78 



IRISH GARDENING 



12 ft. x A ft. provided." Mrs. Mitchell's exhibit 

 was prettily arranged, a green sward leading up 

 to a Swiss chalel with flowering Alpines around, 

 but although the virgin cork which was used is 

 lighter than stone it is not so effective as the 

 natural rock for an Alpine table. 



Alpine plants in flower, twelve pans, pans not 

 to exceed 12 inches or to be under ^8 inches 

 diameter (inside measurement), each pan to 

 contain a different species or only one varietj 

 of a species. 



Mrs. G. Greer, Curragh Grange, won the first 

 prize with good pans of the following: — Viola 

 gracilis, Saxifraga Camposii and S. bathoniensis, 

 Androsace Chumbyi, Campanula muralis, Morisia 

 hypogaea — a particularly good pan — Iberis Little 

 Gem, Arabis aubretioides, Primula rosea, P. 

 frondosa, Aubrietia deltoidea cilicica, and A. 

 delt. argentea. 



Mrs. G. Mitchell was a close second, having 

 very nice pans of Ramondia pyrenaica, Viola 

 gracilis, Phiox subulata, &c. 



Some choice subjects for this class might be 

 proposed for future exhibitors, such as Primula 

 Mrs. .1. H. Wilson, P. ciliata purpurea., Heli- 

 chrysum bellidioides, Dianthus microlepis, D. 

 Frevni. or cal-alpinus. Phlox Nelsoni, Saxifraga 

 Boydii, and S. Borisij and Draba imbricata. 



Hardy cut flowers collection of 21 bloomed in 

 the open air to be shown in vases comprising 

 not less than 12 distinct varieties, not more 

 than three of one genus, shrubs not excluded, 

 out of season flowers considered a demerit. 



Captain L. Rial] was placed firsl in this class, 

 some of the flowering shrubs, such as Olearia 

 stellulata, Erica arborea, Cytisus ]>ra>cox, 

 Berberis Darwinii being very line, while Carta 

 polypetala, and Dendromecon rigidum were 

 very bright. 



Mrs. A. Jameson was a good second, while 

 ( '. M. I >o\ ne. Esq., came third. 



Ceanothus rigidus and Exochorda Alberti 

 macrantha should be two useful shrubs for this 

 class. 



In the collection of 12 vases of hardy cut 

 flowers bloomed in the open air. not less than 

 six varieties, the Hon. Judge Bird was placed 

 first, with the exception of a weal; vase of Crown 

 Imperial, the others, as Ceanothus Veitchii, 

 Erica arborea, Tulips, Hyacinths, .Narcissus 

 Mad. de Graaff were of exceptional merit, but 

 red somewhal by a crowded arrangement. 

 Mrs. G. .Mitchell was second, while Viscountess 

 de Ycsci gained the. third prize. 



In the passage leading to the Central Hall 

 were some very good exhibits from nurserymen. 



Messrs. Piper & Sons (London) received a -old 

 medal for a well staged exhibit of Alpines and 

 shrubs. Aquilegia glandulosa, wit h a quant it y of 

 its beautiful blue and white flowers, attracted 

 much attention. Ranunculus amplexicaulis, a 

 lovely while Buttercup, was also particularly 

 good. Among other good plants staged were 

 parracenia purpurea, Saxifraga Boydii, Houstonia 

 cn'rulea. Cypripedium macranthon, Gentiana 

 verna. Primulas such as Veitchii, Beesiana, 

 Munroi. and helvetica alba. 



For their stand of Alpine plants Messrs. 

 Watson received a silver medal, although not so 

 large a group as tin? last stand, yet so many good 

 things were massed together that the exhibil was 

 Just a mass of colour. The prettiest of all the 

 Forget-me-Xots for rock work, called Myosotis 

 Ruth Fischer, was in very good form, also some 



of the rock Primulas, as Arctotis, viscosa, 

 helvetica alba. Romanzoffia sitchensis is an 

 uncommon and pretty plant. Other plants 

 shown were Aubrietias, Androsaces, Viola gracilis. 

 Morisia hypogaea, Hutchinsia alpina and 

 Rehmannia Henryi, the latter- is not hardy. 



Messrs. Baker, of Wolverhampton, had a very 

 representative .set of Alpines, for winch they re- 

 ceived a bronze medal. This firm introduced tnanj 

 of the good red and white mossy Saxifrages, which 

 are now grown largely. In Messrs. Baker's stand 

 a well-flowered batch of Encarvillea grand iflora 

 showed up boldly ; other good plants were 

 Dianthus cassius (Baker's variety), Phlox Violet 

 Queen. Ranunculus amplexicaulis. Houstonia 

 ccernlea, Violas and Aubrietias. 



Messrs. Pennick & Co. received a silver medal 

 for a group of shrubs and Alpines. Both groups 

 were showy and attractive, on the Alpine tattle. 

 Helichrysum bellidioides was very noticeable 

 with its little everlasting flowers. Cytisus 

 Ardoini, Draba imbricata. Iberis gibraltarica, 

 Phlox Xelsoni, and other plants made a pleasing 

 display of colour. 



Besides bringing Narcissi, which gained a 

 bronze medal. Slessrs. Hartland, <>!' Cork, staged 

 a table of Orchids and Alpines, which received 

 much attention and gained a silver medal. 

 Myosotidium nobile, the Large New Zealand 

 Forget-me-Not, was represented by a strong 

 (lower spike. The rare Deinanthe ccerulea was 

 just coming into flower, while Viburnum Carlesii, 

 beautiful and sweet scented, was already open. 

 Other plants shown were Sax. oppositifolia, \V. 

 A. Clarke, Silene Flookeri, Viola Mrs. Bowles, 

 and the rare double Primrose Pompadour. 



Auriculas have never been a strong point at the 

 Dublin Show, so it was a surprise to many people 

 to see the line strain exhibited by Mr. S. A. 

 Jones, of Gowran. So much interest was centred 

 around this exhibit, also the Alpine tables, that 

 it was difficult to see the plants properly. The 

 yellow Auriculas included good named sorts, such 

 as Alexandra. Dusty Miller. Mrs. Robinson and 

 Golden Queen, but it was the seedlings in endless 

 colour variation which evoked the greatest 

 ad miration, lor they are real garden Auriculas, 

 and do not require to be grown in pots under 

 -lass. 



In most parts of Ireland Veronica Ilulkeana 

 may be considered a hardy shrub. Among a 

 beautiful display of greenhouse flowering plants 

 exhibited by Messrs. Alex. Dickson & Sons, of 

 Blackrock, this Lovely Veronica was t<> be seen 

 showing its value as a decorative pot plant. 



\n the large and beautiful floral exhibit of 

 Messrs. ('. Ramsay & Son. Daphne Cneorum in 



a bold group was exceptionally good : the Large 

 trusses of sweetly-scented pink (lowers and deep 

 green foliage -axe evidence of the health of the 

 shrubs. 



R. II. Beamish, Esq., of Cork, sent up some 

 seedling Daffodils and new hardy plants which 

 were awarded the certilicati of merit for 

 novelties. Viburnum Davidii is a new Chinese 

 shrub, small of growth, with Mowers of no merit, 

 but said to bear ornamental fruit. Primula 

 .Iiiliee is a new and distinct Primrose from the 

 Caucasus, but Primula Mrs. Hall Walker seems 

 to be identical with P. mai-iiiata Linda Pope. 



Mrs. Greer, of Curragli Grange, was also 

 awarded a certificate of merit for a new 

 hybrid Viola with deep velvety flowers; it is 

 said to be a hybrid of gracilis and Bowie's Black. 



