138 



IRISH GARDENING 



lion is decreasing. When rooted, admit air on 

 all possible occas'ons until ])lanting o^it time in 

 Ajn-il. 



A large number of varieties is grown and 

 lieautiful effects are possible with masses of 

 different colours. The so-called Gem class is 

 popular, and includes Southgate Gem, scarlet ; 

 Myddleton Gem, pink ; and Newbury Gem, 

 also scarlet, but flowers smaller than those of 

 Southgate Gem. 



Of the larger flowered varieties there is a 

 wide select'.on, embracing those with scarlet, 

 rose, violet, purple, white, pink, and beautifidly 

 tinted flowers. 



The following is but a selection from the many 

 in cultivation : — Fair to See and John Forbes, 

 purple ; Aldenham Pride, deep re se ; Crimson 

 Gem and Mrs. F. Fulford, rose red ; Chester 

 Scarlet, scarlet ; White Bedder, white ; Day- 

 dream, white tinted pink ; Apple Blossom, light 

 pink, and many others. 



Florist. 



The Sea Lavenders. 



BOTANICALLY called Statice, the Sea Lavenders 

 form a useful group of autumn-flowering heibs 

 or sub-shrubs. Mo3t people are familiar with 

 Statice latifol a, a valued ornament of the 

 herbaceous liorder and also of the boldei- parts 

 of the rock garden. Although requiring ampk- 

 space for its wide-spreading inflorescence, it is 

 a plant few gardening people would care to be 

 without. The light feathery appearance of the 

 flowers is always admired, and when just full 

 out the inflorescence may be cut and will last a 

 long time in water arranged with other flowers 

 of the season, such, for instance, as GladioU, and 

 when dry it is scarcely less effective as a winter 

 decoration without water. 



In addition to this species there are several 

 others, mostly smaller in growth, which are 

 eminently suited for the rock garden, ]iarti- 

 cularly as they flower in autumn and lend 

 additional interest to that section of the 

 garden. 



Statice globulariafolia, as the specific name 

 implies, has leaves somewhat resembling one of 

 the larger leaved Globularias, and foiining a 

 rosette close to the soil ; from among the leaves 

 arise branching inflorescences of small pale blue 

 flowers, giving that misty effect which seems in 

 keeping with autumn days. 



Statice gongetiana is a tufted speecies forming 

 a sub-shrubby base, the branches furnished with 

 small leathery, dark-green leaves. The flower 



jDanicles aie comparatively short and dense, the 

 floAvers of a ])urple blue colour. A valuable 

 si^ecies foi- planting in a crevice. 



Statice Gmehni, from the Caucasus, has larger 

 leaves and rather attractive blue flowers in the 

 usual branched inflorescence. 



Statice incana is an attractive species, with 

 small greyish leaves and blue flowers. In some 

 works this is quoted as synonym of Statice 

 tatarica, which has reddish flowers and is not so 

 common. 



Statice occidentalis is another attractive alpine 

 with rosettes of small leaves and a daintily 

 branched inflorescence of blue or purplish blue 

 flowers. One or two of our native species are 

 well worth growing in gardens. 



Statice Limonium is the commonest species 

 like the others frec[uenting the coast. It forms 

 a creeping root-stock bearing leaves from 2-4 

 inches long, and produces numerous branched 

 corymbs oi purplish blue flowers. 



Statice auric ulsefolia is less common, but 

 sometimes met with in gardens. The leaves 

 vary from one to three or four inches in length, 

 and the inflorscence is shorter than in Statice 

 Limonium and of the same purplish-blue colour. 



Statice belHdifolia, with rosettes of Daisy-like 

 leaves and short panicles of Lilac-blue flowers, 

 is quite a good rock plant. 



There ai^e many other species, some hardy and 

 others not, and a few annuals which are most 

 attractive in their season. 



It is, however, difficult to obtain many of 

 those described in books, and it is by no means 

 certain that the right plant will be obtained when 

 ordered under a given name. 



Given a well-drained soil and a sunny jiosition 

 there is no difficulty in cidtivation. 



Seeds afford the best means of propagation, 

 but are not always available. Divisions and 

 cuttings of the roots may be resorted to in the 

 absence of seeds. 



X. 



Veronica Lavaudiana. 



This beautiful, but fickle, dwarf shrub has 

 evidently found conditions to its liking at 

 ' • Waverly , ' ' Foxrock , Co . Dublin . M. G . Drury , 

 in sending the photograi^h reproduced in the 

 present issue, A^Tites as follows :— " I enclose 

 photograph of a patch of Veronica Lavaud'ana, 

 which flowered here in April, May and -Time this 

 year, and also m pievioits years, in full sun S.E., 

 and continues to look quite healthy, the withered 

 flower heads having been cut back." 



We will be glad if other readers wiH tell us of 



