88 



IRISH GARDENING 



, :'^-. 



Rhododendron Griffithianum at Rostrevor 

 House, Co. Down. 



hue. The plant is a strong grower, distinct in 

 liabit, but inferioi as a garden plant to many 

 others of Chinese origin. 



The old and well-known Olearia stellulata, 

 often called 0. Gunniana, is still one of the best 

 and most attractive. The pure white flower 

 heads, borne in great profusion, are at once 

 noticeable from a distance. A little tender here, 

 it appreciates a sunny sheltered position in the 

 shrubbery, and succeeds, perfectly against a 

 wall, though this is not essential. 



Among Ceanothuses, C. Eussellianus is 

 conspicuous. At present (21st May) it is a mass 

 of lovely blue. It closely resembles C. Veitcli- 

 ianus, of which it is possibly a seedling variety, 

 but is more upright in habit, and s\iffered less 

 in the winter of 1916-17 than the latter, whicli 

 is also flowering well now. 



The Judas Tree, Cercis Siliquastrum, re- 

 markable from its habit of producing flowers 

 from quite old woody branches, is worth more 

 attention than it usually gets outside botanic 

 gardens. When flowering freely it is a most 

 interesting and beautiful shrub, and is now 

 bearing quantities of pink flowers. It likes 

 light, well di'ained soil, and very little pruning. 

 There is hardly a more beautiful May flower- 

 ing shrub than Eubus deliciosus from the 

 Kocky ^Mountains. The flowers are pure white, 

 produced on young wood of the last year's 

 growth, and so freely as to be conspicuous from 

 some distance away. 



Diervillas and Deutzias are coming on in 

 succession, and for some time to come will be 

 in good form. Pyrus itiensis flore pleno is a 

 remarkai)le Crab of American origin, and some- 

 times called Bechtel's variety. Flowering 

 towards the end of May it makes a fine succes- 

 sion to the earlier species. The flowers are of 

 large size, over 2 inches in width, semi-double 

 of a delicate pink hue, and pleasantly scented, 

 thus combining to make P. ioensis fl. pi. in- 

 dispensable to all lovers of flowering trees. 



The -/Ethionemas. 



These delightful alpines, which belong to the 

 same famih' as the Wallflower, are among the 

 choicest and most beautiful of rock garden 

 plants during May. They are not difficult to 

 grow if given well-drained gritty soil and a 

 sunny position. A sharp slope is desirable to 

 ensure thorougli drainage, as nothing is so fatal 

 to them as sour soil, consequently a vertical 

 chink forms an ideal position. Few plants are 

 better adapted for a wall garden facing the 

 sun, and in such a position many will grow 

 and flourish for years. Propagation is best 

 eft'ected by means of seeds which should be 

 watched carefully. In some cases cuttings of 

 the young shoots taken off with a " heel " root 

 well in sandy soil in a shaded frame, but every 

 effort should be made to obtain seeds. The 

 latter may be sown when collected or kept till 

 spring. In either case the seedlings should l>e 

 pricked out as soon as they can be handled, as 

 no plants are more impatient of root disturb- 

 ance. They are best picked out singly into 

 " thumb " pots, but may be put out three into 

 a 3-inch pot, being subsequently potted off 

 singly before becoming pot-bound. The plants 

 must be kept in pots until wanted for per- 

 manent planting, and the smaller the pots the 

 better, as then it is easier to get them into 

 narrow chinks and amnnies. In districts where 

 lime is absent some finely broken mortar 



