136 



IRISH GARDENING 



The Rock Garden in September. 



By R. a. Mai iiv. 



Wl TH the chilly and dewy nitfhts which accompany 

 September we see the hand of autumn 

 stealthily creeping over the Alpine garden and 

 cluini^ing- tlie once fresh greens into soft shades of 

 brown and russet. 



The once bright green fronds of the Osniunda 

 regtilis are now passing to a gentle cinnamon, and 

 before long they will assume so rich a colouring as to 

 be tjuite an attractive feature in the garden. 



Despite all our efforts to furnish the Alpine garden at 

 this time of the year, it is impossible to prevent the 

 impression that the season is rapidly approaching its 

 end, though with care a considerable decorative eflect 

 can be obtained by the employment of clumps of Sedum 

 Sieboldii, that late flowering stone crop from Japan 

 with its thick, coppery-coloured leaves and terminal 

 trusses of soft pink flowers, while contrasting with this 

 is Sedum turkestanicum, a native of Siberia, of greener 

 foliage and deeper coloured blossoms. Both these 

 plants are beautiful late autumn subjects, and thrive 

 apace in gritty soil in any hot situation. The snails are 

 the chief enemy of the S. Sieboldii, appearing to find its 

 succulent leaves \'ery appetising 



In some shady or half-shady place in moderately 

 moist soil Saxifraga Fortunei, that lovely Sax. from 

 China, is now throwing up its flower spike— somewhat 

 after S. Cotyledon pyramidalis in shape — but with 

 flowers composed of three short and two long petals, 

 such as Sax. sarmentosa possesses. Not only is this 

 a very welcome Sax. coming so late in the year, but it 

 is a very beautiful one ; indeed, the luscious, shining, 

 green leaves would alone justify us in growing it. The 

 only disadvantage it has, is that the flowers sometimes 

 get cut by an early frost. 



Of the bulbous plants which have been resting beneath 

 the surface all the summer v\e now have a number 

 in blossom, or about to favour us with their lovely 

 delicately-tinted flowers. 



Most imposing of all, perhaps, is Colchicum speciosinn 

 with its large, rosy purple flowers rising leafless from 

 some carpel of Sedum or other low-growing plant, which 

 will prevent the soil from being splashed on to the lovely 

 goblet like flowers by the rain. 



liven more floriferous, though to ui)' mind less beauti- 

 ful in form, is Colch. Inzantinum, while our native 

 Colch. autumnale, like a large Crocus, gladdens us from 

 many an odd corner. .\11 of the foregoing thrive well 

 in sandy loam and leaf-mould, where their roots can 

 reach a moderately moist medium iluring the growing 

 season. 



At this time, too, Eryngium giganteum is often at its 

 best. This, a native of Armenia, when raised from seed 

 (and with me this has hitherto been a necessity, as it 

 proves itself a biennial here), grows from a central 

 growth into a glorious candelabra-like shape, and when 

 matiu-e takes on a cold, shimmering, grey colour, which 

 contrasts delightfully with the more i-uddy hues now so 

 prevalent in the garden. As with the other Eryngiums 

 or Sea llollies the flower heads themselves are sonu'what 

 teaslelike, and the florets rather inconspicuous. 



It makes a particularly handsome subject for some 

 subsidiary knoll in the Alpine garden some little distance 

 from the eye, and preferably backed by some dark 

 green or ruddy growths. 



Of the autiunn-flowering Croci we now have C. 

 zonatus, of soft colouring, very dainty and choice, when 

 so many of the tones in the garden at the moment are 

 vigorous, while most showy of all, reliable in constitu- 

 tion, and coming year after year to gladden us with 

 its beautiful bluish, violet flowers, veined with rich 

 purple, is Crocus speciosus from Asia Minor. 



This species is especially attractive on account of 

 the much branched, rich orange-coloured stigmas 

 which protrude from the floral envelopes, making such 

 a striking contrast with the purple shade of the latter. 



Not infrequently the leaves appear with, or soon 

 after, the flowers, though the)- do not develop fully 

 until the spring. 



No special compost seems needful lor these C'l'oi i. 

 the ordinai'V well drained gritty soil of the rock garden 

 appearing to suit them well. 



W'ith such welcome visitors as these I have 

 mentioned (and others equally attractive), it is possible 

 to obtain a very large amount of pleasure from our 

 .Alpine garden even in September. 



Hints to Amateurs. 



By K. M. roLl.cHK. 



GREENHOUSE. — Azaleas, Camellias, Genistas, 

 Prunus, Acacias, and any shrubs which were 

 stood out during the summer, may now be 

 brought back into the house and stood in their perma- 

 nent winter quarters. Re-pot where necessary, or if 

 potting is not required, loosen the surface soil and give 

 a light dressing of fresh soil. 



.\nnii Lilies and Salvias which were planted out dur- 

 ing the summer must now be lifted and potted up. See 

 that the Arums do not waul for water once growth be- 

 gins. Remember that tlu' .\ruui Lily grown at home in 

 our greenhouses, and so largely used for decorative 

 purposes, is a native of South Africa, where it is found 

 growing in quantities in the rich, moist mud beside the 

 streams. Primulas, Cinerarias, and Geraniums for 

 winter display in the houses may now get their final 

 potting. Care must be taken when handling these, as 

 the leaves of Cinerarias and Primulas are very brittle 

 and break oft' easily ; be careful also with the watering, 

 as Primulas especially are apt to damp off at the neck 

 if kept too moist. 



Another batch of Ereesias. Hyacinths. Paper Whites, 

 and the Tulips and Narcissi should now be potted up. 

 Lists of the two latter will be found at the end of these 

 hints. The Tulips and Hyacinths must be plunged as 

 dii'ected in the .August niunber. 



Thk CiARIiEX. — Where Dahlias are grown in dry soil, 

 they will «ant frequent doses of liquid manure if large 

 flowers are looked for. .Also the shoots must be thinned 

 out so as to prevent overcrowding. The weak shoots 

 that appear from the base are the best to cut away, as 

 ihey seldom come to any real good. Earwigs, loo, will 

 become troublesome, and should be trapped. 



