I/O 



IRISH GARDENING. 



lllOIltirs TlMSII (;.\l;l>i:NlMi. is fXCrllrul Inr 



cuUiii-. as also aiv I'ltoilr .T Anvis a.i.l Mis. 

 ('. L. Hell. llciiilit :: fcrl. l-'l.nvriinu li-.m .lul\ 

 to Sfi)t.-iul).-r. 



('hiysaiitlicMUim sciiftiim II. pi. is a i-rcciit 

 ai(iuisilioji whirh miisl hi-coiiic i)o))iilai'. as il 

 pi'oduc.'s lar^'c (luanlitirs of (lowers lik.- (l()Vil)l<- 

 >vhi(f I'vrcMiruiiis liii-ouylioul \hr suiiiincr and 

 early au'tuimi iiiojilhs. L.^ii-lli of llo,ver stalks 

 ahoiit IS iiu'hes. 



Chrysant.heiuum ulii;iuosunu a tall •;i'o\ver. 

 I'eaehiii.u ti fei't. when doinj;- well : iuii>;h< he rat iter 

 hulky lor a small ^Mrden, hut is very valuahle lor 

 producing quantities of white flowers in Oeloher. 



Coreopsis iancoolat.a is a valuahle species 

 floivering all through the sunxnier months. The 

 (lower heads are not (iviitc so large as those oi" 

 ('. grantlitlora. hut are also yellow, and th(> plant 

 is more trul\ perennial than tlie latter, a distinct 

 advantage in a small gaiden. ll.'igl.t ahnut 

 2 feet. 



Kehin(.ps ritro. one of t lie (dohe T! istles. grows 

 ahout ■> feet high. i)ro(hiciug in .luly. August and 

 onwards line steely-hlue round heads, which give 

 a xvelcome hit of colour in the border and last a 

 long tinu' cut. 



The Eiigerons. often called Fleabanes. are a use- 

 ful class of medium growing perennials all very 

 useful iu the border and some of them well 

 suited for cutting. Erigeron speciosus is one of 

 the best, with heads of flowers having yellow 

 centres and violet coloured ray florets ; E. 

 macranthus has violet blue florets, both flowering 

 from early summer onwards, E. speciosus 

 especially yielding flowers well into autumn. 

 Many ni>\\ hybrids ha\r appeared of late yeai'S,of 

 which I thiiik E. (^nakcicss is one of the best, 

 with pretty soft, lilac ll()\\ eis |)roduced over a lor-g 

 period : another named H. Ladliams has mauve 

 liink flowers, and is (piite an acipiisition. 



Eryngiuni dichotomum is a most intei-esting and 

 pretty plant, reaching ahout 2^ feet in height, and 

 producing numerous much-branched stems which, 

 like the flower heads, are bright blue — a fine 

 plant for cutting, and makes a good conipanion 

 to the E. chinops mentioned above. 



Geum Mrs. Bradshaw, a new " Avens " intro- 

 duced to gardens a few years ago, is a most 

 valuable long-flowering plant producing imniense 

 quantities of fine double scarlet flowers all throvigh 

 summer ; good for cutting or border. Height in 

 flower 2 feet. 



Helenium autumnale pun'ilum, a fine dwarf 

 vaiiet\- of the Sneeze-Weed, is most useful for 

 cutting and also in the garden. The flower heads 

 are yellow, opening in early summer and lasting 

 for a long time. Height 2 feet. 



Helianthus rigidus is an old favourite growing 

 and flowering well in to>vns. It has been called 

 the Prairie Sunflower and gives bright yellow 

 flower heads on long stalks well adapted for 

 cutting. It is rather inclined to spread too 

 rapidly, so in a small garden should be carefully 

 planted, so that it will not over run less aggressive 

 plants. It is valuable, however, for its flowers in 

 August and September. Height 3 to 4 feet. 



