IRISH GARDENING 



139 



Willi llii' i-ioilion of liibourers" coUajfes liere and 

 there over the eounlryside diiriiitf the lasl lew years, 

 however, it is pleasiiijf to observe that siffiis ofa change 

 to better things are becoming apparent, and some 

 gardens there are whose owners take an obvious plea- 

 sure after their day's work is over in cnltivaling them 

 to the fullest extent ; and it may be that the spirit of 

 emulation will quicken others to follow their good 

 example. 



\'ery few cities in the kingdom corresponding to 

 lliiblin in population arc so blessed as regards freedom 

 from smoke and kindred nuisances, and though it is 

 true that the atmospheie is humid, yet we rarely sufl'er 

 from a low thermometer. Conditions, therefore, being 

 so favourable, one would be entitled to suppose that 

 horticulture in the suburban districts of the city would 

 be a marked characteristic on every hand. That we 

 are inappreciative of the beautiful no one would urge 

 for one moment, and yet if one walks through many of 

 the districts surrounding the city proper, what arid 

 wastes are many of the gardens one sees, consisting lor 

 the most part ofa neglected grass plot, ill cut, or not 

 cut at all, with perhaps an attenuated shrub stuck in the 

 middle. .\n occasional oasis amongst the wildernesses, 

 but accentuates the forlorn condition of the rest, and 

 gives one to think if there can be a reason lor it all 

 other than the very obvious one. 



To bring about a happier state should be the aim ot 

 all lovers of gardening, but even these realise difficulties 

 to be surmounted other than individual apath)'. As a 

 matter of fact, many instances have come to the know- 

 ledge of the writer in which the contents of gardens 

 which had cost their owners many weeks of work and 

 not a little expense met with more than a passing glance 

 of admiration ; inilced, so much were they appreciated 

 that then- contents were removed quite quietly during 

 the still hours to other scenes. Incidents such as these 

 undoubtedly go a long way in checking enthusiasm in- 

 dividually, and it would be interesting to know to what 

 extent the trouble exists. In any case the matter is 

 not irremediable, and those who have suffered should 

 lake heart of grace and still do their best, thus inspiring 

 their neighbours and friends first by example, and ag.iin. 

 if necessary, with kindly precept, to unite with Ihem iji 

 trying to convert their own particular areas into beauty 

 spots which may prove to be the nuclei ofa garden 

 citv. 



F. C. P. 



J- 



I.s the rock garden, Killiney Castle, County Dublin, 

 there is at present a fine plant oi Fuchsia procumbens 

 in good bloom. This Fuchsia does well in tlu' sheltereel, 

 free-from-fr^ist position, facing due south. In a neigh- 

 bouring garden, same aspect, it does equally well, 

 remaining out all winter. In this rock garden two 

 plants, in different positions, of the ordinary greenhouse. 

 Scarlet Amaryllis, are flowering well; they have been 

 two years out in the open without any protection. The 

 following Primulas are showing strong saund flower- 

 ing : — Japonica (red), Iiivolucrata and Kewensis. 



K. C. M. M. S. 



I icrbaccous Lohclias. 



Wl 1 1;.\ sunnnei- flowers are waning, these gorgeous 

 .lutumn blooms open their spikes of brilliant 

 blossoms, as if in defiance of the passing of 

 the summer. Their brilliant colours seem to glow in 

 the autumn light, yet harmonise beautifully with the 

 other autumn tints which presage the fall of the sere 

 ;md yellow leaf. 



In the October igoS number of Irish G.vkdkmng 

 some notes were given on Lobelia Morning (Jiow, 

 which has since been put into commerce under the 

 name of L. (Iloire de St. Anne's. This variety, as 

 stated in the article referred to, was raised by 

 Mr. A. Campbell, gardener to Lord -Vrdilaun. Gloire 

 de St. Anne's is a handsome variety, reaching six feel 

 in height, bearing long spikes of brilliant scarlet 

 flowers which are produced for weeks in succession. 



As long ago as 1S87 Mr. Campbell began raising 

 improved forms of Lobelias. In that year he produced 

 Firefly, now well known and still indispensable. This 

 beautiful hybrid resulted from fertilising L. fulgens 

 with pollen from the true grcen-leaveil L. cardinalis. 

 In iS()4 .Mr. Campbell crossed Firefly with L. fulgens, 

 obtaining oiily one seedling which showed the effect of 

 crossing, and on flowering it was named Lord Ardilaun. 

 From this single seedling has resulted the entire stock 

 of Lobelia Lord Ardilaun now in cultivation. In this 

 variety the colour of the flowers is softer than in the 

 two previously mentioned forms, and the foliage is 

 ruddy rod, in contrast to the bronzy green of Firefly 

 and the hoary leaves of Gloire de St. .Anne's. 



.\nother of Mr. Campbell's productions is Lobelia 

 .St. .Anne's which resulted as a seedling from Firefly. 

 It is in the way of L. fulgens, and when well grown is 

 capable of a fine effect. 



In the matter of cultivation, these Lobelias are not 

 difficult, providing the two essentials, moisture and 

 nourishment, are freely provided during the growing 

 season. Well rotted cow manure forms excellent food 

 material, and should be freely dug in in spring where 

 the Lobelias are to be planted. 



In ground which is constantly wet these plants are 

 hardier than is generally supposed. We have known 

 them in a bog garden for years, only being lifted each 

 spring as growth commenced, split up, and replanted 

 when the sites had been dressed with manure, and 

 there the finest spikes are invariably produced. In 

 many gardens, however, it is necessary to lift the roots 

 every autumn and winter in a frame. This is the case 

 when the plants are grown in ordinary garden beds or 

 borders which are subject to alternate freezing and 

 thawing. — B. 



c^ t^ f^ 



Stately stand the sunlloucrs, glowing down ilie g.irdcn 



side. 

 Ranged in royal rank arow along the warm grey wall. 

 Whence their deep disks burn at ricli midnoon afire 



with pride, 

 Kven as though their beams indeed were sunbeams, and 



the tall 

 .Sceptral stems bore stars whose reign endures, not 



flowers that fall. — Algernon C. S-iin/iiirn,: 



