AUGUST 



IRISH GARDENING. 



115 



grand apple year " we liear from all sides, but "a 

 rotten season for everything else." Well ! The apple is 

 as an important a fruit for old Ireland as the pomme 

 de terre, or should be ; and there is nothing like a good 

 exhibition to give a fillip to its culture. We hear 

 that "The Department " recognises this to the tune of 

 presenting the prizes in the apple classes for the coming 

 Dublin fruit show, so we trust that our green isle 

 gossoons are within measurable distance of knowing 

 what sport there is in an apple dumpling, as well as 

 saving some of the trouble of our kind-pocketed 

 Colonial cousins in providing window feasts for the 

 gossoons' eyes onl}'. And how they do enjoy them — 

 those red-cheeked apples in the shop windows ! 

 Pretty much on a par with Punch's London street-arab, 

 who, standing over an area grating, shouts down — " Hi, 

 cooky, let's get a smell o' the steam while I eat this 

 mouklly crust." 



Himalayan Rhododendrons 

 for Exhibition. 



By Herbhrt H. Kidd. 



THE Himalay"ansection of the genus Rhododendron 

 furnishes us with some of the most decorative and 

 interesting members of the Natural Order 

 Ericaceae. They are eminentl}' suitable for the embellish- 

 ment of gardens, either outdoors or the cool greenhouse 

 and conservatory. In the latter case, where it is not 

 alwaj's possible to put plants out in borders they should 

 be grown in pots and tubs ; this would billow them to get 

 the benefit of having their growth thoroughh' ripened 

 by being placed outdoors during summer. 



Many species possess magnificent foliage, and the 

 trusses of flowers, which are borne freely, vary in size 

 and range in colour from lilac, through all shades of 

 pink, red, yellow, and white, and when cut will last a 

 considerable time. When cut before fully out the 

 flowers will travel well. 



In Cornwall and in many other favoured districts ot 

 Britain they grow outdoors without the need or any pro- 

 tection whatever, but in more exposed places slight 

 protection is required against late frosts and cold cut- 

 ting winds, which will injure the young growths and 

 flctwers of the early species and hybrids. They are 

 found at the Himalayas at an altitude of 3,000 ft. (R. 

 fnnnosum) to 16, 000ft. {R. anthopogoii and R. setosum). 



At all times the plants should have every attention in 

 regard to moisture, on no account should dry conditions 

 be allowed to prevail. During hot, dry weather a 

 liberal use of hose or syringe will amply repa}-. These 

 remarks essentially apply to juvenile plants, fully estab- 

 lished adults can naturally stand greater extremes 

 though never improved thereby. When attention is 

 given to moisture, and they are in a suitable rooting 

 medium, which should be a soil containing much humus 

 ( peat, leaves), a great deal is done towards their success- 

 ful cultivation, which in other respects is very easy. 

 Unless plants get very much out of shape pruning will 

 not be necessary. 



To obtain magnificent trusses for exhibition purposes 

 the growth must be thoroughly ripened, and where the 



natural habit prevents the immediately surrounding 

 surface soil keeping moist, by allowing, through being 

 destitute of lower branches, the emission of the 

 sun's rays, a topdressing of decayed leaves or peaty 

 mi.vture should be given ; being surface rooting, the 

 plants are kept in a more even state of moisture during 

 hot, dry weather. Feeding if required, should be 

 applied in the form of liquid cow manure. 



The specimens exhibited at the various horti- 

 cultural shows in Britain have been produced under 

 natural conditions ; no preparation of any kind has been 

 given the plants beyond seeing that they never suffered 

 from a lack of moisture. I wish to impress upon all 

 that difficult cultivation cannot be said to prevent them 

 being grown by atiyone who desires to have plants of 

 high decorative value, as Himala}'an rhododendrons 

 have proved to be. 



It is not possible for me to enumerate here all the 

 good things, but I think the following will suffice. They 

 are all magnificent for exhibition purposes. 



SrixiKS. 



.\rborei M. — Red, pink and white varieties. .All are 

 ver\' free flowering. This species and its varieties aie 

 indispensable to any collection or exhibit. 



Thomsonii — Deep red flowers of good substance. 

 There is a form called unique which had a red calyx, 

 and being pendulous the flowers appear much like those 

 of a Lapageria when seen from a little distance away. 



Edgeworthii. — This is a charming species, having 

 large white flow'ers tinged with }'ellow, and possessing 

 a beautiful fragrance. 



F.\LCONERI. — This has very handsome foliage, and the 

 cream flowers with purple blotches at base are freely 

 produced. 



ExiMIt'M. — This is distinct from the previously named 

 species, its foliage is more erect, also is later flowering. 



Grande (syn. Argcn/ciim). — This has good foliage 

 which shows to great advantage in a collection. The 

 white campanulate flowers are in good trusses. 



GRiFFiTHi.'iNUM (syii. Auchlandii). — This has the 

 largest trusses of the genus. The flowers are white, 

 tinged with rose, of immense size, and are loosely 

 arranged in the truss. 



NUTTALLII.— This is a very beautiful species, bearing 

 immense creamy-w'hite flowers. The long tubular 

 corolla suggests Lilinm harrisii. No great depth of 

 soil is required, as it is found as a straggling epiphyte. 

 It is not so hardy as the rest. 



Veitchianim. — The beautiful fragrant white flowers 

 borne make this species worthy o^ a place in ani' 

 collection. 



NiVEUM is very distinct, hearing pretty lilac flowers. 



Campylocarpim. — Too inuch cannot be said of this 

 beautiful species. Its yellow flowers are very freely 

 produced, and good plants in flower are worth going a 

 long way to see. 



HonosONII. — This has pale, piuple flowers and very 

 distinct foliage. Is a good strong grower. 



HooKERl. — This is a rate species, bearing red flower, 

 and should be in every collection. Its leaves are nearly- 

 like some forms of Thomsonii, from which they diflTer in 

 having glands showing prominently on the nerves on 

 the underside. 



