1 86 



IRISH GARDENING 



Reviews. 



Japanese Gardens.* 



MRS. BASIL TAYLOR'S book is not a technical 

 treatise on liow to nial<e Japanese gpardens, but 

 intends to lead tile visitor to more understand- 

 ing, and to tile untravelled it conveys, witli tlie lielp of 

 Mr. Tyndall's beautiful coloured pictures, a glimpse of 

 Japanese gardens at tlieir best. -Apparently some- 

 thing is lacking in our imitation Japanese gardens ; 

 some are mere fiascos with an imilalion stork or a 

 lanterji placed here and there, others more attractive 

 have been condemned, perhaps uncoiisciousl}', by 

 Japanese, who say "they are really beautiful, but we 

 have nothing like them in Japan." As the temperament 

 of the Jap differs widely from that of the Britisher, so the 

 gulf is great between their respective ideals of gardens. 



We flowei-loving mortals would hardly call theirs a 

 garden ; it is more a miniature landscape. Flowers are 

 but a secondary consideration ; shrubs are often clipped 

 before flowering ; trees are often distorted lo give the 

 impression of age ; everything is done to preserve the 

 balance in the landscape. 



Stones are most important in the Japanese garden, 

 each one receiving a name and having a definite mean- 

 ing. Water usually gives life to the garden scene, and 

 here we might more often take a hint from the Jap, for, 

 as Mrs. Basil Taylor writes, "no one knows belter 

 than the Japanese landscape artist what compound 

 interest in beauty he reaps by the repetition and 

 reflection of his earthy garden in his watery one - clear, 

 shallow, moving water which can sparkle while it 

 reflects is the essential idea, for it suggests happiness 

 and serenity, the gaiety of nature as well as its 

 tranquility. " 



Like the Britisher who is careful that the port does 

 not go round the wrong wav, the J.ip observes the 

 superstition of going with the sun, so that the Jap's 

 water supply must enter the garden from the east and 

 leave it by the west. 



Some of the Japs' favomite flowers aie the Iris, 

 L itus, Plum Blossom, Wistaria, Chrysanthemums, and 

 -Morning Glory. In this country Japanese gardens 

 of fair size have proved expensive hobbies, and we still 

 prefer our own more or less natural style. 



-Mrs. Basil Taylor writes with enthusiasm about her 

 subject. The book is handsome, rather large, but well 

 got up. and the illustrations are beautiful. F. B. 



FrIJIT GKOWl-Nt, lOK BEGINNERS. f 

 By F. W. H.\RVEV, F.R.H.S. 



THE hook under notice is cheap enough to bo within 

 reach of all in any way interested in the culli\ ation 

 of fruit. -Vlthough not elaborately bound, the print- 

 ing is clear and very easily read. The essential details in 

 the cultivation of all our more important fruits are 

 briefly but adequately dealt with. There is an absence 

 of unnecessary discussion of every-day problems which 

 will appeal to those for whom the work is inteiideil. 

 The young gardener and the amateur will find the main 

 facts set forth clearly and in a practical way. Chapters 

 are devoted lo .Soil. .Situation, Propagation, &c. 



In a future edition it would be an advantage ifa clear 

 indication were given lo the amateur of which fruits 

 and which varieties are most suitable for the small 

 garden. Obviously the amateur who is to do his own 

 cultivating cannot liave a very large garden nor many 

 glasshouses. 



The sketches illustralingpruningare useful, while the 

 monthly reminders are brief and to the point. — J. W. B. 



• 'JapaiiL'se Gardens," by Mrs Basil Taylor. Published bv 

 Metlmen& Co., 36 Essex Street, Strand. W.C. ais.net. 

 t Country Life. Ltd.. 2:1 Tavistock St.. London, W.C. I'rice is. 



Cassiopes. 



THE Cassiopes are tiny Alpine bushes, some- 

 what resembling the Heaths in flower and in 

 general appearance. There are three species 

 in cultivation — C. fastigiata /rom the Himalayas, C. 

 letragona Irom Lapland, and C. hypnoides Irom 

 Lapland and North .America. Unless their require- 

 ments are understood they are by no means easv 

 plants to grow, but when attempts are successful these 

 plants are to be numbered among the choicest -Alpines 

 lor the rock or bog garden. 1 hey appear to hke a 

 partly shaded position and a peaty soil, well drained, 

 but moist ; stagnant moisture is detrimental, and. on 

 the other hand, drought is almost fatal. 



The happiest plants at (ilasnevin are planted on the 

 tial, where they are shaded by a north wall, aiid never 

 get the sun until it has lost its mid day power-, 



C. fastigiata is a beautiful, free flowering plant, 

 growing nine inches high. The flowers are solitar\', 

 white, and bell-shaped, reminding one of an .Andro- 

 meda. The five segments of the corolla are recurved, 

 and show the pink centre of the Hower, and curious 

 awned stamens like those of the .Arbutus. 



The leaves are imbricated in four rows, and ha\ e 

 white membranous margins ; they overlie one another 

 so closely that they completely clothe the stem. 

 Cassiope fastigiata was figured in the Botanical 

 Magazine t. 4796 from a plant growing at Glasneviii. 

 It was raised from seeds collected in north- weslein 

 Himalaya, where it is said to be fairly abundant at an 

 elevation of twelve thousand to thirteen thousand feel. 

 Cassiope tetragona is a more common plant than the 

 former, but not so beautiful. The foliage has a more 

 grassy-green colour, and the stems are more branched. 

 The flowers are about half the size of C. fastigiata, 

 and not so freely produced. The growth, however, 

 is freer, .'ind if the stems are pegged down they root 

 freely. In .April this plant produces its little, white, 

 hell-shaped flowers about three weeks before its Hinia- 

 la\-au relative. 



L'. liypnoiLles is a dainty creeping, moss-like plant, 

 bearing solitary drooping flowers on somewhat long 

 st.alks. Cnder cultivation it is not usuall}- a success. 



C. I'. B. 



National Sweet Pea Society. 

 SwEiiT Pea Trials i'ok UJ13. 



The (.'ommittee of the National Sweet Pea .Societv 

 will hold trials oi .SweiM Peas at the Piurbage I*-xperi 

 nient Station. Li'icestershire, cotuiucted b\' Major 

 C. C. Hurst, F.L.S., in K)I,v No certificates or awards 

 will be granted to novelties unless thev ai-e sent for 

 trial. 



For the No\elty Trials a charge of js. t>d. per variety 

 will be made, and novelties will be accepted only from 

 the raiser or introducer. Thirty seeils ^^i each no\ elt\ 

 must reach the lion, secretary, Mr. C H. Cmtis, 

 Adelaide Road. Brentford. M iddlese.x, before January 

 4th. I'll,!- The seeds must be placed in plain packets, 

 but each packet must he.ir a number or letter for pur- 

 posi's of identification. With the seeds there must be 

 a letter bearing the sender's name .at the top. the 

 nimiber or letter of each variety sent, and opposite 

 such letter oi" number the n.'inie of the varietv (ifan\), 

 the ctiloui- section to which il beKMigs. and (ifoi-ange iir 

 s.ilmon) whether it should be shaded. 



.Sweet Peas will also be tested for purity at a charge 

 of los- per stock or variety sent. Not fewer than two 

 dozen seeds should be sent. In every case the amount 

 due for trials charges must accompany the seeds. 

 Kvery sender will receive the report of the Floral 

 Committee in the autumn of igij. 



