IRISH GARDENING. 



Notes, 

 Pyrus Niedwetzkiana- 



In the note upon this C'lab at page 148 of the 

 October issue of Irish Gardening "J. M. W."' 

 describes it as fruiting sparsely. With us the 

 opj)osite was the case, some of the branches 

 being ladencd to the breaking point. Each year, 

 with a favourable spring for the setting cf the 

 fruits, the trees blossom and fruit freely. Though 

 one of the largest fruiting of the Crab family, it 

 is one of the least useful, having less flavour than 

 a raw Turnip. The breaking of the branches on 

 the trees ?t Kew in quest of the fruits is ample 

 evidence that they are attractive to the eye, 

 though the spoils mast be sadly disappointmg 

 to the pala!:e. 



There is no question about the value of Pyrus 

 Niedwetzkiana as a distinctly ornament? 1 tree 

 of moderate size, both m flower and fruit, for 

 the pleasure grounds and shrubbery borders. 

 It was first introduced to Britain in 1894, and 

 is said to be common in S.W. Siberia and the 

 Caucasus. 



Only a percentage — probably not more than 

 half — of the trees come true from seeds which 

 suggests that it is most probably a form or 

 variety of the Common Cra.b Pyrus Mains. 



A. 0. 



Potato Duke of York. 



This is one of the best second earlies I know. 

 Planted at the same time as Midlothian Early, 

 it is ready for lifting about a fortnight or three 

 weeks later than that popular variety, an 1 can 

 be dug as wanted for many weeks after. This 

 last spring I planted British Premier for first 

 early and dug a gocd cr p from the middle of 

 July onwar^ds. Duke of York was ready before 

 the Premiers were finished, and sui^plicci us with 

 Potatoes until late in the season ; in fact, the 

 balance was dug and placed in a box to be used 

 as wanted. They lasted until long after the 

 late varieties Vv^ere clamped. 



In well cultivated ground, dug and maniu'ed 

 in autumn, I am a firm lieliever in planting on 

 the flat — that is, I simply mark out the position 

 of the drills, open a hole with a trowel, place the 

 Potato about four inches deep, and cover care- 

 fully, to avoid breaking the sprouts. As the 

 haulm appears above grcund, a liitle loose soil 

 is placed over it in case of frost, but when growth 

 becomes more rapid and the stalks have gro^\n 

 some six inches high, the soil is draA\n iipon both 

 sides, either by a shovel or a draw hoe. In this 



way " earthing up " is carried on till no longer 

 necessary. I can see no necessity whatever ivr 

 opening drills and then closing them again, 

 when the final result is exactly the same by 

 planting in holes and " earth'ng up." 



North Dublin. 



Grevillea Sulphurea. 



(Grevillea juniperina). 



This interesting evergreen shrub is at present 

 giving a fair display of its yellow flowers despite 

 recent snaps of frost of some 9°. 



It is apparently hardier than G. rrsmarinifolia, 

 though perhajDS less ornamental than Iha^ 

 species, where it docs well. It is also more 

 lapright than the latter species, and "n that 

 resembles G. thyrsoidca, which, however, has 

 pink flowers, and is also hardier than G. 

 rosmarinifolia. 



All, however, are most interesting shrubs from 

 Australia and hardier than many plants from 

 that sunny land. 



Has anyone tried G. Preissei, properly called 

 G. thelemanniana, outside ? It is very orna 

 mental in a cool house. J. W. B. 



Disanthus Cercidifolia. 



A bush, 6 to 7 feet high, of this interesting and 

 rare Japanese shrub flowered freely at Kcav 

 the second half of October and during November. 

 It belongs to the natural order Hamamelidacese, 

 and, in common Avith that family, has the slender 

 narrow petals, in this case five in number, 

 forming small dainty crimson purple flowers, 

 half an inch in diameter. 



Eventually said to become a large twiggy 

 bush, 7 to 8 feet, or even more, in height, 

 Disanthus cercidifoh'p, after last winter's ex- 

 perience, is evidently a perfectly hardy shrub. 

 It grows freely in a well drained k amy soil to 

 which leaf-mould and peat has been added. 

 Layering forms a ready means of propagatic n, 

 and cuttings made of the j^oung growths root in 

 a slightly heated propagating frame during the 

 aulumn. In f;ummer the fohage might be 

 i-eadily mistaken for a Cercis (Judas Tree), but 

 it is during the autumn that this Japanese 

 shrub attains its gieatest beauty, the leaves 

 gradually changing to a vivid wine-crimson. 



While these are at their best, the flowers 

 open in October, and continue well beyond the 

 middle of No\cml:er, when the last of the 

 leaves fall. As seeds take a year to matme, 

 it is doubtful if the Aveather conditions will 

 be favourable to their development in this 

 country. A. 0. 



