IRISH GARDENING. 



133 



Hypericums, of Avliich there are several very 

 ])retty species. H. elatiim is an abmidant 

 llo\Yerer growing about 4 feet high. Compared 

 with some of the better sorts the flowers are 

 small, and the leaves have an unpleasant odour 

 when bruised ; it is nevertheless not to be 

 despised for shrubbery planting and will flourish 

 in shade where many shrubs languish. A finer 

 plant is Hypericum patulum, a handsome dwarf 

 shrub with the leaves glaucous beneath. The 

 flowers are fairly large up to 2 inches across, 

 borne at the ends of the summer shoots ; they 

 are of a golden-yellow colour. A plant of more 

 recent introduction is H. patitlum Henryi, a 

 native of China, and stronger in growth than the 

 type. It is a first rate shrub for a sunny 

 position, and never fails to attract attention. 

 H. moserianum is a hj^brid between H. patulum 

 and the conimon Rose of Sharon, H. calycinum. 

 It is a low growing plant, best suited perhaps 

 on the rockery or in the front of a sunny 

 shrubbery. The shoots are terminated by a 

 cluster of large golden-yellow flowers, opening 

 in succession. There is a variety known as 

 tricolor, having the leaves edged with pink and 

 white, but it has never flourished here in the open. 



The most conspicuous shrubby Veronica 

 flowering in August has been V. parviflora 

 which has borne enormous quantities of its long 

 slender racemes of white flowers and will 

 continue to flower for some time. This is 

 probably the plant known as V. parviflora, var. 

 angustifolia, the leaves being long and narrow. 



An uncomm,on shrub is Bigelowia graveolens, 

 growing here about 3 feet high, producing light 

 grey branches, derpsely furnished wil^h narrow 

 grey leaves. The branches are terminated by 

 corymbs of small bright yellow flowers, which 

 continue in beauty for several weeks. 



Fuchsias continue to be attractive, notably 

 F. macrostemma, F. Riccartoni, F. globosa, and 

 the charming little F. pumila, a delightful plant 

 for the rock garden, and growing only about a 

 foot high. 



Eueryphia pinnata is flowering freely, and the 

 spikes of ^sculus parviflora are noticeable 

 among the Chestnuts in the arboretum, where 

 the dwarf bushy habit of this sj^ecies renders it 

 distinct among the other taller Chestnuts. 



Herbaceous Plants. 



These have been Very fine during August, espe- 

 cially if we include annuals, which are, of course, 

 herbaceous. Lavateras have grown remarkably 

 considering the comparatively dry weather, and 

 groups in the borders have been conspicuous 

 with their deep rose flowers. It is best to sow 



where they are to flower. Grodetias, annual 

 Sunflowers, and others have added to the 

 attractiveness of the garden, with a minimum 

 of labour. Turning to perennials, Senecio 

 Clivorum has been conspicuous with its great 

 golden flower heads looking particularly well 

 near the steel -bhie heads of Echinops sphsero- 

 cephalus. Perennial Sunflowers of the Heli- 

 anthus multiflorus set are very effective border 

 plants ; the singles, with their large heads, are 

 perhaps more useful for cutting, but the doubles 

 are of great value in the borders. 



Chrysanthemum maximum, in its many 

 varieties, is invaluable for providing cut flowers 

 and for giving effective white groups among 

 other more gaudy colours. The best here is 

 Etoile D 'An vers, a robust grower, with magnifi- 

 cent large white heads ; other good varieties are 

 Mrs. J. Terstecg, Mrs. Chas. Lowthian Bell and 

 Annie House. Scabiosa caucasica should be 

 grown by every lover of hardy plants ; it 

 flowers in July and on through August in 

 profusion, the light lilac -blue flowers being 

 always admired. It requires a year or two to 

 become established, and resents disturbance 

 when once planted. Another plant which 

 shoiild be left alone when planted is Gypsophila 

 paniculata, both the single and double forms, 

 and there are no more attractive plants when 

 forming mounds 3-4 feet high of their small 

 flowers in much branched panicles. Potentilla 

 Miss Willmott, pink, and P. Gibson's Scarlet are 

 extremely effective allowed to grow freely near 

 the front of the border, giving, over a long period, 

 masses of flowers. The old Helenium autumnale 

 pumilum about 3 feet high, usually flowers in 

 advance of others of the same genus, and makes 

 an efi'ective group. The taller and newer 

 varieties. Riverton Beauty and Riverton Gem, 

 are indispensable for the herbaceous border ; 

 while H. autumnale rubrum, with deep reddish 

 maroon heads, is not surpassed by any other 

 herbaceous plant in its season. It is remarkable 

 how many plants of the great natural order 

 Compositse adorn our gardens at this season — 

 Helianthuses, Heleniums, Senecios, Heliopsis, 

 Echinops, Silphium, Eupatorium, and many 

 others, all good border plants. The autumn 

 flowering Anemone japonica, in Various shades, 

 is now coming on in turn, and later, Solidagos 

 and Asters will, weather permitting, follow on 

 and see the season out. 



Alpine and Bog Plants. 



There is still muchof mterest in the rock garden, 

 which is not so bleak a place as many suppose 

 after June is out. 



Very attractive in a half-shady position is 