Helleborus niger, the " Christmas Rose," is 

 well worth attempting, even although not a 

 success in all soils. Ratlier stiff retentive soil is 

 necessary, and the plant- dislikes distvrbance, so 

 should be planted whei-e it can I'emain for some 

 years, as only when well est al)lished will it produce 

 its cliarming white flowers. Few sights are mox'e 



.haiiiiinu than .Instris ,,r vshitc (lowers nestling 

 anion- I \u' leaves u liilr vl th.' da\s aiv short aiul 

 dark an.l cold. 



Ileuchrias ,iic now .p'itc in.iisp.-nsal.le in all 

 gardens where hardy Mowers are valued. T'lie 

 wild species are not so valuahh' as the iu>»v 

 seedlings ami hyhiids which have been i-aised of 

 recent \-ea.i's, although for colour II. sanguinea is 

 hard Ui heat. Among otluTS we hav.- J I. Flam- 

 heau. with line hranched s|)ikes of hi-ight rose 

 !:owers ; La Pcile. white (lushed i)ink : Zaheliana. 

 rosv-jiink : Kosaniunde. coral i)ink : I'hiie de Feu, 

 l)rillia,nt ivd ; Kihilield White, a good white 

 variety ; I'iuk l*earl and others not less beautiful. 

 .Vvi-rage height about 2 feet when in (lower. 



I'a'ouias are among the most beautiful of haidy 

 plants flowering chiefly in early summer, an<l 

 oIL'ring a wide range in colour. For present pur- 

 poses I think the double varieties of P. alhi flora, 

 commonly called Chinese PaM)i)i(^s. are th<' best. 

 Certainly some of the singles are surpassingly 

 hea-utiful. and where space could be afforded they 

 could s(tarcely he left out, but the doubles last 

 longei- both on the plant and when cut. There is 

 a bewildering selection of varieties, so intending 

 purchasers must make their own choice from the 

 catalogues of any of the fli-ms advertising hardy 

 plants in the pages of liusii (iARDENlxci. 



l*>rethrums, both single and doul)le, are 

 splendid for cutting, and produce large numbers 

 of flowers. Some of the best singles are : — A. M. 

 Kelway, bright rose ; James Kelway, fine rich red ; 

 and Mrs. Bateman Brown, deep crimson. Doubles 

 are — ^Aphrodite, white ; La Vestale. blush white ; 

 Lord Rosebery. good red ; Queen Mary, pink ; 

 and Solfaterre". pale yellow. 



Rudheckia speciosa, often called R. Newmannii. 

 is a most valuable plant, flowering in the end of 

 September and on into October. The flower 

 heads have deej) dark brown " centres " sur- 

 rounded by rich yellow florets, and at once 

 attract attJention. Very free flowering and 

 growing only some two feet high, this is a most 

 valuable plant in a snrall garden. 



Scabiosa caucasica and its variety Perfecta are 

 quite essential. The flowers, of a beautiful 

 lavender blue, ai'e produced continuously all 

 through summer and autumn, and are exception- 

 ally useful for cutting ; 2 to 3 feet in height. 



Sidalcea Rosy Gem is a fine plant for a moist 

 position, producing spikes of rosy pink flowers in 

 great profusion. 



Solidago ceesia is one of the most graceful of 

 a rather numerous and often coarse family. The 

 slendei' yet wiry stems, dark brown in colour, 

 carry dainty spikes of yellow flowers from the end 

 of July onwards for many weeks. Height 

 perhaps 3 feet. 



Statice latifolia, the so-called Sea Lavender, 

 cannot be omitted on account of its immense, 

 much branched inflorescences, composed of 

 innumerable small lavender coloured flowers 

 which last, when cut, for months, being still 

 ornamental when the flowers are dried. 



Thalictrum minus adiantifolium is valuable for 

 its pretty fern-like foliage, which is most useful 

 for arranging with other flowers. 



Gypsophila paniculata and its double variety 

 should both be grown as well for their light and 

 pretty effect in the garden as for their value as 

 cut flowers to arrange with others. 



Tritomas. or as they are properly called 

 Kniiihofias, are most effective in the garden and 



