DECEMBER 



IRISH GARDENING. 



The Month's Work 

 The Flower Garden. 



By J. H. CiMiMiN-G, Overseer, Royal Dublin Society, 

 Ball's Bridg-e. 



CHRISTMAS ROSES.— It takes several years to 

 work up a stock of good plants, and they shoukl 

 not be interfered with much. When grown in 

 pots they should be placed in a cool house, where the 

 lovely white flowers will fully develop and last for weeks 

 during the winter. A partly shaded border with a rich, 

 loamy soil is the best place for them outside. Plant the 

 clumps eighteen inches apart in beds convenient for 

 frames or lights to be placed over them this month. By 

 so doing the flowers may be gathered clean and white. 

 Carefully examine the interior of the frames for any 

 slugs, and round the edges of the frame scatter some 

 dry lime to prevent their access. Good beds will last 

 for years in the same position, provided the drainage is 

 good, and a top-dressing of loam and rotten dung 

 forked in lightly after the flowering season is over. 



Bedding-out Plants. — With changeable weather 

 some skill is needed to keep these plants in a healthy 

 condition, especially where heating appliances are not 

 satisfactory. Great care in watering must be taken, 

 and it is better to allow the soil to become very dry than 

 to keep it too moist. Pick off every faded leaf, and, if 

 possible, spread out the plants more, so as to allow 

 plenty of air to circulate amongst them. Such things as 

 iresines, heliotropes and coleus should be kept warm 

 now to preserve the leaves. In foggy weather the 

 lights on frames and ventilators in houses should be 

 kept closed, otherwise the interiors soon become 

 damp. 



Window Boxes. — Before it is too late arrangements 

 should be made for an early spring display. It is an 

 easy matter to make window boxes gay for two months 

 before the summer occupants are placed in position. 

 For an earl}' display chionodoxa, crocuses and snow- 

 drops may be used. Then among datfodils, Princeps, 

 Sir Watkin, Barri conspiciiiis, Stella and Cynosure are 

 amongst the best, and being very cheap the expense oi 

 filling a few boxes is a small item. The same soil 

 that was used for the summer plants will do for the 

 bulbs. Loosen it up and plant the bulbs two inches 

 apart and at the same depth. Other things may be 

 associated with the bulbs, such as aubretias, violas and 

 arabis. They can, of course, be easily grown for the 

 purpose, and cover the surface of the soil till the bulbs 

 occupy the place intended for them. 



LiLV of the V'allev. —When the leaves are ripe 

 enough to come readily from the crowns they should be 

 removed and a top-dressing oi loam, leaf-mould and 

 sand in equal parts placed over the surface, just heavy 

 enough to show the tops of the crowns visible. If 

 intended for forcing select plump, firm crowns and let 

 them lie on the open ground for a time, and if frost pre- 

 vails so much the better. With this exposure they force 

 something like restarted roots. 



Hardv Climbers. — These are seldom seen to advan- 

 tage owing to their being stiflly trained against walls. 

 One of the best ways of enjoying their beauty is to train 

 them in a free way over trees, rough poles, or on trellis 



work. In some low trees a graceful creeper may 

 garland their heads. Some vigorous climbers in time 

 ascend tall trees, and there are few more beautiful things 

 than a veil of Cleinalis monlaiia over a tall tree. Many 

 lovely kinds may be grown, and in addition jasamines, 

 honeysuckles and wild vines ; and take the Virginian 

 creeper for clothing the trunk of a tree, the eftect in 

 autumn is beautiful. The wistaria, too, looks best 

 when planted with a background of evergreen trees. 

 Tropieolum spcciosa in the north of Scotland takes 

 possession of some hedges and trees, and such a drapery 

 is lovely and too good to disturb. Planting may be 

 done at a distance of about three feet away from the 

 stem, with the roots pointing outwards, thereafter 

 mulch with manure and suitable soil to encourage the 

 roots to extend. 



LiLiLMs. — The beauty of these stately flowers is un- 

 surpassed. Their size, colour, fragrance, and usefulness 

 render them the most useful of our bulbous plants. It is of 

 great importance to plant early. New bulbs will be arriv- 

 ing this month, and the sooner they are potted or planted 

 the better, as dried bulbs lose much of their vitality. 

 Most of the lilies revel in a rich friable loam, in which 

 plenty of coarse sand is mixed. Some of the varieties 

 like a little peat, but the more popular kinds do very 

 well without it. Choose a partially-shaded position in 

 borders or beds, and a slight protection of coal-ashes 

 or coarse leaf-soil put over the crowns will keep them 

 safe till frost is gone. 



V'arieg.\ted Shrubs.— Among the hardy shrubs 

 which help to give character to a place are those having 

 variegated foliage. There are many beautiful kinds 

 to select from, but the wise planter generally plants 

 largely of those things he knows will lead to success. 

 Aucuba japonica varifgiita is a quick grower, and thrives 

 almost anywhere. Euonymus japonica, argentea and 

 aurea are both very effective. The variegated ivies 

 soon grow into pretty bushes. Osmathus ilkifolius 

 'Mriegata,Ju>iipcrus sabina variegata.Bii.xus aurea. Taxus 

 baccata, and the variegated form of Cuprcssus laivsoniana 

 are all easily grown. Retinosporas do well in the country, 

 and are invaluable in a small state for spring bedding ; 

 near towns they get a rusty appearance after a few- 

 years. A succession of small plants can be kept up by 

 putting in a batch of cuttings every autumn in a 

 sheltered border. 



General Work.— Pot plants in frames should be 

 plunged to their rims in ashes, so that there may be no 

 danger of the frost breaking the pots. Plants and bulbs 

 intended for forcing should be kept as near to the glass 

 as possible, and not subjected to a high temperature at 

 first. Begin with a slight amount of extra warmth and 

 increase it later. Pot plants in rooms where a fire burns 

 constantly in winter will require cautious watering. 

 Such plants are generally placed in saucers, and in the 

 dead of winter it is a good plan to pour a little water 

 into the saucers to rise by capillary attraction to the 

 soil and roots. This prevents damp near the surface 

 of the soil. AVhen chrysanthemums pass out of flower 

 their places can be taken with salvias, cyclamens, and 

 zonal pelargoniums, and these will require more warmth 

 than is usually found in a cool conservatory. Grass 

 verges and walks should be kept swept and rolled to 

 maintain as tidy an appearance as possible. 



