IRISH GARDENING 



171 



This may be taken cither as an irulication of the 

 stiitabilily ol'tho Irish soil ami climate for this particular 

 enterprise, or as a testimony to the adaptability of the 

 Narcissus and Tulip to varied conditions, provided 

 they are cultivated with due Ihouijhl for their reipiire- 

 nients. The truth will probably be foiuid by acceptin)^^ 

 part of both these explanations. He this as it may, \vc 

 find on reference to the map that Ard Cairn is close to 

 the ri\er Ia-i', aiul sonu' miles from the se;i. The soil 

 is a warm, saiuh" loam. Lismore is well inhmd, close 

 to llu' river Blaekwater, the soil is a good sound loam, 

 kept warm and open by a fair admixture of pebbles, 

 and it is also deep and well drained. Rush is beside 

 the sea, a large, flat stretch of country, soil very sandy, 

 with water some eighteen inches from the svnface. 

 Lis.sadell is also beside the sea ; in fact, there is only 

 a roadway between it and the beach, but the ground 

 rises abruptly, and the soil is a good, friable loam, 

 perhaps heavier than in any of the other districts 

 n.'ime(.l, warm and well di'ained. 



In the last days of March 1 visited the .\id Caii n 

 nurseries, but unfortunately I failed to see my old 

 friend Mr. Kaylor llartland. who was indisposed. 

 However, under the guidance of .Mr. Harlland, junr., 

 and Mr. Treseder. I made a thorough inspection of the 

 nursery. It is situated at Ballinteniple, about a mile 

 and a half from the centre of Cork, on the Cork and 

 Blackrock tramway line. The nursery is on high 

 ground close to, but well above, the river, and although 

 enjoying full sun, the ground slopes towards the river 

 to the north. The trial grounds are narrow beds in 

 front of the residence, nicely sheltered, and protected 

 by high hedges. Here were groups of such select 

 Daffodils as ,\mbrosina, Roll Call, Phantasy, Balzac, 

 Hebe, Homespun, Noble, Czarina, \'enus, Diana, Liquid, 

 Sweepstake, &c. , fresh and glistening in the morning 

 sint. Groups of seedlings were flowering for the first 

 time, several of them of a quality that must add to the 

 laurels of the firm. In the larre field where the stocks 

 are grown I saw large breadths of such kinds as 

 Cervantes and Claddagh, two very early floweriTig 

 sorts now largely in demand for forcing ; in fact, so 

 early are they, that the\' w'ere quite over before the 

 end of March. There were also stocks of the leading 

 popular varieties, and a noble-flowered variety which 

 bears the name of the originator of the industry. Mr. 

 Baylor Hartland. Kurther on were quantities of Tulips 

 quite uninjured by hail and frost, such as The Kawn, 

 fulgens maxima lutea, elegans lutea, ixioides, &c.. 

 with which the name of Baylor Hartland is honourably 

 associated. The glasshouses were full of market 

 plants, forced flowers, and a choice collection of 

 Orchids. Some very fine forms of Cattleya Schroederjc, 

 including albinos, a grand pure white Odontoglossum 

 crispum, and Cymbidum Mandianum (recently received 

 iin award of merit) were the most I'emarkable of those 

 in flower. 



.\Uhough not ver\' man}' miles from Coi"k, in a 

 straight line, it takes some time to get to Lismore by 

 rail, vi:i Mallow Junction, and on the Waterford line. 

 Lismore is a charming little town, situated on .an eleva- 

 tion above the Blackwater, which is there a river of 



considerable size, spanned by a high, arched bridge. 

 Beside the bridge rise the rocks on which Lismore 

 Castle is built, a line structure, beautifully situated, 

 with a splendid view down the Blackwater, and well- 

 wooded banks on both sides of the glen through which 

 the river runs. On a plateau well above the ri\er is 

 the town, and at the end of the main thoroughfare 

 stands the church surrounded by venerable trees. In 

 the shade of these trees Miss K. Currcy built a studio, 

 and there painted many delightful pictures. Here, 

 also, was her garden, in which were cultivated many 

 r.ire and choice plants that made fame for the owner 

 long before she commenced the more practical occu- 

 pation of bulb farming. The 26lh .March had been 

 blustery, wet, and cold ; the 27th broke bright and 

 cheerful. Lismore looked happy bathed in sunshine, 

 so also did the many lovely flowers in the Warren 

 (iardeiis. .My first visit was to the erstwhile studio, 

 cool and shaded, and here, instead of pictures, were 

 r.inged round the walls vases of the choicest varieties 

 1.^1 Narcissus, gaining strength tor their long journey 

 to the exhibition hall, \'incentsi|uare. Every section 

 was represented, Jasper, Whitewell, Croesus, Sunrise, 

 Duke of Leinster, Warrior, Sirdar, Lord Muncastep, 

 and Scarletta being among them. From the studio 

 and garden proper we went to the farm, first into a 

 large, walled-in enclosure, well sheltered by trees, and 

 enjoying full sunshine, with a fine deep, open, loamy 

 soil, it seemed an ideal place in which to grow plants. 

 Never before have I seen anything to equal a large bed 

 of King Alfred as grown there. Arranged in long, 

 narrow beds, were groups of the most select varieties, 

 some specially sheltered by low hedges, some fully 

 exposed in the open, but all apparently happy. Imme- 

 diatelv in front of the door, and in full sun, some masses 

 of Firebrand, Sirius, Flambeau, Torch, and Lucifer 

 were bright beyond description, quite imtarnished b\' 

 the night's heavy rain. Near by were patches of 

 White Slave, White Queen, Lord Kitchener, Sirdar, 

 Mermaid, Mrs. Morland Crossfield. Goldfinch, Michael, 

 Great Warley, and many others. These choicer sorts 

 are cultivated in long, narrow beds, protected by low 

 hedges, and so arranged that they can easily be 

 examined and compared, each viiriety having a little 

 compartment for itself. It was difficult to leave this 

 enticing section. Beyond this inclosure were two 

 fields sloping towards the river, but well above it, and 

 luUy exposed to the ripening influence of sun and wind. 

 The soil here was somewhat stiffVr, and in it were 

 growing large breadths of the older varieties, all in 

 vigorous health. The process of " roguing" was being 

 .-arried out thoroughly by girls, and others were busy 

 cutting flowers, Miss Currey doing a considerable 

 business in Daffodil blooms. These are made up in 

 baskets of varying sizes, and the contents also vary, as 

 do the prices, there being quite a brisk demand for 

 baskets of the choicer sorts, where there is quality 

 without coai-seness ; the flowers are cut clean and 

 fresh, with long stalks. 



StR F. W. Moore in 77;^- FiM. 



(To be continuvd. ) 



