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IRISH GARDENING. 



red ; S. Greigii is somewhat like it, biit perhaps 

 more hardy ; S. aurea just survives out of doors, 

 and it has only flowered under glass. There are 

 other species of this handsome genus, but as most 

 of them that will grow in the open, are her- 

 baceous, they are not inchtded in this article ; 

 nevertheless S. patens should not be omitted, on 

 account of the intense blue colour which it 

 introduces into the wild garden, where in mild 

 districts it ought, with care, to grow luxuriantly. 

 Allied to Salvia, is Colquhounia vestita, a little 

 known shrub from North India, with bunches of 

 orange-red flowers in August onwards ; it has 

 much to recommend it. Nor should the 

 Romneyas be forgotten, R. Coulteri and R. 

 trichocalyx, both of them welcome acquisitions ; 

 nor their near relation, Hunneinannia fumariaj- 

 foha, a sub-shrub, with abundant popj^y-like 

 bloom, bright yellow and orange centre, 

 harmonising well with the handsome grey- 

 green foliage. These last three plants are part 

 of the Calif orni an flora. 



No reference has been made to the Veronicas, 

 which in summer add so pleasing an effect to a 

 shrubbery. But it would unduly extend this 

 article if they and many other plants of value, 

 well deserving of notice, were to be included in 

 it. A brief nots, however, may be made on a 

 very few hybrids that seem to merit special 

 attention, even though I regret I am not able in 

 all cases to supply their proper names. Veronica 

 Veitchii is a good blue ; another, name unknown, 

 is a light and bright shade of the same colour ; 

 another, name also unknown, is a brilliant 

 carmine red, very striking, and one of the best 

 of all ; V. Girdwoodiana, clear blue ; V. 

 " Autumn Glory," rich blue-purple ; V. " La 

 Seduisante," dark purple, leaves to match ; 

 V. Gauntletti, fine salmon -red, remaining in 

 bloom for a long time. Two more plants may 

 be added to the above on account of their 

 colouring. A trailing little shrub was sent here 

 under the name of Verbena chamaedrifolia, and 

 up to now has been found to be hardy ; its 

 flowers are vivid scarlet, and are abundantly 

 produced. If it succeeds it will prove an 

 effective and interesting carpetmg species for 

 the rock garden. Ononis Natrix does not seem 

 to be common in cultivation, and yet it is very 

 beautiful. Its golden pea-shaped blossoms 

 netted with dark lines, are most attractive 

 and even more striking than its brethren, 

 0. fraticosa, 0. rotundifolia, 0. aragonensis, 

 which are all to be commended. It used to be 

 here, but has unfortunately disappeared ; and 

 I do not remember seeing it listed in any 

 nurseryman's catalogue in recent years. 



Flowers of August. 



A CONTINUANCE of Comparatively dry, warm 

 weather has conduced to a plentiful supply of 

 flowers. Occasional showers were beneficial in 

 maintaining a freshness often lacking at this 

 time of year and heavy dews at night have kept 

 the grass green and growing ; this, though 

 entailing some amount of work in keeping it 

 down, adds greatly to the beauty of the garden. 



Shrubs. 



Interesting and beautiful shrubs have been 

 fairly well in evidence considering the time of 

 year. The autumn -flowermg Heaths are notice- 

 able, particularly the Cornish Heath Erica 

 vagans, which is now producing its dense spikes 

 of pink flowers. There is some variation in shade, 

 the best being deep pink, and it looks as if it 

 would be well to raise seedlings from the best 

 colours and select those with the flnest spikes and 

 deepest shades. Erica maweana is a most 

 attractive Heath, with large pink bells reminis- 

 cent of St. Daboec's Heath, Daboecia polifolia ; 

 it is considered a variety of E. ciliaris, but is more 

 compact in habit than the type, Avith shorter, 

 stifi'er branches and the flowers carried above the 

 foliage. That lovely Heath, E. cinereacoccinea, 

 has also lasted well into August, forming 

 beautiful patches of colour among Rhododen- 

 drons. The shrubby Potentillas are a delightfid 

 set of dwarf shrubs, a number of them flowering 

 more or less all summer ; most conspicuous, 

 however, is Pot. fruticosa niandshurica, a low 

 grower, with grey leaves and carrying con- 

 tinuously for months a quantity of pure white 

 flowers. It is suitable for the rock garden and 

 front of a choice shrubbery. 



Among shrubs of the Pea family, Desmodium 

 tilia^folium is worthy of note. It is an Indian 

 shrub, sometimes not quite hardy, forming a 

 woody base from which numerous long, rather 

 pendulous shoots are produced annually ; the 

 leaves composed of three leaflets downy on the 

 under surface. At the ends of the summer 

 shoots the flowers are produced ; they are of a 

 soft lilac pink, an uncommon colour among 

 autumn flowering shrubs. It is well worth 

 growing on a wall. Spartium junceum still 

 continues to make a fine display, with its clear 

 yellow flowers, and is invaluable for autumn 

 flowering The upright form of the Dyer's 

 Greenweed, Genista tinctoria elatior, is a useful 

 plant for sunny shrubberies, brightening them 

 up at this season with its panicles of yellow 

 flowers. Valuable, too. at this time are the 



