xn 



IRISH GARDENING 



Alpines and the Horticultural 

 Show. 



E\'ERVO.\l': who ;iltendL'd the receiil Shi>w ill 

 Ballshridg-e imisl have been slriick by llie paucity 

 of the Alpine exhibits. No doubt the eailiness 

 of the season was a difficulty, but there inusi be some 

 other reason to wholly account for the lack of exhibitors. 

 The prizes offered are most generous, but my opinion 

 is that the regulations governing them are against 

 their success. The TuUy Cup for Alpines growing as 

 nearly as possible in a natural condition resembling 

 rockwork. — This practically confines the class to those 

 within driving distance of Ballsbridge. The only class 

 therefore open to the country exhibitor is that for 

 which a cup is oH'ered by " Kive Lovers of .Mpines." 

 1 do not know who they may be, but I lake it for granted 

 that their intention was to encourage the cultivation of 

 .Alpines. This being so, I venture to suggest that the 

 regulations defeat their object. Few rock gardeners 

 who really love their plants are willing- to remove their 

 cherished rarities f'n him- from their home on the rock- 

 work and place them several months before the show 

 in pans wheje they must remain, and, possibly, bo 

 gently forced under glass in order to bring them to 

 " perfection" in lime for the show. This is not natural 

 culture, ,ind whereas the aim of most rock gardeners Is 



to get choice plants to succeed on his rock-work under 

 natural conditions. The result of the regulation was 

 apparent at the present show. There were only two or 

 three exhibitors, and these did not care to risk their 

 choice plants, but panned-up plants like Erinus alpinus 

 of no particular interest or difficulty, though even they 

 looked unhapp\-. .Anyone can grow such plants as 

 Viola gracilis. .Aubrietias and Arabis by the yard, but 

 surely that is not what is desired by the donors oi the 

 cup? If the plants were in pots it would be another 

 matter, for most Alpinists grow their " spares" in pots 

 especially of their choicer plants, and an exhibit of one, 

 two or more dozen of these w ould be of interest to the 

 visitor and would, I am certain, be far more acceptable 

 to the exhibitor— his treasures would sutler no harm 

 and could in due course be planted out in their per- 

 manent homes. I offer the suggestion with diffidence 

 in the hope that some way or other may be discoveretl 

 before the ne.xt show to increase the public interest in 

 this most fascinating branch of gardening. 



The society and generous friends by offering the cups 

 have done much, but the nurserymen could do much 

 more if they realised fully the purposes of a horticul- 

 tural show. .As a rule the\' aim at large effects, they 

 select whatever plants may be nearest to perfection al 

 the show time and display them lavishly. This, no 

 doubt, is right as far as it goes, for it shows us how- 

 well plants can be grown, but it does not go far enough- 

 The interest of the average amateur if it is to be 



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