IRISH GARDENING 



CI 



crotlciulroii 



honisoiuL'. 



THIS LliMoikrulroii is amonjjst llu- best of flowor- 

 iiii; slovi- plants with .i climbliifj habit ; in 

 some jjaiileiis it is known as C Halfouri. Ii 

 pioiiiices larjfo, smooth, dark green leaves, ami 

 large panicles of brig^ht crimson (lowers, with pure 

 while calyces. Ry starling it early it will bloom early 

 in spring, and there is no difliciilt}' in keeping it back 

 iMilil ihc sinniner is far advanced. So long :vs the roots 



these niiisl be cut back to the plump wood. The HhootR 

 should then be trained regularly round an ordinary wire 

 trellis, or sticks inserted in the soil jusl within the rim 

 of the pot will give the necessary support. To ensure 

 the soil being evenly moistened the ball should be 

 plunged for several hours in lepid water. Where the 

 pl.mt is reipiired for conservatory decoration, or to 

 alTord (lowers for cutting, it is well to grow several 

 medium-sized specimens, by which means, if they are 

 started .al ilillerenl times, ,a long succession of bloom 



IK. Malty 



A Frosiv Morning in 



I . \ni>t;N. 



are quite dry the plant remains dormant, even when 

 subjected to a temperature high enough to excite 

 growth, which is necessary to keep it in health. 

 Clerodendron Thomsona; is such a free bloomer that it 

 will dower in a 6-inch or an S-inch pot comparatively as 

 well as when it has attained a large size, provided the 

 preceding season's growth has been well ripened. This 

 plant thrives best when potted in a mixture of equal 

 parts peat, loam, and dried cow or sheep m.inure, with 

 the addition of a little charcoal and silver sand. Plants 

 that were dried oflf in autumn, after having made the 

 requisite amount of growth, will have cast all their 

 leaves. The extremities of the shoots, more or less 

 according to their strength, will be wanting in solidity ; 



may be obtained. As soon as a lilllo growth has been 

 made manure water should be given regularly, with 

 abundance of clear water and full exposure to lighl, 

 though not .so as to burn the foliage. This Clerodendron 

 does well as a roof-climber planted out, but it is most 

 useful when giown in pots, in which way the lime of 

 flowering can be belter regulated. It may be vc 

 increased by cuttings of the ripened wood iiiserii.: 

 sandy compost, and placed in a propagating case with 

 temperatiue of 70 to 75 degrees. Clerodendroiis are 

 subject to mealy-bug ; the best cure for this pest is 

 constant attention by washing with soft soap and wanii 

 water, bv which means it mav be readily kept in c' 



J. M. 1 



