114 



IRISH GARDENING 



such circumstances it is not unnatural that 

 many exacting species, generally considered 

 half-hardy, should here be found to flourish in 

 full vigour. 



In the majority of cases the finer specimens 

 have been home grown from seed imported by 

 the late Lord Annesley, whose enterprise and 

 energy in this respect were amply rewarded by 

 gratifying results in many cases. As witness 

 the raising of several plants of the true Picea 

 morindoides, hitherto unknown in this country, 

 from seed received from India as Picea morinda. 

 This rare species he had the privilege of pre- 

 senting to the botanical establishments of Great 

 Britain and Ireland. It was at Castlewellan 

 that Lomatia pinnatifolia first flowered in the 

 United Kingdom, and though much difficulty 

 was at first experienced in its propagation, 

 plants have since been raised from home-saved 

 seed and cuttings. This makes a very hand- 

 some evergreen, and its pink and yellow flowers, 

 if scarcely showy, are admirably contrasted with 

 a rich green foliage. 



One of the most remarkable plants in the 

 garden is a noble specimen of the true Cordyline 

 indivisa, twelve feet high, with individual leaves 

 five feet long and seven and a half inches broad, 

 distinguished by a dark orange-coloured mid- 

 rib. The whole plant is in perfect health, but 

 the presence of a numerous colony of sucker 

 growths about its base may indicate the 

 approach of parental extinction. Another 

 specimen of equal age and size, having similarly 

 provided for its own propagation, showed im- 

 mistakable signs of decay in softening bark 

 and withering leaf. In this instance, in May, 

 191 1, the main stem was encased in a wooden 

 tub filled with sandy leaf-mould, supported bv 

 posts three feet high. By the following October, 

 the tub being well filled with stout fleshy roots, 

 the main stem was sawn through immediately 

 below it, and the entire top removed and 

 separately planted elsewhere, the sucker- 

 growths remaining unmutilated. It was hoped 

 that the parent growth might thus be either 

 rejuvenated or induced to flower before expiring. 

 Unfortunately neither expectation has been 

 realised, and the dismembered portion, after 

 eight months well doing, now shows everv 

 indication of decay. The suckers, meanwhile, 

 are daily increasing in vigour, and should 

 eventually develop into a striking clump. Restio 

 subverticillatus, another rare plant seldom found 



out ol doors in these islands, seems appreciative 

 of the conditions under which it grows at Castle- 

 wellan. Well sheltered by surrounding tree 

 growths, in peaty loam, with a plentiful supply 

 of water, when in full growth the vigour of 

 the plant is well maintained, as is clearly evi- 

 denced by innumerable fresh young shoots (this 

 season over fifty) springing annually from the 

 root stock. Already this specimen is six feet 

 high and eight feet through, and its light 

 feathery, drooping foliage gives an effect at 

 once graceful and striking. Its propagation 

 out of doors proves difficult, but layering may 

 yet be successful. 



As regards the general collection at Castle- 

 wellan, the necessary limits of this article will 

 onlv permit of a brief reference to a few con- 

 spicuous shrubs, and in this case their selection 

 is a matter of some difficulty where such a 

 varied assortment of good plants is at disposal. 

 Those enumerated, however, are noteworthy 

 for flower or foliage — sometimes for fruit — and 

 can be generally recommended to those whose 

 gardens are reasonably free from harsh winds 

 and severe frosts. 



The gardens are distinguished by many fine 

 specimens of Acer palmatum atropurpureum. 

 One of the best, a plant of perfect symmetry 

 and furnished to the ground, measures fifteen 

 feet high and seventy-two feet in circumference. 

 In autumn the leaf-colouring is brilliant in the 

 extreme, and in this respect is unsurpassed by 

 any other plant in the garden. 



The New Zealand Pittosporums grow here 

 with exceptional vigour, and prove perfectly 

 hardy. Amongst some notable specimens may 

 be mentioned those of P. Mayii, twent^'-five 

 feet high and sixty feet in circimiference at the 

 ground ; P. Colensoi, a very graceful plant, 

 thirteen feet high ; P. eugenioides, nine feet 

 high, and P. eugenioides variegatum, one of the 

 best of variegated evergreens, nine and a half 

 feet high ; P. luidulatum, tenuifolium, Buc- 

 hananii and Tobira, are all well worthy of 

 cultivation. 



Tricuspidaria lanceolata, whose crimson 

 bells hang so .ittractively in their rich, green 

 surroundings, i.]uickly develops into a shapely 

 specimen, and freely flowered plants twelve 

 feet high form beautiful subjects on the 

 lawn. rhe white-flowered species, T. depend- 

 ens, has so far proved disappointing, and can- 

 not be described as a hardy plant. 



