54 



IRISH GARDENING. 



ammunition to annihilate this force is cheap and 

 effectivi: No longer need a person dread and run from 

 greenfly, for instance, as if your tree had smallpox, but 

 you will get confidence in your strength, and in attack- 

 ing greenfly you will be also led to fight other foes. 

 Most firms now put up lotions and washes, the effect c>f 

 which is to attack several pests at the same time, so 

 saving you much time and wt'irry. Some people think 

 they can make their own washes, &c., at home cheaper 

 than they can buy them, but in most cases this is a 

 mistake, and, depend on it, if the makers of these 

 washes or sprays are charging more than their real 

 value, rosarians will soon find it out. Through the 

 advertisement portions of Irish Gardening you will 

 see numerous lists of syringes, sprayers, and whatnots 

 put up by people who have a name to keep up, and whose 

 articles are genuine. When I first bought a syringe I 

 bought a cheap one, and one which never was satis- 

 factory. Now, I am wiser, and hold that the most costly 

 is the best and cheapest. Syringes, such as the " Abol," 

 with its nozzles both crooked and straight (the crooked 

 one for applying sprays under the foliage), and sprayers, 

 such as the " Four Oaks " knapsack sprayer, for 

 those who have many plants to attend to, are the proper 

 articles, but if you use these articles please follow the 

 seller's directions, and pay due care to these tools, else 

 when next you come to use them you will find that they 

 are out of order, and your enemy flourishes. You may 

 begin looking out for your first and most dreaded enemj- 

 during April. This year I intend going for him with 

 " arsenate of lead " made by Swift, and shall try and 

 get at at my old enemy greenfly at the very first. Strange 

 as it may seem I hardly ever see my dwarf bushes 

 attacked, but on the wall-roses you will find it in abund- 

 ance, owing, I presume, to less pruning. And then 

 be in good tiine for mildew j be there strong when its 

 attack begins. A few days start to its spores will not 

 serve you, you must get the first push or you will be 

 shoved. I am quite aware that all this preparation 

 means time, but with any of the sprayers and syringes 

 now sold your work is made easy for you, especially 

 as you have not too many bushes to attend to. There- 

 fore get the little book through some member of the 

 society which I have mentioned above, and, arming 

 yourself with the above weapons, go forth and smite the 

 whole host, and you will perhaps bless me. 



A Note on Peas. 

 To have green peas from June to the end of October 

 you will require to make eight sowings ; the first sowing 

 to be made early in January. I find Early Bountiful the 

 best and hardiest pea for this sowing. The second 

 sowing, last week in February — the Pilot is the best pea 

 for this sowing. Third sowing, last week in March — 

 Alderman is the best for this sowing. Fourth sowing, 

 second week in April— Alderman for this sowing also. 

 Fifth sowing, last week in April— Boston Unrivalled is the 

 best for this sowing. Sixth sowing, second week in 

 May Royal Salute is the best for this sowing. Seventh 

 sowing, last week in May— Gladstone is the best for 

 this sowing. Eighth .sowing, third week in June- 

 Gladstone is the best late pea. If the above is carried 

 out there will be no break in the supply. It is useless to 

 sow peas late in the year. J. Devink, Kilvvorth. 



Rock Gardens. 



By Georue S. S.vtterlev, Brennanstown Gardens, 

 Cabinteely, Co. Dublin. 



WHY DO we make Rock Gardens ?— They 

 are usually formed with one or more of the 

 following objects — viz., to provide a home for 

 Alpine and similar plants which, if grown in an ordinary 

 mixed border, either would run the risk of being 

 smothered by stronger growers or would not show their 

 true habit. Again, though rocks may not be absolutely 

 essential to their welfare, yet in man}' cases the gems 

 amongst rock plants are not seen at their best except 

 when under conditions that approach the natural. In 

 some cases rockeries are formed with the intention of 

 screening off some particular view or object. The main 

 reason, as will be seen from the foregoing remarks, is 

 to provide a home suitable for .A.lpine subjects. This 

 being the case it will be well to pay attention to the 

 conditions under which these thrive in a state of nature. 

 Whether we study our native Alpines or those of 

 other lands, one fact may generally be noticed, 

 which is, that a deep root-run is essential to their welfare. 

 It is most instructive to carefully trace out the ramifica- 

 tions of the root system of a small Alpine plant. In 

 height it maybe so low as to be only an inch or so above 

 the ground, yet we may find its roots penetr.ating to the 

 depth of two or three feet. It will be a delicate opera- 

 tion to avoid breaking the slender roots, which will be 

 found firmly adhering to the rocks in their descent. Bv 

 this examination of the root system we shall recognise 

 three important principles — first, the necessity of pro- 

 viding a good depth of soil ; secondly, the importance of 

 good drainage ; and, thirdly, a cool root-run, the two 

 last being provided naturally by the rocky subsoil. As 

 an instance of the benefits arising from a cool root run, 

 a typical instance may be given. Notice a large 

 boulder during hot weather in summer. On every side 

 of it the vegetation is scanty, and has a hard struggle to 

 survive. Not so, however, quite against the boulder 

 itself. Here it will be seen that the growth is more 

 luxuriant and healthier, and we know that the roots of 

 the herbs get moisture and are kept cool bv contact 

 with the under-ground parts of the rock. B}' this means 

 they are kept alive and healthy, while plants all around, 

 without these benefits, are perishing. Yet, how often 

 on constructed rockeries plants are expected to thiive 

 on a few inches of soil, which the summer sun effectually 

 bakes. Can we wonder when the poor plants get 

 burned up ? Even the strongest of native herbs would 

 have a hard struggle for existence under these conditions. 

 .\ little thought, too, will convince us that an annual 

 mvilch is an entirely natural process, whether provided 

 by decaying vegetation or by the disintegration of 

 rocks caused by frost and snow. 



It is desirable to create a natural and picturesque 

 effect as well as to provide for the well-being of the 

 plants. To assist in gaining this end close attention 

 should be paid to the local strata, not with the intention 

 of trying to reproduce the exact effect, but so as to be 

 able to form a good idea of the possibilities. Many 

 rockeries when constructed bear a resemblance to 

 graveyards, the rocks eniploj'ed pointing upwards iind 



