 appearance all through the winter. The best time to 

 cut in is just after the flow-ering period is over. 



Loniccra fragrtintissima, one of the Chinese honey- 

 suckles, is a remarkably good species, and has sweet- 

 scented, creamv white or pale yellow flowers. This 

 plant is almost evergreen in mild winters. 



Resembling the above is L. Shiiiiiishii, another Chinese 

 production. This plant is, however, deciduous, and has 

 larger leaves with pinkish or purplish white flowers. 



The winter sweet or Japanese allspice, as Cliinion- 

 antlius rragmiis is commonly called, has sweet-scented 

 flowers which appear on the young wood. This shrub 

 requires the shelter of a south wall. 



Older shoots should be cut out each year after the 

 flowers have faded. 



The witch hazels are popular early-flowering deci- 

 duous shrubs, and in well-sheltered .situations they are 

 very conspicuous during the dull days of winter. Of 

 the four species, perhaps Hamamelis arboren and H. 

 japonica are most frequently met with. They are 

 natives of Japan, and flower from January to March. 

 H. mollis is a Chinese species with larger leaves, having 

 the under side covered with felt like down. H. virginicii 

 is the oldest witch hazel, and comes from North .\merica. 

 It flowers from October to February. The witch hazels 

 are most etTective when planted in groups by themselves. 



and they require little or no pruning, merely the renun.il 

 of dead wood or useless twigs. 



The laurustinus ( Viburnum Tiuus) Is the best known 

 representative of the genus viburnum. It is an ever- 

 green shrub from South Europe, and commences to bear 

 its clusters of white flowers early in December. Laur- 

 ustinus is largely used as a pot plant for conservatory 

 decoration during the winter months. A rich and moist 

 soil with a sheltered situation suit their requirements. 

 « .\ notice of winter flowering shrubs would not be com- 

 plete without mentioning those two conspicuous catkin- 

 bearing shrubs which are at this time brightening up 

 the landscape. Gnrrya cUiplica is an evergreen from 

 North America, and is well adapted for covering walls. 

 The c.itkins are of a pale green colour, contrasting 

 well with the tlark green leaves. Our native hazel, or 

 filbert nut (Corylus A~vllnua), is most attractive, and 

 continues to brighten up its surroundings until the uliul 

 has performed the work of pollination. 



Apples. 



Bramlev's Seedling. 

 By P.\TRICK .M.\cDonni-:ll, Castletown, Carlow. 



THI.S fine apple was .'i chance seedling raised by a 

 l.uly In England, who died before the tree 

 fruited. Her place was taken by a Mr. 

 Brnmlev, who when the tree bore fruit saw the 

 superior qualities it possessed, and exhibited a dish 

 before the Fruit Connnittee of the Royal Horticultural 

 Society of England, who gave it a first-class certificate. 

 It was put in commerce and shortly afterwards distributed. 

 ■Although of comparatively recent introduction it has 

 made rapid progress in popularity, and during its season, 

 from Christmas onwards, for culinary purposes has no 

 equal, taking all points into consideration. It possesses 

 a strong, vigcirous constitution, which makes it an ideal 

 orchard tree. I will describe, for example, a tree here 

 planted sixteen years, the first eight grown on cultivated 

 ground and the last eight on grass. The tree is in bush 

 form, the branches being bent to the ground by carrying 

 hea\ v crops. Last season it bore ninety dozen apples, 

 and I sold eighty dozen in a local market at 6d. per 

 dozen, making £2. The .smaller ones were kept for 

 home consumption. If it takes 122 Bramleys to plant 

 one Irish acre, and each tree paying as the above, it is 

 easy to form an estimation of the large amount of 

 money to be realised by apple-growing after all 

 necessary expenses are deducted. Manuring forms an 

 item of considerable importance, and should be applied 

 when the trees are carrying heavy crops as a top- 

 dressing or in liquid form. I like yard dung and 

 artificials every alternate year, the latter to contain 

 phosphates and potash. Shelter is indispensable in 

 exposed situations. I like Lawson's Cypress for that 

 purpose, and by mixing the golden and white forms 

 with the green you make "a thing of beauty and a joy- 

 for ever." When the Almighty called the earthly 

 paradise into existence, the apple for utility and beauty 

 formed one of the most useful and ornamental objects 

 that enhanced the gorgeous garden of Eden. " On 

 earth's wide domain " is there anything more delightful 



