IRISH GARDF.NING. 



JANUARY 



done early in antumn lo allow »or plant inir In-fore winter 

 sets in, thus allowing: for the formation of new roots 

 durinjf winter, and K'ivin>,' every chance for aetive sprini; 

 ffrowth. Faiiin); autmnn planting, however, any open 

 weather diirini: winter or early sprinj; shoiikl be taken 

 ndvantaire of. When plannin>r tlie border it will be 

 found eHective to ^ive a slope lo the front, or where 

 viewed from front and back, it siioiild be made barrow- 

 shaped. 



If the work is on a l.irj,'e scale plan in sections. 

 Beg-in by allocatinij spaces for the boldest subjects, of 

 which a certain number may be foliage plants, as 

 bamboos, thalictrum, phormium, itc. When the border 

 has a sinirle face the tallest and stroni^est growers are 

 kept towards the back, but when barrow-shaped are 

 planted more or less throujch the centre. It is not con- 

 ducive to the best results to keep a uniform heijjht. 

 rather allowing: a little freedom representatjve of 

 natural ^roupinj;, here and there a colony of smaller 

 plants nmninir back into and breaking: up a clump of 

 stron.yer jjrowers. The g:roupinv: of similar subjects is 

 preferable to i,'^rowin.< sin>;^le specimens, as far as 

 possible avoiding^ repetitions. Each K^oup should be 

 .sufficiently strong: •« S'^'^ character without conveying: 

 the impression of beinjif too heavy a mass. Certain 

 rules of .yood taste must be adhered to. as colour 

 blending:, foliajje effects, absence of formalism, freedom 

 of outline. &c. What boundary will conform to these 

 rules? A bold sweep is often the most satisfactory in 

 g-rass ; this, in some cases, might be judiciously altered 

 by a series of irregular bays and bluffs. Beside walks 

 the boundary is already defined, but the plants may be 

 so disposed as to modify any apparent stiffness. An- 

 other good edge may be formed by making irregular 

 pockets of stone of various sizes and planting these 

 with the gems of the collection, letting some ramble 

 over the side of the walk. In this way they are kept 

 under observation, receive a certain amount of protec- 

 tion from stronger growing neighbours, and present a 

 delightfully informal appearance. 



There are two methods of planting for effect, one is 

 by working out a colour scheme, a very difficult matter, 

 and the other by planting bold masses for harmonious 

 blending and effective contrast. Where working out a 

 colour scheme the method is somewhat as follows :— A 

 a mass of blue leads up to white and yellow, and in a 

 progression of colour through pink, red and orange to 

 pale yellow and white on into lilac and purple. The last 

 must be sparingly used, and indeed are comparatively 

 scarce, as are also good blue flowers. Only the best 

 in their classes should find a place in the scheme. 

 Length of display must be considered, arranging that 

 as one plant dies down another may be growing to take 

 its place. Much may be accomplished in this way by 

 opening and tying out some plants to occupy the space 

 left vacant by earlier subjects. There are many com- 

 binations of flower and foliage which will suggest 

 themselves to a careful observer. For instance, in 

 spring the border will be bright with bulbs, notice the 

 fine effect given by yellow narcissi grow'ing through 

 the young, red foliage of herbaceous pa^onies. Many 

 plants can be freely planted over bulbs, as arabis. 

 aubretia, cerastium, primroses and many more. Other 

 happy combinations are pink roses and variegated 



poli-monium, .mlholi/.i, .iiul p.eony, l.olhliti ainiiniilis in 

 proximity to Ctnisliuni (oininlosuni, and so on. Other 

 hints are to [carpet delphiniums with Salvia pitttiis, or 

 planted closely to starworts and aconites. Oriental 

 pojipies between tritomas, keeping in mind the flower- 

 ing season of each and endeavouring not to have blank 

 spaces at any time through the summer at least. 

 Enough has been said on the principles underlying the 

 planting, and another import.inl matter may now he 

 menlioneil - viz., slaking. 



Why do we stake plants? C>n*.- reason is to provide 

 support for the plant ; when this is done early it effects 

 a saving of energy, which would otherwise be used in 

 the strengthening of tissues at the expense of flowers 

 and foliage. Secondly, as a prevention of damage 

 during storms ; and, lastly, because b\' this means we 

 may open out plants to fill up gaps, &c. 



For the majority of border plants a convenient 

 method of slaking is as follows :— Drive two or three 

 suitable slakes around the plant, and intertwine the 

 stems loosely with the soft lying cord sold specially for 

 the purpose. Lupins, p;eonies, and other subjects, 

 made to grow through a wiie frame temporarily fixed 

 in the ground, receive invisible support, while the 

 frames, carefully stored after use. will last for years. 

 Delphiniums, verbascimis. phlox, and man\' more give 

 the best results when thinned lo a limited number of 

 shoots and tied out singly lo suitable stakes as bamboo 

 canes of a green colour ; these latter are nearly in- 

 visible and very durable. One of the above methods 

 modified to circumstances will he found to apply in a 

 general way to all staking. 



After flowering allow lime for the ripening of the 

 crowns before cutting down the stems. 



Routine work will consist of hoeing and raking fre- 

 quently, staking and tying, early removal of decaying 

 flowers, seed vessels, &c. Watering with both clear 

 and manure water, w-ill need constant attention. 



When flowering is over for the season, where possible, 

 without disturbance, work in some well decayed 

 manure, and fill up all hollow spaces between plants 

 with soil. Divitle and re-plant any rampant growers, 

 leaving the slower growing ones undisturbed. 



Propagation is the last item of routine lo be 

 mentioned. Seed of many, as delphinium, sown in 

 heat in January flower the same season. Others, as 

 Lobelia cardinalis, may be rooted by spring and autumn 

 cuttings and by division of crowns. Many are in- 

 creased by root cuttings and some by layering. 

 Division of crowns ought never to be done by chopping 

 through with a spade. Two garden forks back to 

 back and prized apart accomplish this without much 

 injury. Finally, it may be said, without fear of 

 contradiction, that some of our hardy flowers com- 

 pare favourabl)' with the best grown under glass. 

 What can be finer than the superb Gladioli, Roses, 

 Delphiniums, Pyrethrums, Carnations, and Chelone, to 

 mention only a few occurring to mind ? Can it be 

 wondered at that with such treasures, mostly as hardy as 

 the dock, borders of such have grown so largely in the 

 popular favour ? It is for professional men to do their 

 best with available material, so as to make horticulture 

 a pleasure to all, whether adopted as a hobby or as a 

 means of gaining a livelihood. 



