XIV 



IRISH GARDENING. 



Catalogues (continued)- 

 Messrs. K. Wallace & Co., Colchester, semis 

 a List of Irises, which includes 350 distinct 

 species and varieties. The genus Iris is one of 

 the must beautiful and varied among all our 

 hardj plants, and uo garden seems complete 

 wit In nit some representatives. The presenl 

 authority on Irises. Mr. W. H. Dykes, writes an 

 introduction, in which he conveys many useful 

 cultural hints and general information. The 

 Algerian Iris is a favourite for planting against a 

 warm wall t<> give flowers in winter, hut there are 

 many other kinds given hi this list which will 

 carry on 1 he display until the popular Spanish 

 and English Irises come into bloom. The true 

 [ris uepalensis is probably offered for the tirst 

 time, a line germanica form having formerly 



dune duty t'ol' this species. .Messrs. Wallace 



obtained from the late Sir Michael Foster's 

 garden at Shelford some of the finest hybrid 

 Irises in existence, which they are offering in this 



ne\\ list. 



Messrs. Dicksons, of Chester, -end their Cata- 

 logue of Ornament al ami Forest Trees, Shrubs, &c. 

 It is a large and well arranged catalogue, easy of 

 reference ; i Mil illustrated. Two good novelties 

 offered an- a golden variety of Cornish Elm, said 

 In retain its colour until the leaves fall, so that 

 it should make a line specimen tree, and a new 

 golden-leaved Flowering Currant. The catalogue 

 contains full lists of plants for game coverts and 

 hedges, trees fur forest planting, evergreen and 

 deciduous shruhs and conifers. 



A catalogue of Fruit Trees, Roses, Ornamental 



Trees and Shruhs comes from .Messrs. \Y. Seabrook 

 & Suns, Chelmsford. Some very useful uotes 

 are given mi the cultivation of fruit trees, 

 which is a speciality of this firm. They write: 

 •• We have grown fruit both mi the cordon and 

 hush systems for over thirty years, and can 

 thoroughly recommend them to market growers 

 and to private residents, to whom space is a con- 

 sideration, and the maximum of fruit mi the 

 minimum area of land is desired." A good list 

 of apples is offered either mi English Paradise 



Ml' the Crab Stuck. Selections of the hesl apples 



for desert or kitchen are given. 1'ears. plums. 



peaches ami all other hardy fruits are quoted, 



and followed by a very g I list of Roses, with 



many beautiful illust rat inns. 



Correspondence- 



\.\ OI'K.X LETTER TO THE GARDENERS 



OF [RELAND. 

 Fellow Gardeners, lias the time not arrived 

 when we should organize fur ourselves a trade 

 union to voice our aspirations and protect our 

 interests '■ Is it not a grievous fact that we who 

 belong t" the oldest ami one of the most skilled 

 crafts mi the face of the earth have no standard 

 wages, mi useful apprenticeship system, no 

 comradeship or cohesion of any sort ? Are we 

 not, when looking lor work, in wild competition 

 with each other, which has in effect the bringing 

 down still further an already low wage, ami when 

 we pass away, are our wives and children not left 

 in the tender mercies of a nut very charitable 

 world, ami have we not a host of ol her grievances 



<m which pages could he written ? 



Is this fii go on fur ever ? Are we so humdrum 



and blind as to contentedly lie in a rut whilst 



other men and groups <>f men are marching 

 onward to better conditions of life, which can 

 only he obtained by solidity and combination? 

 These are times of hustle and push, and the 

 individual, the craft, or the institution which 

 stands still is lust. Are we bo he lust ? Are we 



to he thrust behind? We who should he first 

 are left to he last. Better last than not at all. 

 Now, il is open to us'to change all this, and turn 

 over a brighter page in the history of Gardening, 

 and to form a point from which we can start with 

 new zeal and open up pleasures ami advantages 

 fur ourselves ami families. 



Tu start the movement it is necessary to form a 

 strong committee of gardeners who have forward 

 ideas, and who see tin- necessitj "f doing some- 

 thing, [f all such will communicate with me we 

 can arrange a meeting to discuss ways and means. 

 1 Lennon's Cottages, Denis Byrne. 



Merrion, o,>. Dublin. 



Dublin Wholesale Markets. 



It is satisfactory to note that the markets are 

 now gradually getting hack to normal conditions, 

 ami ipiite a large amount of produce is now being 



delivered wit In ml obst ruction. 



The scarcity of cabbages during the month has 

 evoked much comment, and many householders 

 found it impossible tu gel a sufficient supply for 



the Sunday dinner. Trailers with the business 

 eve are on the alert to buy up the meagre supplies 

 at high prices, and quickly dispose of them tu 

 customers who are able to pay fancy prices. 

 The remarkable scarcity i>t' cabbages for this time 

 n\' the year is felt on all sides. This is not due 

 entirely to the labour agitation, hut in some 

 degree to the past unfavourable season which has 

 been so detrimental tu the culture i>\' cabbages. 

 other vegetables were well stocked, and met with 

 a ready demand at the prevailing prices. 



1914 



New Volume 



IRISH GARDENING 



Tut'; new volume will sustain l he old 

 standard ol excellence as tu authori- 

 tative articles on both the practical 

 and scientific side of gardening, but 

 new features and new writers will he 

 introduced during the course oi the 

 year. Every Irish gardener and every 

 owner ol' any size garden in Ire- 

 land should obtain I.kisii GARDENING 

 (jnonthlvi and read it! and having 

 read it should preserve it for bind- 

 ing — it is worth it. 



This year's volume (1913) can be 

 supplied bound in Green Cloth, in 

 time for Xmas, 4/11 post free. 



