XVI 



IRISH GARDENING 



some beautiful sing-le flowers. Botli Shrub and Herba- 

 ceous lists are of a handy size, and each contains a 

 wonderful collection of plants. They are up to date iti 

 novelties and rarities — in fact, advice often given to 

 trade growers in England in search of a rare plant is — 

 " Try T. Smith of Newry." Among the Newry-raised 

 Brooms, B irberries, and Trollius are some fine 

 plants. 



Messrs. Dickson, the Royal Nurseries, Chester, 

 send four of their catalogues bound in one. forming 

 quite a small book of reference. This large and well- 

 known firm has for many years been one of England's 

 leading nunserymen, and still holds a front place. The 

 fruit catalogue contains a good selection of both hardy 

 and indoor fruits with cultural hints. When young trees 

 of apples, pears, &c., became too vigorous, and often 

 fruitless, to bring them into a fruiting condition, root 

 pruning is recommended as follows: — " A trench should 

 be cut and opened round the tree, at a distance varjing 

 from eighteen inches to some few feet from the stem, 

 depending upon the age and size of the tree. All the 

 long, straggling roots should be cleanly cut oft" with a 

 knife, a sharp spade being afterwards inserted under 

 the tree to cut off any taproot. The trench should then 

 be filled in with some good loam, and the surface 

 mulched. The chief aim is the development of the 

 'feeding' roots, and these fibres should be encouraged 

 into growth and to come towards the surface by 

 mulching." Messrs. Dickson make a feature of orna- 

 mental trees and shrubs, so both nursery and rose 

 catalogues are full of interest, also easy of reference 

 and clear in type. The collection of indoor subjects as 

 detailed in their catalogue of stove and greenhouse 

 plants is very good and select. The firm keeps up to 

 date with novelties in all departments, and issues spring 

 li.sts of bedding plants, Dahlias, .Vc. 



^p* ft^^ if^ 



"He and She Hollies." 



Possibly, to some people, it may seem strange to talk 

 of plants as male and female. Although the majority 

 of plants have the male and female organs necessary 

 to produce seeds in the same flower, yet there are 

 others where the male and female flowers are borne on 

 separate plants. The Holly is what is known as 

 polygamous. Some trees produce hermaphrodite 

 flowers, with both stamens and pistil ; other trees bear 

 male, or maybe female, flowers only ; consequently, 

 if female trees are isolated or too far away from the 

 influence of the pollen-bearing trees, they will not 

 produce a crop of berries. The common Holly lives to 

 ripe old age, for authenticated cases have been known 

 of trees from two hundred to three hundred years old. ' 



Dublin Wholesale Markets. 



*T the present time the markets show an all-round 

 ^"\^ decrease in apples as compared with the cor- 

 responding period of last year. Home-grown 

 consignments were somewhat scarce, and good prices 

 were obtained for selected lots packed in dozen and 

 two-dozen boxes. Irish apples in barrels are now 

 becoming more plentiful than they were last month. 

 Large consignments from cross-Channel sources an- 

 conspicuous on the market. Grapes, too, are being 

 largely supplied, and prices are somewhat low for this 

 season of the year. 



Flowers have been ;i special feature of the market 

 lately. Chrysanthemums, Orchids, Roses and Violets 

 were well in evidence, and were very easily disposed 

 of. Some choice plants in pots were also offered for 

 sale, but did not meet as ready a demand as the cut 

 blooms. 



Vegetables have been plentiful this month, and prices 

 show a slight increase. Celery was plentiful, and the 

 quality far superior to last season's crop. The home- 

 grown onions were scarce and of very inferior quality. 

 Artichokes, spinach, lettuce and parsley were in great 

 demand. 



Price List — Fruit. 



From To 



s. d. !.. d. 



.Apples — Bismarck per barrel .76 90 



,, Lord Derby per bushel .66 86 



,, Dessert per doz. .06 13 



(irapes per lb. . \ ^ 16 



Flowers. 



Chrysanthemums per doz. bunches 08 o 10 



Violets ,, ,, 20 :! ,? 



Orchids per doz. blooms 010 10 



Roses .. .. o 10 I J 



