IRISH GARDENING 



133 



Lycium barbarum. 



This is an extremely useful hardy ornaniental 

 climbing shrub. It can be giown in almost any 

 position, and thrives in practically an}' kind of 

 soil, however poor. It flourishes amidst the 

 smoke and dust of the town, and is one of the 

 best climbing shrubs for planting in exposed 

 positions bj' the sea-side, as it withstands the 

 sea-breezes remarkably well. It grows rapidly, 

 is of a nice bushy habit, the long slender branches 

 hanging out gracefully from the stems. 



The leaves are small, lance-shaped, and the 

 flowers, which are of a rosy-])urple, are small and 

 by no means showy. They are carried in the 

 axles of the leaves, and are borne most profusely 

 and continuou.sly throughout the summer and 

 early autumn. 



Propagation can be done by means of cuttings 

 taken during autumn ; they root readily in a 

 cold frame. 



Layering of the branches n^.ay be resorted 

 to, and as suckers are easily obtained, they 

 provide yet another ineans of propagation 



F. Rose. 



Freesias. 



Bearin(; beautiful sweeth-scentecl flowers, 

 which are produced during the winter and spring, 

 Freesias are invaluable for use in the greenhouse, 

 not only for the sake of the display but also for 

 the excellence of their blooms for cutting. The 

 bulbs should be potted up early in August, in 

 .")-inch and 6-inch pots, allowing from 8 to 10 

 bulbs to each pot, using a compost of a light, 

 rich nature. A suitable compost would be a 

 mixture made up thus — three parts loam, one 

 ])art leaf -mould, and one part cow-manure 

 shredded flue through a sieve, with enough 

 sand added to make the mixture thoroughly 

 porous. After potting, if the soil is dry, give the 

 pots a soaking of water, but if the soil is moist 

 do not give any water. The pots can now be 

 l)laced in a cold frame, and no watering will be 

 required until growth appears. During mild 

 weather give plenty of air. 



As soon as the flower spikes show they may 

 be brought into the greenhouse. Meanwhile 

 they will require staking ; this can be done by 

 using very thin .stakes and raffla or by placing 

 spriggy twigs in the ])ots in such a way as to 

 support the flowers and foliagr. After flowering 

 they need as careful attenticMi as before, as at 

 tills ))cri()(l the bulbs have not 3'et flnished 

 growing, and require some time yet to ripen off 

 their growth, so that water should not be with- 

 lickl until the leaves begin to change colour. 



When the foHage dies down the pots containing 

 the bulbs should be placed — not anywhere, 

 but in some warm, dry position, such as on a 

 board placed over the hot-water pipes, where 

 they will be properly and thoroughly rii^ened off. 



F. refracta, white, blotched with j^ellow on 

 the lower segments, and its variety alba are 

 about the best known of the species. The 

 fragrant flowers are borne on branched stems 

 which reach a height of from 12 to 18 inches. 



F. Leichtlini major bears large fragrant 

 flowers of a deep yellow, while those of F. 

 Tubergeni are of a rosy-carmine. 



F. Amethyst is a charming variet}', of a light 

 mau\e, and delicately scented. 



F. Rose. 



Funkias. 



The Funkias or Plantain Lilies form a most 

 ornamental and usefid genus. Not only do they 

 produce graceful spikes of bloom, but the foHage 

 is of a highW ornamental nature. They are 

 excellent plants for the border, or for planting 

 in such po.sitions as the openings in the front of 

 the shrubbery. They make very effective 

 groups, grown by themselves, and are very 

 pretty by the waterside. Funkias need a deep 

 rich soil to develop their foliage in all its luxuri- 

 ance, and they should receive a mulching of 

 manure during the autumn or winter. Propaga- 

 tion is best done by division of the plants ; this 

 can be performed either in autumn or spring, 

 the latter time being the best. 



F. sieboldiana, the best known of the species, 

 is an elegant j^lant, with long-stalked broad heart- 

 shaped ovate leaves, of a pleasing glaucous hue. 

 The flowers, which vary from white to lilac, 

 borne in one-sided racemes, are produced during 

 July and August, and, as they stand well above 

 the foliage, are most effective. F. sieboldiana 

 major is a noble plant, with large glacuous leaves 

 often measuring one foot across. 



F. Fortunei is soniewhat similar to F. siebol- 

 diana, but has fohage of a lovely glaucous blue. 

 The mauve flowers, borne in scapes, are produced 

 during the late summer ; robusta is a stronger- 

 growing form, and is a most striking plant. 



F. grandiflora is a particularly flne species 

 with immense foliage ; it bears sweetly-scented 

 flowers of a good white ; the variety alba pro- 

 tluces larger flowers, which are a pure white 

 and very fragrant : this species is in bloom 

 from July until September. F. grandiflora 

 cannot be termed really hardy, as it onh' does 

 well in mild favoured situations. 



F. hxncifolia is a distinct species which differs 

 frc^ui the other species in having the leaves 



