IRISH GARDENING. 



157 



Messrs. Pennick. of Delgauy, put up a group 

 of trees and, shrubs, which iuciuded Cupressus in 

 variety, Piceas, Thuyopsis, Tsuga, Cedars, Pines, 

 Bamboos, ^lyrtus Luuia, Barberries, Retino- 

 sporas, Pittosporuiu, Cotoueasters, Heaths, 

 \'eronicas, c^c. 



Messrs. Hanunond, of Shillelagh, showed a 

 group of young trees sviitable for forest planting, 

 including Pines, Piceas, Abies, Poplars, Alders, 

 Beech, &c., all well rooted, sturdy plants, millions 

 of which are so much wanted in Ireland to-day. 



In the Forestry Section, Mscount Powerscourt 

 showed planks cut from trees grown on his own 

 estate, including Oak, Corsican Pine, Douglas Fir, 

 Atlas Cedar, Spanish Chestnut, Lawson Cypress, 

 Sequoia, Lime, Sycamore, Wych Elm. and others. 



Viscount de Vesci showed tools and tool 

 handles made from home grown timber, while a 

 like exhibit came from the Manor Sawmills, Birr, 

 together with samples of many different timbers. 



Dwarf Conifers, suitable for Rockwork were 

 shown by ^Murray Hornibrook, R.31., so well 

 known to gardening people in Ireland as an 

 enthusiastic grower of Alpines, but also much 

 interested in Conifers. 



An exhibit of dessert and cooking Apples grown 

 within two miles of the G.P.O. demonstrated 

 what can be done by good cultivation, pruning, 

 spraying, &c. 



^lention must be made of the excellent table of 

 fruit shown by R. Tedcastle, Esq., of Marlay, 

 Rathfarnham. This was a notable exhibit, and 

 won the silver salver presented by the Officers 

 and ^len of the Ileet. ^Magnificent Grapes. 

 Apples, Pears, &c., were finely staged and nicely 

 furnished with flowers and foliage, the whole well 

 meriting the honour it received. The second 

 prize w-ent to the ^Marquis of Headfort, who had 

 heavy dislies of fine fruit, not, however, so well 

 finished and lacking quality. 



The Arboretum. 



Autumn Cuttings. — Prolmbly October is a 

 better month than November for putting in 

 ripened cuttings of hardy trees and shrubs, bvit 

 many will succeed if taken now. It is not always 

 convenient to devote time in private gardens in 

 July and August to the propagation of shrubs 

 by means of the half-ripe wood then available, 

 though it is probably the best time of the year 

 for this work. 



If no cold fi'ame is available the next best plan 

 is to form a bed in the most sheltered place that 

 can be spared. The site should be well drained, 

 the soil deeply dug and broken up as finely as 

 possible, adding plenty of sand if it is at all 

 inclined to be stiff and heavy. The cuttings 

 should be put in in lines about a foot apart, the 

 best way being to cut out a trench with a spade 

 deep enough to accommodate the cuttings which 

 are to be put in. At the bottom' of the trench or 

 notch made by tlie spade place about an inch of 

 sharp sand on which the end of the cvitting should 

 rest. Insert the cuttings G inches to a foot 

 apart, according to the size they are ultimately 

 expected to grow before transplanting — that is. 

 according to the kind of plant being propagated. 



Raml)ler Roses, especially the Wichuraianas 

 are as a rule successfully propagated from outdoor 

 cuttings. Side shoots 9 inches to a foot long cut 

 off close to the parent stem and cut down to a 

 bud at the opposite end make suitable cuttings. 



Lay them against the back of the trench or notch, 

 the base resting on the sand, then fill in the soil 

 and tread it firm. Hybrid Perpetual and Hybrid 

 Tea Roses may be treated similarly, and though 

 every cutting may not strike, yet sufficient 

 should to provide plants for filling vip in the 

 Rose beds. Some varieties do not flourish on 

 their own roots, but valuable experience will be 

 gained in finding ovit those that do. Other 

 shrubs which may be tried with every hope of 

 success are Philadeplhuses, Diervillas (Weigelias), 

 Tamarisks, the stronger Honeysuckles, Dentzias, 

 Ribes, and Privet. 



Root Cuttings. — A fair number of shrubs may 

 be propagated by this method, and when suc- 

 cessful good plants are thus produced. The 

 roots should be removed during the dormant 

 season, cut into lengths of from 2 to 3 inches, 

 inserting them then in pots or boxes of sandy soil. 

 They may be placed in a cool greenhouse or cold 

 frame away from frost during winter. They 

 will " callus " in due course, and with increasing 

 sun-heat in spring will generally grow away 

 freely. Growth may be hastened by bringing the 

 pots or boxes into a warm house early in the year. 

 A few shrubs which may be increased in this way 

 are Robinias, Cjesalpinias, Sumachs, the cut- 

 leaved Bramble, Xanthoceras sorbifolia, &c. 



CuTTiN(i.s IX Pots. — A few shrubs not suitable 

 for propagating in the open may be successfully 

 dealt with in pots. The soil, as* for all cuttings, 

 should be light and sandy and the pots well 

 drained. I'ots of 5 or 6 inches in diameter are 

 convenient. When the cuttings are inserted the 

 pots may be placed in a cold frame and protected 

 from severe frost, or they may be stood on a shelf 

 in a cool greenhouse from which hard frost can 

 be excluded. INlost of the hardy vines can be 

 increased in this way : well ripened pieces of the 

 current season's growth cut into lengths each 

 consisting of two or three eyes, make suitable 

 cuttings, while the two beautiful climbers, 

 I^olygonum Auberti (white) and P. baldschua- 

 nicvnn (pink) can also be propagated in the saine 

 way. Arbor. 



Reported Missing. 



LIEUTENANT NORMAN SMITH. 



Readers of Irish Gardening will recollect that 

 in our July number we reported Lance-Corporal 

 Cecil Smith as missing since the 15tli of April. 

 We regret that Mr. G. N. Smith, of the Daisy 

 Hill Nurseries, hs^ suffered a second blow, 

 having had intimation that Lieut. Norman Smith, 

 R.A.F., is also missing since the 27th of October. 

 All who know Mr. G. N. Smith and his father, 

 Mr. T. Smith, the veteran proprietor of Dai>-iy 

 Hill Nurseries, will sympathise with them and 

 Mrs. G. N. Smith in their great anxiety. 



An Army Honour. 



SECOND-LIET'lLNANT. WILLIAM HENRY 

 BARKER, M.C. 



The above officer is the son of Mr. Alfred Barker, 

 gardener and steward to Lady Fitzgerald, Carrig- 

 oran, Co. Clare. In a recent lil-t of Army honours 

 we note this gallant young officer was awarded 

 the Military Cross for rnnspirvnu.'^ I)rnrrry on the 

 firJd, together with the Divisional Card of Honour. 

 Mr. Alfred Barker has been a frequent contritnitor 

 to ihii Journal, and we feel certain every reader 

 will rejoice with him in the signal honour won 

 by his son. 



