IRISH GARDENING 



117 



Primula " Asthore/' 



This charming hybrid is one of tiie most beauti- 

 ful plants in the garden in June, and this year, 

 in common with other Prinnilas. it has been very 

 fine. It is a product of P. buUeyana crossed 

 with P. Beesiana, and is of vigorous gro-wi:h, 

 producing tall spikes of charming soft pink 

 flowers borne in tiers. vSceds are freely pro- 

 duced, and, as might be expected, these show 

 much variation in 

 colour and form. A 

 batch of seedlings 

 raised in 1914 have 

 Howered here this 

 year, and are prov- 

 ing most interesting. 

 Some few have re- 

 verted to the parents, 

 and plants of j)ure 

 P. buUeyana and P. 

 Beesiana occur, but 

 the majority differ 

 from the parent and 

 also from the grand- 

 parents. Some are 

 rather small and 

 weak, though quite 

 pretty withal, but 

 the majority are as 

 robust as P. Asthore, 

 and show a wide 

 range in colon r. 

 Orange, orange-red, 

 l>:nk, salmon and 

 various art shades 

 have been produced, 

 and several are being 

 marked to increase 

 by division. There 

 seems no end to the 

 possibilities in this 

 genus, and we may 

 look forward to many 

 lovely pictures in our gardens In the future. 



Glasnevin. 



^sculus indica. 



First introduced by Colonel H. Bunbury in 

 1851, it is surprising the Indian horse-chestnut 

 has not been more freely jilanted in this country, 

 at least in the south and west. The first tree 

 introduced is said to be a s])ecimen at Barton in 

 Suffolk, now some 70 feet high. As a large speci- 

 men tree for the pleasure grounds and park, the 

 Indian horse-chestnut shoukl prove as ornamental 

 as the common horse-chestnut, except in cold or 

 otherwise unfavourable localities. A native of 



PiiiMri-A AVki; 

 (See Note in 



the North-west Himalayas, the trees reach a 

 height of 100 feet, sometimes more. The shining 

 dark-green leaves suggest tropical vegetation, 

 and considerably enhance the beauty of the 

 cylindrical panicles of flowers, one foot or more 

 in length. The flowers are white, with the usual 

 rosy flush and blotches. These are freely pro- 

 duced in June, and usually extend into July. 

 Several trees at Kew mature good seeds during 

 most seasons, providing a ready means of 

 l^ropagation. Over 

 100 young trees 

 were raised from last 

 season's crop of fruits, 

 a number of these 

 being included in the 

 sale of plants organ- 

 ised by the Royal 

 Horticultural Society 

 (in behalf of the Red 

 ( 'ross. 



A. O. 



Drimys Winteri, 



Unfortunately this 

 Ijeautif ul shrub is not 

 jierfectly hardy in 

 many i)arts of the 

 British Isles, but if 

 given a warm corner, 

 in a sheltered position, 

 it can be grown with 

 success outside, and 

 nnich better speci- 

 mens obtained than 

 when grown under 

 glass. During May 

 it produces very freely 

 its creamy white 

 flowers, Avhich are 

 borne in terminal 

 clusters of loose um- 

 bels. It belongs to the family of Magnoliaceae, 

 and is the source of the bitter aromatic bark, 

 known as Winter's Bark, \\hich Avas introduced 

 in 1570 from Chili and the Straits of Magellan by 

 Dr. Winter, Avhen accompanying Sir P^'rancis 

 Drake on a voyage, but not until about 1827 was 

 it introduced into this country as a living plant. 

 A])art from its l)eauty as a flowering shrub, its 

 evergreen character and the brilliant red bark 

 of the young wood adds to its attractiveness. 



There are several species of Drimys. but the 

 oiil\- otluM- fairly weU known to cultivation is 

 Diiniys aroinat ica. a more erect tree, redder in 

 appearance, although not so handsome ; some- 

 limes known asTasmannia aromatica. 



;[.\(,To\i;xsi 

 June issue.) 



