56 



IRISH GARDENING 



Narcissus Johnston!. 



This is, without doubt, one of the most distinct 

 and beautiful Daffodils in cultivation. Supposed 

 to be a natural hybrid between N. Pseudo- 

 Narcissus x N. cyclamineus, it is found growing 

 wild in Portugal, where it was first discovered 

 in lSSti by Mr. A. Tait. The graceful drooping 

 flowers, borne on stiff stalks seldom more than 

 6-8 inches high, an- produced in early April, and 

 vary in colour from soft sulphur to a pale lemon. 

 The perianth is gracefully reflexed, whilst the 

 trumpet, which is usually about three-quarters 

 of an inch long, is of a distinct ami elegant form. 

 being almost quite cylindrical throughout its 

 whole lengt h. 



Many people experience difficulty in the 

 successful culture of this Daffodil. Despite the 

 most careful attention it is seldom a success in 

 the open bor- 

 der, and even 

 in a sheltered 

 corner of the 

 rock garden it 

 has an awk 

 ward tendency 

 to die out after 

 a few years. 

 Nat uralised in 

 grass — prefer- 

 ably under 

 t rccs — it, how- 

 ever, succeeds 

 ext remely well, 

 and forms a 

 delightful fea- 

 ture when in 

 b 1 m . An 

 ideal site 

 would be on 

 the hinder of 

 a lawn, where 

 the grass 

 would not be 

 long ;it the 

 t ime of How ei- 

 ing, and if 

 planted in 

 bold groups in 

 such a posi- 

 tion, and espe- 

 cially nestling 

 around the stilus o 

 is obtained. 



Narcissus Johnstoni has two forms, which 

 known as 1 he Kin- ami the Queen of Spain. 



the former variety the mouth of the trumpet is 

 beautifully frilled, and in ! he latter 1 In- trumpet 

 is perfectly cylindrical ami the mouth is quite 

 straight. These two varieties, if interplanted in 

 grass, form a very pleasing combination (as 

 shown in the photograph), ami both varieties 



will increase steadily. 



^5* c^' %&* 



Primula rosea. — This is one of the many 

 beautiful Primulas which have come to our 

 gardens from the Himalayas. Ii is perfectly 



hardy, and will grow in almost any moist soil. 

 but the quality of the blooms and the strength 

 and vigour of the plant varies considerably 

 according to the position in which it is placed. 



Narce 



trees, a charnii 



pn-t ure 



are 

 In 



Divide Perennial Sunflowers to 

 obtain Fine Flowers. 



Thr perennial Sunflowers are an extremely useful 

 class of herbaceous plants for late summer and 

 autumn display. Owing to their very robust 

 habit of growth some forethought is necessary 

 in plantingthem : the back row of the herbaceous 

 border is an excellent position for them, whilst 

 planted in bold groups in the shrubbery they are 

 very effective when in flower. Although they will 

 grow almost anywhere, ami wit bout any attention, 

 they will amply repay liberal treatment. Thej 

 are gross feeders, and after a few years the soil 

 round the ciumps becomes impoverished, the 

 sterns of the plant also become thin and weak 

 with a corresponding reduction in the size of the 

 flowers. The clumps should then he lifted and 

 divided, the present being a yver good time for 



t he operation. 

 IS e fore re- 

 p I a ii t i ii g. 

 plent y of farm 

 yard manure 

 should be dug 

 into t he soil 

 to a depth of 

 two feet : por- 

 t ions take n 

 from the out- 

 side of t h e 

 clump, being 

 the youngest, 

 should only be 

 replant ed ; the 

 cent re por- 

 tions should 



be discarded 



or t ransferred 



to the shrub- 

 bery. I f < 1 1 1 • 1 1 

 ity. and not 

 quant ity, of 

 flowers is de- 

 S i r e d t h r> 

 flower stems 



s h o u 1 d b e 

 t binned out 

 in s prin-, 

 leaving only 

 the strongest 

 lines. 

 The genus Helianthus contain-- a large number 



ol species, only a U'\v of which are. however, 

 wort liy a place in t he garden. 



Helianthus mollis is a neat grower from 3 i<> I 

 feet high, with downy and almost silvery foliage, 

 and golden-yellow flowers, the Mowers standing 

 out horizonl all \ from t he si ems. 



II. orgyalis has handsome foliage, and grows 



iroin ii to s feel high, but in many seasons the 

 frost injuries 'In- flowers before they open. The 



best garden plants are the varieties of II- mulli- 



iloriis and 1 1 . rigidus. 



II. multiflorus maximus has line large single 



Mowers, while good double forms are Bouquet 

 d'Or. .Meteor, and Soleil d'Or. 



The Helianthus rigidus set. often called 

 Japanese Sunflowers, have long running under- 

 ground stems, and I he Mowers are exceedingly 

 useful for cutting. Some of the best are II. (i. 

 Moon. Spar-ifolius. Miss Mellish, and .Miss 

 Willmott. S. |{. 



JOHNSTl iN I. 



