IRISH GARDENING 



The Deciduous Cypress — TaxO" Filmy 

 dium distichum. 



This interesting and handsome tree is a native of 

 the Southern States of America, and is aUied to 

 tlie Mammoth, Trees of Cahfornia, though not 

 approaching them in size. Throughout the 

 summer months it is conspicuous by reason of 

 its beautiful light green foHagc, which in autumn 

 dies away a rich reddish- brown scarcely less 

 beautiful th.a,n the summer condition. Tb.e bark 

 of the trunk, too. is attractive, being dark red. 



The decidu- 

 ous Cypress 

 is a moisture- 

 lover, and not 

 a few fine 

 specimens are 

 to be met with 

 in cultivation 

 near ponds 

 and lakes. A 

 healthy e x - 

 ample grows 

 near the Lily 

 ]) o n d in the 

 Botanic Gar- 

 dens at Glas- 

 nevin, and on 

 this specimen 

 the ''knee- 

 like "' growths 

 - — c h a r a c t er- 

 i s t i c in its 

 native swjnnps 

 — are licgiii 

 ning to form 

 on the roots. 



In Florida. i'lwio i;j\ |a\(,:)il\i ui-ii 



where the tree in Florida 



occurs in large 



numbers, growing often in water, the trunk is 

 often buttressed at the base, as shown in the 

 illustration taken by Mr. Coey of th.e Donard 

 Nurseries while travelling in Florida a year or 

 two ago. 



Although coming fron\ a warmer country than 

 ours, the deciduous Cypress is quite hardy, and 

 will flourish even away from water in any 

 ordinary soil which is not too dry. Good planting 

 specimens can be obtained from nurserymen at 

 from eighteen pence to half-a-crowTi, and even 

 cheaper for smaller plants. 



The wood is described as '' light, soft, straight - 

 grained, and easily worked, and lasts well in 

 contact with soil, and is used in a variety of ways 

 in railway work," &c. 



Arbor. 



Ferns and 

 Cultivation. 



th 



eir 



The necessary conditions of constant atmo- 

 spheric moisture are so rare in the British Isles 

 that only three species of Filmy Ferns are 

 natives — viz., Trichomanes radicans (Killarney 

 Fern), Hymenophyllum tunbridgense, and H. 

 unilaterale. Although the Killarney Fern has 

 been liberal in producing several forms or 

 varieties, being found naturally in constantly 

 d?mp places, in rocks and caves, in secluded 



mountain glens 

 or ravines, cul- 

 ture obviously 

 is confined to 

 Wardian cases, 

 bell glasses, 

 or even old 

 frames, sunk 

 well down be- 

 low the ground 

 level, if to be 

 grown outside ; 

 but given pro- 

 per compost 

 and the little 

 necessary at- 

 ^^^ t e n t i o n , no 



M msSI^. ' 1 ^Q^^^'^ ^i'<^ more 



" IKl^^^ I capable of tak- 



L j ' •• •^ I^^^^^M I ing care of 



JHl, ^^^^^^^ m themselves 



jH| ^^^^^^^^ m 

 '§^' fllKI^^^^A ■ mum amount 



of satisfaction 



to the grower. 



The soil 



[Mr. cocij snould be a 



rough compost 



of peat and 



sand, using plenty of lumpy sandstone or 



other porous stone, always maintaining a humid 



atmosphere, with occasional waterings ; give 



ample light, but no direct sunshine, and good 



drainage is most essential. 



Most Filmy Fenis would be difficult to procure, 

 but some of the commoner kinds are admirably 

 adapted for house decoration for amateurs, 

 grown in Wardian cases, &c. 



Unlike most dwellinghouse plants, they could 

 have a thorough watering and be left for a week, 

 or ever two, whilst people were away on holidays, 

 the Killarney Fern especially so. We have a 

 plant here which was grown in a Dublin dwelling- 

 liouse for over sixty years ; but there are 

 numerous other species which would do equally 

 well under the same conditions, of which T wil' 



