JULY 



IRISH GARDENING. 



107 



have died from eating the Irimniingfs of the fetid 

 hellebore, mixed with other herbage, when thrown 

 out from a shrubbery into the field where the cattle were. 

 Common poppies (the drugs opium and laudanum are 

 obtained from one of the species). Greater Celandine 

 {Chelidonsum magus) Charlock, the seeds of which when 

 eaten cause inflammation of the intestines. Corn cockle, 

 the seeds of which are especially harmful, hence the 

 importance of keeping- them out of corn intended for 

 milling purposes. Spindle tree (Eiionymus europa'us) 

 and common buckthorn, the berries are dangerous to 

 children. Lupins. Laburnum is described by Henslow 

 as cerainly one of the most poisonous of all trees culti- 

 vated in g-ardens. Frequent cases of child poisoning 

 from eating its pea-like seeds have been recorded. 

 Cherry laurel, all parts are poisonous. It is stated that 

 fifteen berries of the shrub are sufficient to cause death 

 in a child. Hemlock is well-known as a deadly poisonous 

 plant. Water-hemlock and water-dropwort are virulent 

 poisons ; the leaves of the latter have been mistaken 



Meadow Saftron {Cohhicnm autumnate) is poisonous 

 in all its parts, and is particularly dangerous to 

 all herbiverous animals. Herb Paris is poisonous, 

 but it is not a common plant. Lords and Ladies (Arum 

 luaculatuui ) are great favourites with country children, 

 and fatal results have followed their eating its bright, 

 scarlet berries. 



A chapter is devoted to weeds of ponds, rivers, and 

 ditches, which will be of especial interest to gardeners. 

 We have been frequently asked as to the best means of 

 destroying water weeds, and this chapter gives full 

 information upon the subject. Different types of cutting 

 tools are given, and their use explained. The copper 

 sulphate method, so frequently used in America to get 

 rid of green scum, is noted. One part of the sulphate in 

 a million parts of water is sufficient to destroy the 

 growth without doing the slightest harm to fish or other 

 animal life. It is recommended to spray the scum with 

 a spray made up of one and a half ounces of the sulphate 

 dissolved in two gallons of water. 



Ziemsen's Weed-Cutting Saw. 



torpedo-shaped sinkeis c— clamp u — w 

 From Long"s Text-book. 



■rope K— handle 



for celery and its roots for parsnips with disastrous 

 results. Fool's parsley is poisonous in all its parts. 

 Rhododendrons and azaleas are fatal to cattle. Deadly 

 Night-shade {Atropa belladonna) is particularly poisonous 

 in its roots, and its berries only less so. and being attrac- 

 tive to children are therefore dangerous. Henbane, 

 Woody Night-shade (Solanum dulcamera), the stem to 

 taste is first bitter and then sweet, hence one of its com- 

 mon names " Bitter-Sweet." Its berries are liable to be 

 gathered and eaten by children. Black Night-shade 

 {Sola/lion nigrum), its berries are said to be poisonous. 

 The new fruit " Wonder Berry" is apparently a variety 

 of this plant. Thorn Apple is another solanaceous poison- 

 ous plant. The potato is a member of the same family, 

 and according to Henslow the potato contains a toxic 

 substance that may be fatal to some animals, and he 

 mentions cases where old sprouted potatoes fed to 

 horses acted as a deadly poison to them. The foxglove 

 is well-known as a poisonous plant. Spurge laurel 

 {Daphne) bears poisonous berries, as does also Mezeron 

 {D. Mezcreum). Dog's Mercury and Annual Mercury are 

 said to be poisonous. Caper Spurge, the seeds are 

 dangerous and ought not to be used. Box is poisonous 

 to stock, and clippings should not be put in their way. 

 The Castor Oil plant, the seeds are dangerous to man 

 and other animals. Siieep and fosvls have been 

 frequently poisoned through eating them, or their crush- 

 ings after extraction of the oil. Yew* is certainly danger- 

 ous to stock, and clippings should never be placed 

 within the reach of cattle. Cupressus is also suspected. 



Chapter X. deals with the destruction of weeds in 

 lawns, drives, &c. Isolated coarse plants like dande- 

 lions may be killed by the application of a thimbleful of 

 sulphate of ammonia. In the case of moss — raking and 

 harrowing, the application of a mixture of soil and lime 

 with a little guano, or watering with a solution of 

 sulphate of iron, are recommended. Fairy rings may be 

 destroyed by a dressing of slaked lime or of basic slag. 

 For gravel paths— salt, using sufficient to whiten the 

 surface, a solution of washing soda in the proportion of 

 5 lbs. to 10 gallons of water, a 5 or 10 per cent, 

 solution of copper sulphate and yellow arsenical sheep 

 dip are among the specifics mentioned. A chapter 

 in seed testing and appendices conclude a most valuable 

 contribution to the literature of country life. It is the 

 only work we know diat deals so fully or so well with 

 the subject of weeds, and we most cordially recommend 

 it to the notice of our readeis. 



^^ 6^^ fi<^ 



Cnv, SiiURB.XN .\.Mi Window Gakdeni.nc;.— This is 

 the title of a little sixpenny booklet, written by D. 

 Grant Mclver, and published by Messrs. Dawbarn & 

 Ward, in their Country 1 louse Series of Practical Hand- 

 books. It is certainly " practical," the information 

 given being precise, clear, and entirely to the point, and 

 illustrated by numerous working plans, drawn 10 scale 

 wherever necessary. It is just the right sort of guide 

 for suburban amateurs to follow in their pursuit of a 

 delightful relaxation from ordinary w-ork-a-day duties. 



