IRISH GARDENING. 



157 



McKenna. No. 74, Langworthy, inti'oduced and 

 sent by Messrs. Dobbie, raised by Mr. Niven. 

 No. 30, Prolific, introduced and sent by Messrs. 

 I)ob])ie. No. 42, Superlative, sent and inti'o- 

 (liucd by Messrs. Sutton, raised by Mr. W. 

 Coleiiian. No. 10, The Chapman, raised, intro- 

 duced and sent by ^Messrs. Dobbie. No. 83. The 

 Factor, introduced and sent by ^lessrs. Pobbie, 

 raised by Mr. Chapman (A.M. 1901, F.C.C. 1905). 

 Xo. 8, The Provost, raised, introduced and sent 

 by Messrs. Dobbie (A.M. 1907). No. 6."). White 

 City, introduced and sent by Messrs. Sutton. 



Hints for Amateurs. 



By P. :M. Pollock. 

 October brings much work and little time to do 

 it. The days are shortening fast, and the busy 

 amateur engaged during the day at business finds 

 the evenings now too dark for work. However, a 

 Saturday afternoon now and again may be pos- 

 sible, and much can be accomplished h^ the 

 enthusiast. 



All herbaceous plants, whether annuals or 

 ]i('rennials. should be encouraged to flower, as 

 long as possible by removing dead flowers, and 

 watering where necessary. It may seem to some 

 rather a waste of tinie to water so late in the 

 season when the nights are growing cold, bvit if 

 established clumps of late flowei'ing herbaceous 

 plants l)e examined it is astonishing to find how 

 (li> the soil is about them, and if it is allowed to 

 icmain so the flowers quickly fade and many 

 fail to open. 



3Iany of the annuals are now completely over, 

 and may be pulled up and replaced by a few bulbs 

 of Daft'odils or Tulips. The sofl will need nothing 

 more than turning over with the spade or fork, as 

 no manure is wanted. Wallflowers. Sweet 

 Williams. Polyanthuses, A:c.. may also be planted 

 as annuals go over, and so the beds and borders 

 are kept full of plants and full of promise. 



The autumn sowing of annuals is very often 

 recommended and is good in principle, but sowing 

 direct in the border is seldom possible early 

 enough to give the young plants a chance to 

 become established before winter ; also much 

 attention is necessary to guard against the 

 lavages of slugs and birds, so that all things con- 

 sidered it is better to sow at this season in pots 

 and keep them in a cold frame till planting time 

 in spring. Sow thinly and water sparingly through 

 the coldest months and the little plants wUl be 

 sturdy and strong for going out in spring and will 

 be consideral)ly ahead of the spring-sown seeds. 

 Clarkias. (Jodetias. Tjaikspurs. Mignonette. 

 I'hichaiidium and Chrysanthemum Segetiun are 

 some of the things that may be sown now. 



.Make provision for storing Dahlia tubers, 

 (iladioli. or any other "roots" which are lifted 

 auiiually. and if you grow any rare or donbtfidly 

 liar(i\ jilaiits. many of which are very charming. 

 lie piepaicd to afford a little protection in very 

 hard weatlier. 



Plants for the Garden. 



TiiK I'oiiit (irey llorticultiu-al Society has in- 

 augiuated a valuable sei-ies of educational 



efiii^;s \\lii(;h iix the near futiu'i' are bound to 



-liMW I (Willis in the gi'eatei' ])erfection and l)eaiily 

 lit '^aidcns and their contents, throughout the 

 municipality. 



The third of these meetiii-s was held recently 

 in the Municipal Hall. Kei 1 isl.ilc. when the 

 President. Mr. J. Fyfe Smitli. (Kcuined the chair- 

 and presided over a good attendance of ladies and 

 gentlemen. 



The business of the evening was devoted to 

 discussions on Pansies. Roses, and native flowers 

 for the garden. The discussion on Pansies was 

 opened by Mr. J. Livingston, who illustrated his 

 remarks with a large collection of different types 

 of fancy Pansi(;s and Pansy- Violas. Mr. Living- 

 ston dealt with the essential differences between 

 these two favourite garden plants, and gave many 

 valuable hints on their culture and development 

 to fit them for display on the exhibition table. 

 He emphasised the readiness of these species to 

 respond to feeding with liquid manure and 

 chemical fertilizers, especially of the application 

 of nitrate of soda oi' sul|ilialc of iron in solution 

 just before flowering. Siieeimeus of Pansies were 

 supplied to the members jjiesent. and each had 

 an opportunity of stud>ing the various points 

 which it is necessary a Pansy shovdd possess to be 

 of value for show purposes. 



The President theii asked Mr. Chas. Bailey, 

 F.R.H.S.. to open the discussion on " Poses." 

 In his paper 3Ir. Bailey dealt with the selection 

 of suitable varieties, proper soil, planting, 

 pruning, and their preparation for the show. lie 

 drew attention to many common mistakes of 

 amateurs and explained how to obtain best 

 results by pruning at the correct season, and how 

 to correctly stage exhibits. 



Mr. J. Davidson, F.L.S., provincial botanist, 

 was next asked to speak on " Native Flowers for 

 the Garden." Mr. Davidson's remarks were 

 illustrated by a collection of fresh flowers from 

 the Botanical Garden at Essondale. and many of 

 these drew forth the admiration of both amateur 

 and professional gardenei-s of which the audience 

 was composed. 



Amongst the native plants which attracted 

 most attention were the Yellow Lady's Slipjier 

 Orchid which can be grown in the open l)ordei' 

 and is equal in beauty to some of the better know u 

 greenhouse species. The nati\e e\cigieen Hliodo- 

 dendron was exhibited by a ina-nilicint cluster of 

 beautiful waxy carmine pink tloweis.and all were 

 agreed that its beauty exceeded that of many 

 garden varieties. The fact that it was found on 

 our B. C. mountains ensures that it is perfectly 

 hardy and requires no special care. In this con- 

 nection ]Mr. Davidson mentioned his success in 

 obtaining seed off this species, and had now 

 several thousand seedlings, which would in all 

 probability be utilised in the beaut if ication of the 

 university site at Point Grey. 



The native Iris from the northern regions of 

 the province was also shown in flower. It re- 

 sembles a Japanese Iris, of a lovely dark blue, 

 beautifully pencilled with white. The size and 

 abimdance of the flowers makes this sjiecies a 

 valuable addition to the herbaceous l)(>rdei'. 

 Amongst the other showy plants exhibited and 

 described were four si>ecies of Pentstemou. Indian 

 Cannas. Indian Paint-brush. Frio})hyllum. (\>luni- 

 bine, liarkspm-. Posy everlasting, three speci(>s of 

 Frigeron, Bed Bane-berry, \c.. A:c. A short 

 discourse was also given by .Mr. Davidson on the 

 native Orchids, when it was pointed out that there 

 were between 20 and 30 different kinds in B. C. 

 l!erl)aiiiim specimens were shown to illustrate 

 the princii)al species — LSrUish Columbia Fruit and 

 Fiirtu Maijazinc. July 1910. 



