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IRISH GARDENING. 



their merits or demerits, such as Cudrania, 

 Carrieria, Nothospanax, Pjederia, Pohothyrsis. 

 Pteroceltis, and Xylosma. 



It is difficult to appreciate the vast tracts of 

 country which have been travelled and explored 

 by Mr. Wilson. From the sea-board of China, 

 through the vast country itself, to the border 

 uplands of Thibet has been traversed. The 

 great Yang-tse Kiang has been followed up, and 

 the mountain ranges near it have been explored. 

 Great provinces, such as Yunnan, Hupeh, 

 Hoonan, Kansuk, Schechuen, have been 

 searched, and districts never before traversed 

 by a European have been visited, the marvellous 

 richness of the flora bewildering the voyager, 

 the harvest of whose work we now can reap. 

 The great question which concerns us is 

 whether our Irish climate is likely to suit these 

 Chinese plants, and fortunately we may answer 

 in the majority of cases — Yes ! The fairh- even 

 temperature of Ireland, the heav'y rainfall and 

 moist atmosphere, seem admirably suited for 

 Japanese, Chinese, Chilian, New Zealand, and 

 Upper Himalayan plants, especially evergreens, 

 which flourish in our milder counties as they do 

 in no other part of Britain, Cornwall included. 

 Rhododendrons, Philesia, Laurelia, Desfontainea, 

 Tricuspidaria, Lomatia and Senecio are instances 

 of such plants. Taking Chinese plants separateh' 

 we can argue from those already in cultivation 

 what the behaviour of the new comers will be. 

 For instance, the tea plant is quite hardy in 

 many gardens Berberis diapJuiiui, B. Fortunci, 

 B. {MaJionia) japonica , and other Chinese species 

 are quite hardy. Xandiua domestica is hardy. 

 SpircBa inongolica, S. prunifolia, S. japonicii, 

 S. Henryi, and .S". Thuubcrgi are quite hardy ; 

 Azalea indica, A. ledifolia, and A. sineiisc are 

 quite at home off the limestone, and flower freely. 

 RJwdodendron decorum, R. Delavayi, and R. 

 Forttinei, comparatively tender Chinese species, 

 have stood unprotected and uninjured for 

 over ten years in Irish gardens. Actinidia in 

 a Co. Wicklow garden covers a larger space 

 than I have ever seen covered by any in- 

 dividual climber, ivy or Clctiuitis Vitalba not 

 excepted. 



If satisfied as to the probable hardiness of the 

 new Chinese plants, the next question which 

 faces us is their merits as decorative garden 

 plants — Are they likely to be good, are they 

 likely to be an advance on those we already 

 possess ? Here again we can judge from the 



forerunners, and judged by this criterion the 

 answer will be favourable. If we take the well- 

 known and popular genera we have Berberis 

 acnniinata and B. Wilsoni, two different types, 

 both beautiful, both useful garden plants. The 

 latter is a really charming little plant, free-flower- 

 ing, covered with bright red fruit in autumn, 

 and the foliage turning brilliant red before 

 falling. It is an excellent plant for a rock 

 work. SiransvcEsia undulafa, mentioned by Mr. 

 Vicary Gibbs, is now covered with attractive 

 red berries. Several of the new Buddleias have 

 flowered and proved to be worthy additions to our 

 garden plants. Cotoneasler Francheti, C biillata, 

 C Henryi, and C. hmnifusa are welcome 

 additions to this genus. In the vines, Vitis 

 Thunbergi and V. coignetice represented the best 

 we had for bright coloured autumn foliage, but 

 V. flexuosa major '\'& still better, and V. Henryi, 

 V. Thompsotii, V. annala, and V. Wihoni are 

 bright and varied. The foliage of Eupteleia is 

 also, at the time of writing, most attractive. 

 Hitherto the various ranges of Himalayas in 

 Nepal, Sikkim, &c., have been regarded as the 

 home of species of Rhododendron, but Dr. 

 Henry informs me that the species in China are 

 even more numerous, and that some are very 

 beautiful. Fortunately many species have 

 already been established, some of which have 

 flowered, and these whet the appetite for those 

 which are to follow, and indicate that in this 

 group alone hitherto unknown species from 

 China will add beauty and variety to our 

 gardens. One is puzzled to think where all 

 these plants are to find a home. Glasnevin is 

 already crowded, the soil is poor, the situation 

 exposed, and the soil is strongly impregnated 

 with lime ; hence its capabilities are limited. Is 

 there no hope of a great National Arboretum 

 being founded in some fairly accessible district, 

 say Co. Wicklow, which would be devoted 

 solely to trees and shrubs ? Such an idea was 

 mooted recently by an enthusiastic and capable 

 amateur, a very suitable site was selected which 

 could have been secured at a moderate rent 

 and on very favourable terms. There were 

 shelter, water, varying elevations, varying 

 exposures, peat, loam, bog, and no lime- 

 stone, but for want of support the pro- 

 ject was abandoned. Will it always be 

 so ? The Americans have their botanical 

 gardens, but they also have their great Arnold 

 Arboretum. 



