IRISH GARDENING 



No. 70 



A MONIHLV JOURNAL DEVOTED TO THE 



ADVANCEMENT OF HORTICULTURE AND 



ARBORICULTURE IN IRELAND 



irxK 

 1912 



Eremuri 



r.v J. \V. RK-i\sr. Riiyal Holaiilc Clardeiis, Glasneviii. 



>iii 





^M 





Tl 1 1\ lloweriiii^ season iit tlu? 

 \ arious species, \'arieties 

 and liybiids of Hrcmuiiis 

 extends from early in May to the 

 ■niddle or end of June, varying 

 considerably accordinjj to the sea- 

 son and locality. This _\ear they 

 .•ue flowering' earlier than usual, 

 .md the spikes are shorter, owing 

 probably 10 the prolonged drought 

 ot last summer. 



.Ml the species eiijox' a deep, rich 

 sandy loam and a sunny position, 

 while shelter from rough winds is 

 desirable, though not essential, the 

 long flexible spikes bending to the 

 breeze without injury ; but I he in- 

 dividual flowers do not last so long as 

 when protected frcim wiml. 'iheculli- 

 \ationof these stately members of the 

 I,il\ family is not diOicult if the con- 

 Llitions above are provided. .As the 

 crowns push up early in spring it 

 may be necessary to protect them against frost 

 for a short time. This is easily done by inverting 

 a large tlower-pot over the crown at night, 

 removing again in the morning, or a few 

 short branches lightly placed round will have 

 the same effect. As the roots get stronger 

 and split into several crowns they are apt 

 to raise themselves out of the soil. They 

 should then be carefully lifted in summer when 

 the leaves have died down and be divided, 

 1^ taking great care to injure as little as possible 

 Q_ the long, fleshy, brittle roots. Holes large 

 <3; enough to replant in comfortably should be 



prepared two feel deep. These must be lilled 

 to within six inches of the top, w ith a compost 

 of sandy soil and thoroughly rotted stable 

 manure, taking care that the manure does not 

 come in contact with the roots immediately on 

 planting. To obviate this a layer of sharp 

 sand should be placed in the hole on which the 

 roots may be laid, covering in with sandy soil 

 carefully worked in among the roots by hand. 

 For safety in winter it is desirable to cover 

 with a few inches of dry ashes, which precludes 

 any chance of injury from prolonged hard frost. 



There are some thirty species of Eremurus 

 known to botanists, but probably not more 

 than ten or a dozen are in general cultivation. 



Eremurus Bungei, native of Persia, is figured 

 in the "Botanical -Magazine" under the name 

 of K. aurantiacum (tab. 71 13). There has, 

 however, been some confusion with regard to 

 the true E. Bungei, which is said, in the work 

 quoted above, to differ from E. aurantiacum in 

 the less acutely keeled leaves, in the root fibres 

 tapering upwards, and in the orange-yellow 

 flowers with red-yellow anthers. The plant in 

 cultivation as E. Bungei appears to be E. 

 Bungei z'tir. stenophyllus, which is synonymous 

 with E. aurantiacum. The flowers of this 

 plant, which has frequently (lowered at Glas- 

 nevin, are pale-yellow or lemon-coloured, the 

 spike thin and about three feet high. E. Bungei 

 pra,'cox, which is also cultivated, is a much 

 superior plant, making a more robust spike 

 with deeper yellow flowers and conspicuous 

 anthers, and may possibly be the true E. Bungei 

 referred to. In any case it is a desirable species. 



E. himalaicus (Bot. Mag. 7076) is a Hima- 



