IRISH GARDENING 



75 



autumn, rendering the plants most attractive 

 at that season. 



All the above-mentioned are evergreen or sub- 

 evergreen, and the following kinds are deciduous : — 



B. brevipaniculata is a new Chinese species, 

 making a strong-growing prickly deciduous shrub, 

 with short racemes of yellow flowers in summer, 

 followed by dense clusters of claret red fruits in 

 autumn. 



15. dictyophylla, another new Chinese species, 

 promises to be a very decorative and popular 

 shrub. It varies somewhat from seed, but 

 generally the leaves and steins are glaucous, the 

 latter being very attractive in winter. The 

 flowers are pale yellow. This species has been 

 known for some years, but has only recently 

 become plentiful. 



B. lucida, a Spanish species with spathulate 

 finely-toothed leaves, is a neat and pretty species 

 of value for the shrubbery. The flowers, which 

 are yellow and freely produced, are not con- 

 spicuous, but are rather pretty in April. 



B. polyantha, from China, appears likely to be 

 a useful shrub. It grows 1 feet high, bearing 

 clusters of bright green leaves and yellow flowers, 

 followed in autumn by coral berries. 



B. Sieboldii is a strong-growing, handsome 

 shrub from China and Japan. It reaches a 

 height of or 7 feet, producing strong spiny 

 branches and clusters of fairly large glaucous 

 leaves. It makes a good single specimen, and is 

 effective in large shrubberies where the glaucous 

 leaves show up to advantage. 



B. Thunbergii. a Japanese species, is one of 

 the most effective of autumn shrubs. The leaves 

 are not spiny as in many other species, but 

 before falling in autumn they turn a brilliant 

 orange scarlet, atid remain effective for some 

 time. This is a shrub which should be planted 

 in bold groups for j^tlie sake of its brilliant 

 autumn colour. There is a dwarf form — minor — 

 well suited for the rockery. 



B. umbilicata is practically deciduous, though 

 it may retain a few leaves through winter. The 

 young shoots are striking, being red, ultimately 

 becoming dark green. 



B. virescens, a Himalayan species, is a most 

 desirable plant in its. best form. The young- 

 shoots are bright red, while in autumn the leaves 

 become a beautiful combination of red and orange. 

 This is a good shrub, of medium growth, well 

 worth serious attention from lovers of beautiful 

 plants. j w B 



Violas 



By W. A. Maxwell, Gardener to James Dickson, 

 Esq., J. P., Milltown House. Dungannon. 



Year by year the cultivation of these plants is 

 being considerably extended. For a great 

 number of years Violas were merely treated as 

 border plants, generally to be seen in large 

 clumps, but now as bedding plants they have 

 few equals, especially as a groundwork for taller 

 subjects ; in their range of colour may be found 

 the softest lavender to harmonise with other 

 subjects, or brilliant yellows for a contrast. 



There are one or two simple ways of cultivating 

 Violas, each effectual in its way. Cuttings must 

 always take the leading place for increasing the 

 stock. To take the cuttings, plants which have 

 finished flowering should be cut over with a 

 sharp knife, after which some nice green shoots 

 will burst forth ; these are then utilised as cuttings, 

 making each about three inches long, and cut 



clean at a joint. These cuttings when made 

 should be dibbled into a prepared frame, the soil 

 to consist of oid manure, loam, and a good 

 sprinkling of sand. I find the best time to take 

 cuttings is about the third week in September. 

 The cuttings should be well watered and shaded 

 for some time, then gradually admit air until the 

 plants have become well rooted, when the lights 

 may be removed altogether. Although this is 

 generally the way for taking cuttings, they may 

 be rooted at any season of the year, providing 

 material can be had to furnish cuttings. 



Growing Violas for exhibition is indeed com- 

 pletely different to growing for bedding or 

 massing, as Violas for showing require time and 

 care, whereas bedding plants may be planted 

 out and allowed to grow at will. When planting 

 Violas for exhibition the soil should be of a 

 tentative nature, not too easily dried up with the 

 sun ; mix with the soil some very rotten 

 manure, such as old mushroom beds and a fair 

 supply of sand. The plants should have at least 

 twelve inches space each way to allow of hoeing 

 and watering : plant firmly, and give a good 

 soaking of water. A great many exhibitors differ 

 on the matter of how many flowers should be 

 allowed on each plant, but the less flowers one 

 has on each plant the better. Nowadays, when 

 competition is so keen, it behoves us to grow for 

 large flowers, aiming, of course, at symmetry and 

 colour of blooms. About four shoots taken on 

 each plant and neatly staked should give more 

 than enough material to work on for exhibiting. 

 Weak solutions of liquid manure given alternately 

 tend to increase size of flower and brightness of 

 colour. Some exhibitors give waterings of 

 sulphate of ammonia, but I find liquid from the 

 cowhouse just as beneficial. 



The plants should be allowed to flower once, 

 so as to make sure of the colours, and afterwards 

 pinching them off until at least a fortnight or 

 three weeks before the show. St lect colour which 

 will give effect, taking care not to have two of 

 the same hue together, as the one would spoil the 

 effect of the other. Flowers intended for showing 

 should be cut early the morning of the show and 

 immediately placed in water in a dark corner. 

 All blooms should be show;-, individually on boxes 

 painted green, unless otherwise stated by com- 

 mittee. The boxes should be at least 2 feet by 18 

 inches, which will show twelve blooms comfort- 

 ably. Each blocm requires a neat white collar 

 at least a quarter of an inch wider than the flower 

 itself, and should be placed in the lead tube 

 underneath the box with as much stem as will 

 leave the bloom sitting flat on the paper collar. 

 Name each variety neatly, as I have seen some 

 of the blooms cast by the judges at different 

 shows for untidiness which would otherwise have 

 gained prizes, and if defeated take it all as a 

 matter of fact and try again. 



Some good varieties for showing, which can be 

 procured from nurserymen who advertise in 

 Irish Gardening, are : — Agnes Kay, G. C. 

 Murray, James C. Erskine, Mary Birnie, Lark, 

 Mrs. Chichester. Moseley Perfection, Stirling, 

 Wm. Hunter, Isolde, Edina, Virgin White. 



Some good bedding Violas are : — Marchioness, 

 Countess of Hopetown and Snowflake for whites ; 

 Ardwell Gem, a primrose shade ; King Cup, 

 Sovereign, Klondyke, yellows ; Kitty Bell and 

 Bridal Morn, lavenders': Maggie Mott and Blue 

 Gown, blues ; Councillor Waters and Archie Grant, 

 dark blue. 



Violas grow more in tufts than Pansies, and 

 are much less liable to perish with drought. 



