IRISH GARDENING 



^'ew, the Cedar of I^banon, are not liardy, 

 and, of course, such tender things as Choisya, 

 Myrtle, Eugenia, Brooms, can only be treated 

 as greenhouse plants. The trees are leafless in 

 winter, the effect given by the broad-leaved 

 evergreens is missing, the herbaceous plants 

 have disappeared, the ground is covered with 

 snow, hence few 

 attempts are made 

 to obtain fine, hold 

 winter effects such as 

 are to be found in so 

 many old Irish gar- 

 dens. True, there are 

 the Coniferte — Pinus. 

 Abies, Picea, Thuya, 

 Retinospora,all ever- 

 green and all hardy, 

 but these alone will 

 not suffice, a constant 

 repetition would be 

 monotonous, and the 

 Eastern - American 

 naturally c o n c e n- 

 trates on summer 

 effects both in private 

 gardening and in the 

 parks. In connection 

 with the Conifenc it 

 may be of interest tv 

 note that while the 

 English Yew is not 

 hardy the Japanese 

 ^'cw, Taxus cuspi- 

 data, is quite hardy, 

 and some distinct 

 and beautiful varie- 

 ties have arisen in 

 cultivation. With the 

 usual acumen of the 

 race the .American 

 has gone in largely 

 for flowering shrubs, 

 and these are tho- 

 roughly well done. They are planted in firm, 

 bold masses, both in private and in public 

 gardens, and as they flower much more pro- 

 fusely than with us, and, as before stated, fruit 

 correspondingly freely, they well merit the 

 consideration given to them. Further on 1 

 hope to saj' something about these shrubs in 

 the public porks. 



The general impression given by visits to 



Kai.mia I 



At the- Bas*; of a Hemlock Spruce HI 



private gardens is one of disappointment. 1 do 

 not think that I in any way slander our cousins 

 when I state that our home gardens are more 

 beautiful, more restful, more interesting than any 

 gardens which I saw in .America; this is especially 

 the case with gardens near cities. Further afield 

 one meets with large private parks and gardens 



which are good, and 

 in laying out which 

 great taste and much 

 skill in landscape 

 gardening are dis- 

 played - gardens and 

 parks in which fine, 

 bold natural effects 

 have been preserved, 

 the views|opened and 

 enhanced, the drives 

 gracefully curved, 

 and where the groups 

 of trees are bold and 

 imposing. In such 

 places the proprie- 

 tors take a keen in- 

 terest and supervise 

 t he work. These 

 ire, however, the 

 gardens of the few, 

 the humbler gardens 

 of the thousands are 

 indifferent or want- 

 ing. Energetic efforts 

 are being made to 

 inipart a knowledge 

 and a love of plants 

 in the younger gene- 

 rations, and to teach 

 the principles of 

 horticulture and gar- 

 dening. 



The climatic con- 

 ditions which affect 

 outdoor gardening 

 have also their 

 effects on the cultivation of plants under 

 glass. In this branch of gardening .Ameri- 

 cans have to overcome greater difficulties 

 than we have, and they do it successfully. 

 Indoor gardening in .America is as good as 

 :inv to be found in Europe. The intense 

 lii,'ht, and e.specially the brijjht sun in winter, 

 have to be taken into consideration. Here 

 we strive to keep onr ol.ints as close to 



All FOLIA 



n ttie Arnold Artioretum, t,'.S, A. 



