IRISH GARDENING. 



83 



than greenfly or even mildew. Finger and 

 thumb must nij) off his harmful career. The 

 larger caterpillars will carry on their depreda- 

 tions by night, and their attentions in a few 

 hours will destroy the most promising buds. 

 Their hiding places should be diligently searched, 

 and a nocturnal visit will be Well repaid by 

 many captures. On this account, any growing 

 of sheltering plants too near the roses should 

 not be allowed. 



Violas of all shades of colour are the best 

 addition to a rose bed, but in moderation. 

 They form the best ^Dossible edging, but it is 

 unwise to scatter them through the bed in 

 every vacant spot. In congenial soil they 

 quickly grow into large unwieldy masses of 

 foliage ; they are not so productive of bloom 

 in this way, and afiord harbourage to pes^ts 

 that one could dispense with. For this reason, 

 too, if for no other, only young plants from 

 cuttings should be used in edging. 



Watering Will need care during dry seasons. 

 Generally speaking, a good drenching once a 

 week will meet all requirements, mere sprinkling 

 will be only harmful by encouraging the sur- 

 face roots. A constant use of the hoe, in 

 keeping the surface free from weeds and the 

 soil fine and "dusty" to check evaporation, 

 will be of the utmost advantage, and one 

 coukl easily go a long way in the footsteps of 

 the "dry gardener" without making any 

 mistake. Liquid manure should be used 

 sparingly except with old-established plants. 

 It should not be resorted to until the flowering 

 buds are well formed and on the point of 

 opening, and then only after a plenteous 

 watering from the contents of the tub not 

 the tap. If well a rated soot is convenient, 

 let some be sprinkled around the roots and 

 watered in, a better colour in the blooms will 

 be the ready response. 



A number of Roses, such as the familiar 

 Frau Karl Druschki (I do not care for the war 

 name. Snow Queen), throw out clusters of 

 buds on the flower stem, the centre one growing 

 largest and with a short shank. In such cases, 

 unless one requires a single extra large sized 

 bloom, it is wiser to remove the large bud and 

 allow the others, which may be reduced in 

 number, to grow on. Roses that are inclined 

 to " ball " — Dean Hole, W. E. Lippiatt, and 

 even the old favourite. La France — often 

 refuse to open in most congenial days after a 

 few showers. The outer petals decay and 

 seal up the body of the flower. If these petals 

 are removed in time a passable bloom may 

 be had, and a thorough watering of these 

 roses will often act as a preventive. 



Manv of the recent introductions having 



■'art shade colours'" are frequently not seen 

 to advantage. Exposui'e of the bloom to one 

 day's scorching sun is sufficient to completely 

 change the colour. Lady Mary Ward, Ophelia, 

 Tiie Ducliess of Wellington, Hairy Kirk, and 

 scores of others become almost unrecognisable 

 at the close of a summer's day. The slight 

 trouble of shading will be amply recomj)ensed 

 by the sight of a beautiful Rose with its exact 

 colouring, and the bloom will be pieserved 

 beyond its usual time. No elaborate appliances 

 need be employed, the simpler the better. If 

 the heavy rains are kept off it will be an ad- 

 vantage. 



Roses of extra vigorous growth may be got 

 to produce even more than the usual amount 

 of bloom by having their longer shoots pegged 

 down. The tip snould be fixed so that there 

 is <} .gradual slope from the base, not, as often 

 happens with the pegged shoot, in the form of 

 a semi-circle, thus preventing the proper flow 

 of the sap to the giowing bud. 



Standard Roses, OAving to their peculiar and 

 almost unnatural giowth, should be so attended 

 that the flow of sap through tiie brier be kept 

 regular and sustaining to the head. In dry 

 weather the stock should be sprayed Witn 

 clean Water, an,d any growth on the stock 

 rubbed oft. It the rose iiead is inclined to be 

 top heavy, the longer shoots shoidd be tied to 

 tlie supporting stake, avoiding any undue 

 straining at the junction of the bud. 



Some rose growers have the somewhat 

 pardonable weakness of allowing the full- 

 blown flowers to remain on their trees long 

 after their bloom has departed. This may be 

 observed especiallj^ in gardens where the 

 flowers are few and far between and where 

 the OAvners have a hesitancy in leaving the 

 plants bare even for a short time. Such a 

 practice is injurious to the health, and will 

 shorten the period of productivity -of the Rose, 

 and should not be followed. If not required 

 for cutting, once the flower begins to fade it 

 should be removed and the shoot cut back to 

 the next strong flowering shoot, which will 

 then mature more quickly, and in a couple of 

 weeks throw forth a worthy sj)ecimen of the 

 garden's best flower. J. A. F. G. 



Trial of Autumn Sown Onions at Wisley. 



The Royal HoRTicuLTrRAL Society will carry 

 out a trial of Autumn Sown Onions at Wisley 

 during the ensuing season. Seeds tor trial (one 

 packet of each variety) should be sent so as to 

 reach the Director, E. H. S. Gardens, Wisley, 

 Kipley, Surrey, from whom the necessary ontry 

 forms"^ (one for each variety) may be obtained, 

 on or before Monday, 19th June, 191G. 



