20 



IRISH GARDENING. 



When freely exposed, the flowers develop a 

 slight tinge of pink on the outside of the petals, 

 but when given even the protection of an ordi- 

 nary hand light they are pure white, and the 

 stems much longer. There are several varieties 

 rather better than the type, notably H. n. alti- 

 folius, with extra large flowers; angustifolius, 

 producing pure white flowers on tall stems; 

 scoticus with large, pure white flowers; and 

 quite a number of flne seedlings, many of them 

 raised in Ireland by enthusiasts of other days. 



In addition to the f(n'ms and varieties of the 

 Christmas Eose there are munerous other 

 species of Helleborus, valuable for flowering in 

 winter and early spring. 



Just at present — mid-January — H. lividus is 

 attractive with its clusters of green flowers 

 borne at the ends of the long, almost woody, 

 stems which also bear, just below the flowers, a 

 whorl of glaucous, trifoliate, toothed leaves. 

 This plant may be found in gardens under 

 various names, such as H. corsicus, H. trifoli- 

 atus, and H. argutifolius; but the correct name 

 appears to be H. lividus. It is a native of 

 Corsica, and I have lately seen a flne mass of 

 it in Miss Geoghegan's garden at Stillorgao, 

 which was raised from seeds collected by the 

 lady herself in Corsica. 



Very interesting, too, is the little II. vii'idis 

 and its varieties, mostly with flowers of a deli- 

 cate shade of green relieved by the tul't of 

 lighter-coloured anthers in the centre of each. 



H. odorus, also with greenish flowers, is now 

 opening, but the scent is not very highly de- 

 veloped. H. guttatus has white flowers with red 

 spots, and is quite an attractive species, i'l'o- 

 bably from this plant crossed with orientalis or 

 some other early flowerer came the numerous 

 spotted hybrids of continental origin. 



Of species with deep crimson, j^uiplr ;iiiil red 

 flowers there are H. abschasicus, H. altorn- 

 bens, H. colchicus and its varieties, II. ol\iii- 

 picus and H. orientalis. 



There is in the ]jotanic Gardens at Glasnevin 

 a good collection of species, varieties and 

 hyl)rids, and among un-named seedlings is one 

 of a distinctly yellow shade, with large flowers 

 on tall stems. 



For planting in shrnbbei-ies and by woodland 

 walks the Hellebores are invaluable. They 

 enjoy shade in summer, and like a rathei- heavy, 

 moist soil. Commencing td flower at the end 

 of November or early Deccnilici-, llic,\ coiitinne 

 well into March if a good select imi he gi'own. 

 The Christmas Roses are best loi' cnlting, last- 

 ing well in water, but the coloured varieties are 

 not so satisfactory in this respect, and look best 

 when growing on the jdant. Those who have to 

 furnish shaded gaidciis or parts of gardens will 

 find the Ilelleljores of great assistance. B. 



The Garden in November, 



The paper undei' this heading is both inter- 

 esting and timely. If I venture to supplement 

 it by naming a few species which ai'e not re- 

 referred to by -J. W. B. it is because they ai-e of 

 high decorative merit in the winter months. 

 No one, foi'tunately, can cultivate all the 

 beautiful things that may be grown in the 

 climate of our islands ; but the very abundance 

 of choice ought to preserve us more than it does 

 from monotony in shrubberies, that being the 

 sin that doth most easily beset gardeners and 

 amateurs. 



First, then, let me name four species in a 

 genus not noticed by J. W. B. — namely, 

 Olearia macrodonta, ilicifolia, nitida and num- 

 nudarifolia — which may surely be reckoned 

 hardy in all parts of Ireland, as O. Haasti is 

 everywhere. The grey, sculptured foliage of 

 the first two, the shining green of O. nitida, 

 and the dense, imbricated leafage of O. num- 

 inulaii folia are enough to entitle them to rank 

 among the choicest evergreens, leaving out of 

 accoimt the [Ji'ofusion of white blossom which 

 covers them in summer. Another grey-leaved 

 shrub of lumibler stature is Senecio Grayi, 

 from the north Island of New Zealand, a better 

 thing than S. laxifolius, from the south Island 

 (which is apt to be supplied as S. Grayi), though 

 not quite as hardy. Another species of 

 Groundsel, S. Buchanani, contrasts well with 

 S. Grayi, having fine, spofm-shaped leaves of 

 bronzy-green with russet backs. I have not 

 yet induced this species to flower; but 8. Grayi 

 bears profuse ])anicles of clear yellow flowers in 

 summer. Eleagnus macrophylla, the backs of 

 its leaves washed with refined silver, is well 

 worth plenty of room for its free growth. 



For the lighter, brighter shades of gi'een 

 there is ample choice among Grislinia littoi'alis, 

 Choysia ternata, and the Califoniiaii Mountai}i 

 Laurel, which has lately been bei'eft of the 

 musical title of Oreodaphne and dubbed dis- 

 cordantly Umbellularia. This trio is for mild 

 districts; but Fatsia .lapoiiica is hardy even in 

 London parks, and, sti'ange to say, its great 

 j)almate leaves stand l)iitt'eting l)\ wind to a 

 degree one would not expect tliern to do. 



As f(jr richer hues of green, there is nothing, 

 except the )ioll_\-, among our iiati\-e evergi'eens, 

 and few among exotic shriilo. to excel Arbutus 

 I'ni'do, full of flower through the winter. The 

 North American A. Menziesii and the J^hiro- 

 ])ean A. Andrachne surpass the native species 

 in the beauty of polishetl limbs of cinnamon 

 colour; but, unfoi'tunatel\-, they fail to bear 

 fruit in our country. Of lowlier, slower growth 

 is the Japanese Anise Tree, llliciiun I'eligio- 



