NOVEMBER 



IRISH GARDENING. 



165 



Notes from Glasnevin. 



By R. M. Pollock. 



THK single form of Gypsophila paniculala\s so well 

 known and appreciated for all decorative 

 purposes that it needs no further praise here, 

 hut the double variety is less known and is worthy of 

 notice. It is certainly an improvement on the original 

 variety. When cut it lasts considerably longer in 

 water than the single, and is a purer white. Its history 



Greenhouse Gardening. 



A COOL greenhouse, be it ever so small, affords a 

 fine opportunity to indulge in amateur gardening, 

 especially where, as in the suburbs of towns, 

 ordinary outdoor gardening is limited owing to restric- 

 tions of space. .\ little lean-to erection built against 

 the wall of the dwelling-house need not be an expensive 

 affair, and if the precaution be taken to give it a south 

 or west aspect quite a number of very interesting plants 



Gypsophila Panicilata fl. pl. 



is interesting. It is said to have been found growing 

 among a bed of seedlings of G. pnniciila/ii\n the nursery 

 of D. S. Thompson & Sons, Wimbledon. The accom- 

 panying photograph shows a fine plant of this double 

 variety growing in T. Smith's nurseries, Newry. 



COLCHiciiM SPEClosi'iM Albim. — This is a very beauti- 

 ful variety of one of the " Meadow Saffrons" Colrliiriiiin 

 speciosum. The flowers are of good, globular shape, of 

 fine substance, and pure white. The flower itself slaiids 

 some seven inches high, with a pale-green " stem." 

 .Although these "Meadow Saffrons" are easily soiled 

 and broken by the wind and rain during the months 

 when they bloom, this variety seems to stand the un- 

 congenial weather better than many of the same genus. 

 One bulb of Colchicutii speciosum album was purchased 

 in 1905 from Messrs. Backhouse & Co. for five guineas, 

 and even still it is by no means cheap. Colchicium 

 s/ii-riusinii rubriim is another variety worth cultivating, 

 .and is a strong grower. This variety is an excellent 

 subject for indoor decoration, and is of a very lovely 

 colour in artificial light. 



may be grown in it with great success. Noattempt should 



be made to grow otherthan hardy plant that is to say, 



plants that would thrive in the open garden. Many of 

 these are very suitable for indoor culture, and their 

 n.'ilural beauty of flower is considerably enhanced by 

 the protection afforded against cold winds and heavy 

 hi-ating rains. The chief thing to be guarded against 

 is coddling the plants must be given a continuous 

 suppiv of buoyant air. During the summer the venti- 

 lators must never be closed day or night except under- 

 very exceptional circumstances. In spring and autumn 

 the ventilators may be closed down at night but kept 

 open during the day, while in very severe spells of 

 winter weather they may be kept closed all the time. 

 In the choice of plants there is a very wide range of 

 suitable subjects, such as spring flowering bulbs, alpines, 

 lilies, carnations, roses, and many others. The plants 

 are grown, of course, in pots, but some of the dwarfer 

 kinds will look better, and perhaps thrive better, in 

 pans, while others again may be grown in fancy bowls 

 embedded in damp fibre. 



