i6. 



IRISH (iAHDlLMXG 



glas.s also has aiiotlicr ust' since l>y w aiding olT 

 excessive rain it tends to keep the soil alxtiit the 

 plants (hier. and thereby assists in ])ro\idin<: 

 more eoinjjleted rest. Not a Httle of our trouble 

 is, I believe, due to ouv i)lants growinjf to late 

 into autunni, and i)ossibly the use of some 

 covering material, A\hieh woidd keep them dry 

 while admitting light, put on earlier than we 

 usually do. would harden and ripen the growth 

 and render it^better able to come throtigh the 

 wiiitci-. Thus many 

 l:ii(|(I plants will 

 nourish in an old wall 

 where the roots get 

 sufficient moisture 



c\(Mi ill diy weather, 

 but are free fi'om the 

 drenehings experienc- 

 ed by plants growing 

 in ordinary Hat pock- 

 ets. Peo]ile who rail 

 against the use of too 

 many stones in the 

 rock garden woukl 

 ])robably find that 

 here and there a few 

 narrow vertical fissu- 

 res, backed by gritty 

 soil, would grow well 

 many of the little 

 gems which do not 

 take kindly to fiat 

 pockets. B. 



Chionanthus 



virginica. 

 Fringe Tree. 



This is a very beauti- 

 ful American tree ad- 

 mirably suited for " Malmai^ 

 cultivation in most 

 parts of Ireland. 

 It is a native of the Eastern United States, and 

 was introduced as long ago as 1736. It is 

 deciduous, with oblong oval leaves, varying in 

 length up to 6 or 8 inches. The flowers, which 

 are produced in early summer, are pure white, 

 borne in dense panicles hanging from the lower 

 side of the branchlets. A well-flowered specimen 

 is very attractive, as may be seen from the 

 specimen figured from Mr. Walpole's garden at 

 Mount Usher. A rich moist soil and an open 

 position are necessary to secure the best results, 

 and for such an interesting and beautiful shrub 

 or small tree no trouble should be too great to 

 do it justice. Propagation is effected by layers 

 or imported seeds. B. 



Kirengeshoma palmata, 



A N \i'i\ K of Japan, tliis is a most striking i)lant, 

 llowcring in August and Septend)er. Tlu^ liaiid- 

 some lea\es aic not unlike those of a maple in 

 general outline, being about six inches broad and 

 as much long, with prominent veins and five to 

 se\en shallow lobes. The up])er sui-face is bright 

 green, the lower much paler, '{'he stalks of the 



leaves are from four t( 



The flowers, 

 e ])r()duced 



Cai;nation PiaxcEj- 



At Bess borough. 



\\A1 



■ inches long, more or 

 less [round and very 

 stout, 

 h i 



ends (.f the 

 are bright 

 borne in a 

 The petals 

 f great substance 

 feel quite thick 

 and leathery to touch. 

 A moist, rich soil in 

 a half-<hady position 

 suits the ])lant admir- 

 ably. Propagation is 

 best done by division 

 in spring, when the 

 new shoots are just 

 beginning to grow. 

 It is not a plentiful 

 plant at present, 

 owing perhaps to 

 being rather slow to 

 IHOi^agate, but doubt- 

 less this difficulty 

 will be overcome by 

 our enterprising nur- 

 > cry men. 



Astilbe 



grandis. 



This is a very hand- 

 some j)lant intro- 

 duced, some years 

 essentially a moisture 

 it does under such 



ago, from China. It is 



lover and how well 



conditions is clearly shown in the accompanyuig 



illustration (see page 165) of a fine plant in the 



garden at The Bush, Antrim, where there is 



an abundant supply of natural water. 



The flowers are white, produced in immense 

 plumose inflorescences, the flower stems reaching 

 a height of o to 6 feet when at their fullest 

 development. When associated, in the bog 

 garden, with other pink and rose-purple varieties 

 and hybrids a very jDretty effect is produced. 

 An annual mulch of rich rotten manure 's very 

 beneficial. 



