i84 



TRISH GARDENING 



onl.-r. This syst.-iii is .•.isily woikcd ulini (lir 

 crowns an- dug up aiuniiilly lor fortiii;^. In 

 fhoosiug Ji site for lu-w hcils, do not sclcci <iiic 

 with a southern aspect, lor the phmts do not 

 re(}uire full exiiosure lo sunshine durin^i the 

 hottest part of the day. Let the ;;round he .In- 

 (U-eply and manured he.ivilx. Jf (he sdii is ]iea\ \ 

 in texture, mix a (|Uinili(\ t>r decayed leaves and 

 •irit with it. IMantiuL: max he tlone whenever 1 he 

 soil is in a suitahle condition. IManl lirnil> in 

 rows nine inches apart and allnw .iIhmiI 11iiii> 

 inches hctween the crowns, whieli sIhmiM lie ju^l 

 helow the surface. When the work ol' plantin.LC is 

 coniplctetl, cover the hed with a 1 hin layei- of leaf 

 mould. Leaves fallen from deciduous trees shovdd 

 he collected and stored. Hotten oak and heech 

 leaves provide j^ood material for ])otting i)urpos(?s, 

 whilst leaves of other trees will l)e useful foi- 

 mixing with sti-awN' manure ia tlie niakiim of hol- 

 heils. 



(iarden paths should l>e well I'olled and irrei^u- 

 larities in the surface made ^ood. Sweej) and roll 

 hiwns as often as circumstances ])ermit. I)ut do 

 not use the roller when the turf is vei\\ wet. Im- 

 poverished lawns ar(^ greatly henelited hy tlie 

 application of liiiuid numure or a dresshig of w<'ll- 

 dccayed manine and fine soil. Overhaul mowing 

 machines, taking them apart, and cleaning the 

 various portions. Oil the running ijarts, and 

 afterwards readjust tiie hlades in readiness for 

 another vear. M. 1). 



Hints for Amateurs. 



By K. M. Pollock. 



In the last issue of this paper the Hints for 

 Amateurs were chiefly compo.sed of notes on 

 various species of Clematis. This month notes 

 must be made of a few more plants suitahle for the 

 same purposes, but which ai^ either of a clinging 

 or creeping nature, or which only require slight 

 support. 



The Honeysuckles — Lonicera — are all easily 

 grown and not fastidious as to aspect. L. 

 periclymenum. the common honeysuckle or 

 woodbine of our hedges, is a good hardy plant, 

 and when given a little care and attention is just 

 as good as many rare and expensive ones, but 

 because it is the variety growing in the hedges, 

 many people think it cannot be good enough to 

 put in their garden or on their house. A variety 

 of this catalogued as L. periclymenum rvibrum 

 is a good red form, and both will do well on a 

 shady wall or up the bare stems of trees. 



L. brachypoda (japonica) aurea reticulata is the 

 well-known small gokhm veined, leaved plant so 

 often seen climbing and tv\isling its long slender 

 shoots through other plants on walls. It will do 

 well in sun or shade. 



L. japonica Halliana is one of the most popidar 

 and best varieties, and is jjractically an ever- 

 green. The flowers are produced on the young 

 wood, and it is suitable for an east aspect. 



A climbing and clinging evergreen, seldona seen 

 in gardens, is Ercilla volubilis, a native of Chili, 

 but which will grow either on a warm or a shady 

 wall. Its flowers are not conspicuous, being dull 

 pui'ple in close racemes, but they are strongly 

 scented of Priniroses. This plant adheres to a 

 wall like the ivy, is evergreen, and has glossy green 

 foliage. 



'I'll, re is a vei> large selection (if I.eautituI 

 .Mitiiiiin colouring plants among vines \itis. 

 Into tlii^ Licnus tome some ver\ \\ ell known 

 rii( |)er>. The common N'irginia creeper, N'itis 

 «|uin((uifolia is ineline<l to get untidy unless care- 

 fully trained, hut colours well a7ul grows frcel\ . 



\ itis inconstans (.\mpelopsis N'eilehii) is well 

 known, and it will cling to any wall : it «(dours 

 hiillianlly. and when once eslahli.shed oidy 

 re(|uli'es plenl\ of root room. There is also \itis 

 sliiata. known in gardens as the Evergreen 

 .\niiie!o|isis, w hicli will cling closely to walls. 

 All tile other vines iiLcntioned in these notes are 

 deciduous and lose their leaves every winter. 



As well as thes<' well-known forms, there is a 

 very handsome s])ecies. \'itis vinefera var. ])ur- 

 purea. which in tlie autumn has deep purple 

 leaves, very much sought after for house 

 decoration. It is a handsome plant. Iiut an 

 un(id\ grower. ^'(»ung jilants of this are often 

 slow in stai'ting, but when once established they 

 will give little trouble. 



\'. Thunbergi, a native of .lapan. is one of the 

 large-leaved vines, with true viiu-like foliage and 

 red stems. This variety makes long shoots, but 

 not very strong, anil does best on a warm wall. 



V. armata, as its name implies, is anned with 

 through bristles. The leaves are large, long and 

 pointed, and they turn a beautiful red in the 

 autumn. It is a native of (Jential China, and 

 requires a sunny position in which to colour well. 



V. lleiu'yana is one of the small-leaved species, 

 with beautiful marbled velvety leaves. This 

 species clings to supports in the same way that 

 y. inconstans does. A gracefid and attractive 

 plant, but not hardy in exposed positions, and 

 it must have shelter. 



N'. Thompsoni, another small leaved vine, 

 smooth, the older shoots dark green, and the 

 young ones a beautiful wine red. It is hardier 

 than the foregoing, and a free grower. 



Solanum jasminoides, a native of Brazil, but 

 quite hardy in most sheltei'ed and warm aspects 

 in Ireland. From the summer on into winter the 

 slender shoots of this plant are covered with loose 

 trusses of starry white flowers. It needs slight 

 support, as it will not cling of itself. Its growth 

 is very free, and it is ev'ergreen. A most desii'able 

 plant for light work. 



Beekeeping. 



By Pktek Bkock, Pairview, Enniskillen. 



The closing month of the year is a dormant period 

 for bees, but it is a fitting time for reti'ospect and 

 studying the lessons to be learned from the past 

 season, which from the beekeepers' point of view 

 was very short and disappointing. The only 

 redeeming feature about it, especially for those 

 who were favourably situated and succeeded in 

 securing a fair return in honey, was that there has 

 been a better demand and the price has been 

 higher than has been obtainable for many years 

 past. There is, however, owing to the high price 

 of fruit preserves and butter, more honey being 

 retained for home consumption than usual. The 

 increase in the number of stocks in frame hives is 

 much less than we have experienced for many 

 years past. There was less swarming, and, 

 owing to the scarcity of nectar, high price of sugar, 

 hives and appliances, there was everywhere dis- 



