IRISH GARDENING 



6i 



iiuii'ket-on-Fergus, Co. Clare. The sad event took 

 ])lace at his residence on Saturday, 26th February, 

 after a brief illness. He had caught a chill, but 

 hopes were entertained of his speedy recovery, 

 when, qnite unexpectedly, he succun.ibed to hearl- 

 failure. The deceased gentleman was a member 

 of an old Clare family, a gallant soldier, and long 

 identified with the puljlic life of the county. He 

 was a well-known and a very keen horticulturist, 

 and was a frequent and successful exhibitor at 

 the leading shows in Ireland. As an exhibitor 

 of Daffodils he was hard to beat, and scored more 

 than once at the Spring Show of the Eoyal Horti- 

 cidtural Society, Dublin, winning in 1914 the 

 challenge cup presented by the Eight Hon. Lord 

 Ardilaun for a collection of fifty varieties. The 

 Daffodil was his favourite flower, and it may be 

 said he possessed one of the finest amateur 

 collections in Ireland. As a fruit-grower also he 

 achieved considerable success, as his many prizes 

 won at the Dublin and other fruit shows, and 

 especially at the Clare Horticultural Society's 

 superb exhibitions, amply prove. He took a very 

 warm interest in the welfare of the Clare Horti- 

 cultural Society, and was one of the largest ex- 

 hibitors and prize-winners at its three annual 

 shows. His exhibits were always of a very high 

 order; biit it was at the Ennis Spring Show that 

 he shone pre-eminently. Tliere his Daffodils were 

 the principal attraction of the show, and it is 

 hard to think of a spring show without the gallant 

 major. His presence w-iW be greatly missed. 



Soon after his coming to Fenloe, the beauti- 

 fidly-sitvTated family seat, he and ]Mrs. Hickman 

 inaugurated a show for the encouragement of 

 lioiut' industries and the culture of flowers and 

 vegct allies among their employees and the 

 cot1auri> and artisans in the Newmarket district : 

 it sdon heianic one of the most popular functions 

 in tlie count \, and it was interesting to notice 

 the marked improvement in the exhibits in every 

 section of the show from year to year. The 

 show was always held on the loth of August, and 

 was patronised by large crowds of people who 

 }iever failed to spend a most enjoyable day in 

 the beautiful grounds of Fenloe. The passing of 

 this show will be keenly felt by all classes of the 

 connnunity. Major Hickman's death will be a 

 decided loss to the county and the cause of 

 horticulture, and in the ranks of the Clare 

 Horticultural Society it creates a gap which it 

 will be very hard to fill. 



The deceased was a distinguished soldier, and 

 was accorded the thanks of Parliament for 

 services rendered in Egvpt. 



R. S. 



Primula denticulata cashmiriana. 



Tins is one of the best forms of the very variable 

 Himalyan P. denticulata. When in its best form 

 tlie " heads " should be large, the flowers of a 

 lilac purple, and the flower stem and under sides 

 of the leaves thickly covered with a golden 

 powder. A moist, half-shady position in rich soil 

 suits it admirably, and division after flowering is 

 beneficial, especially if the " crowns " have 

 become crowded. Seeds also form a means of 

 increase, but not all of the seedlings come true, 

 many sliowing a tendency to I'evert to the type. 



lacking nmch of the golden powder, and proving 

 inferior in size and colour of flowers ; at the same 

 time good forms can often be selected from among 

 them. 



Anemone narcissiflorum. 



This is one of the most charming of all the 

 Anemones flowering in May and .Tune and 

 captivating everyone with its beautiful white 

 flowers, borne in umbels over feathery light green 

 foliage. A moist spot in rich soil is necessary to 

 its proper development, established plants making 

 fine bushy specimens carrying a large number of 

 flowers. The height varies from a foot to 18 

 inches, according to the vigour of the plants. 

 Seeds are produced fairly freely, and should be 

 sown as soon as ripe in moist sandy soil. The 

 resultant seedlings may be left where sown till 

 the following spring, when, as signs of growth 

 are apparent, the stronger ones may be pncked 

 out in a suitable nursery bed for future planting. 

 Some of the seeds may not germinate at once, so 

 that the seed pan or box should be kept for some 

 time to ensure all the seeds germinating. 



The Trillium Wood Lilies. 



These are interesiin- and pretty plants lejoicin-- 

 in a moist, shadx j)o>iiiun. and are admiiaMx- 

 adapted for planting in suitable parts of the rock 

 garden or in the bog. 



Sandy peat or leaf soil is usually recommended 

 for planting, but the stronger growers, at least, 

 will flourish in stift", moist soil, whether of a peaty 

 nature or not. The chief essential seems to be 

 moisture at the roots, for if this is present they 

 will bear with impunity most of the sun we get 

 in this country. 



Some of the species are less robust than others, 

 and they will repay some extra care in selecting a 

 position and preparing a suitable sandy compost 

 to grow them in. 



By far the flnest species is Trillium grandi- 

 florum, an old and well known ijlant in gardens. 

 It is conunonly called the Wake Eobin, and bears 

 large pure white flowers above the whorl of 

 three leaves. This is an easily grown species, 

 flourishing in good heavy loam as well as in peat. 

 There is also a rose-coloured variety. 



T. sessile is a robust species, but in the type the 

 flowers are of a dark purple colour, not very 

 attractive ; in the variety californicum, however, 

 the flowers are white, greatly increasing its value 

 as a garden plant. T. californicum Snow Queen 

 is doubtless a selected form, and makes a very 

 handsome group when bearing its pure white 

 flowers. 



Trillium cernuum, T\ith drooping white 

 flowers, is a pretty plant, while T. erectvim is one 

 of the dark purplish, red -flowered species, not so 

 showy as the white-flowered species, but interest- 

 ing to the true plant lover. T. erythrocarpum is 

 one of the smaller growers, bearing white flowers 

 with a reddish purple blotch at the base of each 

 inner segment. 



T. stylosum is another of the smaller growers, 

 bearing flowers of a rose or jaink shade. 



Among others not so often seen in gardens are — 



