IRISH GARDENING. 



39 



good soil, according to the area, would be use- 

 ful, just giving each plant a spadeful or so at 

 planting time. At the same time water s'hould 

 be given to thoroughly settle the soil round the 

 roots. It is quite conceivable, of course, that 

 water may be impossible where the planting is 

 being done in a remote part of the garden or 

 grounds; in these circumstances make doubly 

 sure that the soil is well rammed round the 

 roots. 



If the position requires fairly large plants to 

 properly furnish it, few shrubs are better than 

 the Aucuba. The variegated form need not be 

 planted where it is objected to, as there are 

 very fine green forms available, and they are, 

 without doubt, among the finest of evergreen 

 shrubs. The root system of the Aucuba is very 

 vigorous, and, given a fair start, it will, flourish 

 under the most adverse conditions of drought 

 and shade. Next to the \ucuba the " Maho- 

 nia," or Berberis aquifolium, is most useful. 

 Unlike the Aucuba, the root system here is 

 sparse, and large plants move badly. It is best 

 to begin with quite small pieces, planting 

 firmW, and watering in if possible. Such 

 plants usually become established, and soon 

 begin to spread. 



Another excellent plant for our purpose is 

 the common Butcher's Broom, Euscus acu- 

 leatus, which, planted in small pieces, soon 

 takes hold, and grows into good-sized clumps. 

 Under old Yew trees, where the shade is .con- 

 siderable, the soil dry, and full of Yew roots, 

 nothing succeeds so well as Periwinkle, 

 " Mahonia," Butcher's Broom, and the com- 

 mon trailing Ivy. These form an evergreen 

 carpet, and effectively furnish w'hat would 

 otherwise be a bare, unsightly space. Another 

 very good plant is Euphorbia amygdaloides, 

 with dark green leaves on stems, growing 

 18 inches to 2 feet higli, and carrying numerous 

 yellowish green flowers in spring. 



Where there is a fair amount of light Hyperi- 

 cum calycinum, often called St. John's Wort, 

 makes an attractive carpet, bearing yellow 

 flowers in summer; dwarf double Gorse, though 

 a sun-lover, is not averse to a certain amount 

 of shade, and grows in the poorest soil; Euony- 

 mus japonicus is very adaptable, and with a 

 fair amount of care will soon become estab- 

 lished in a dry, shady place, and will reach 

 three or fom* feet in height ; the dwarfer creep- 

 ing Euonymus radicans and its variegated 

 variety will also grow in suc'h a position. 



There are not many herbaceous plants suit- 

 able for our purpose, but sometimes Aquilegias 

 will become naturalised under trees, though 

 seedlings usually revert to the jDurple spurless 

 type. 



The pretty little native Claytonia perfoliata 

 does quite well on a dry, shady bank under a 

 large chestnut, seeds freely, and comes up in 

 a dense mass annually; the tiny white flowers 

 produced in early summer are quite attractive. 

 Campanula trachelium is fairly good, and given 

 a decent start, holds its own well. 



On the whole, it is to shrubs we must look 

 for the most suitable plants for dry, shady 

 places. 



Gardener. 



Replies to Correspondents 



A. DuNDAS. — Plants for garden in low situation 

 and of a boggy nature. Many plants thrive ad- 

 mirably in boggy soil if given some care; in fact, 

 many herbaceous plants rejoice in it. For the 

 vegetable garden borders which you mention you 

 could certainly try such plant's as the Globe 

 Flowers (Trollius), Astilbes, Spiraeas, Scarlet 

 Lobelias Phloxes, Delphiniums, Iris sibirica Blue 

 King and Snow Queen, strong Primulas, such as 

 P. japonica and P. pulverulenta, the double 

 Caltha palustris, Lysimaehia punctata, Mimulus 

 luteus. Anemone narcissiflorum, and probably 

 Anemone japonica, Lilium pardalinum, Myosotis 

 (Forget-me-Not), of various kinds. Monarda 

 didyma and Eanunculus amplexicaulis. All these 

 and many others are adapted for a damp soil such 

 as you describe. 



Of rock plants there is a wide selection, but 

 perhaps your friend had better begin with the 

 robust and showy kinds first, such as Antennaria 

 dioica, Achillea rupestris, Alyssum argenteum. 

 Anemone Pulsatilla, Arabis albida fl. pL, Are- 

 naria grandiflora, Aubrietia Bridesmaid, Dr. 

 Mules, Fire King, Moerheimii, Campanula car- 

 patica, C. portenschlagiana, Dianthus deltoides. 

 Dianthus plumarius, Gentiana acaulis. Geranium 

 lancastriense, Iberis sempervirens superba, 

 Linum narbonense. Lychnis Viscaria splendens. 

 Phlox proeumbens. Phlox reptans, Saxifraga 

 Cotyledon, Saxifraga sancta. Sax Elizabethae, 

 Sedum roseum. Thymus serpyllum, Veronica 

 Teucrium dubia. Anemone sylvestris. Aster al- 

 pinus, Mertensia echioides, Omphalodes verna. 

 Primula pubescens alba Pulmonaria avernense, 

 Pulmonaria rul)ra, Saxifraga Bathoniensis, Saxi- 

 fraga Ehei superba, Saxifraga H. S. Stokes, Miss 

 Willmot, Red Hussar, &c., Viola Cornuta, Viola 

 bosniaca. The last 14 for the more shady posi- 

 tions. 



Of peat loving shrubs you may try Andromeda 

 floribunda, and Andromeda japonica, Gaultheria 

 Shallon, Erica mediterranea and its varieties. 

 Ledum palustre, Empetrum nignun. Rhododen- 

 dron compactum multiflorum, Cassandra calycu- 

 lata, Kalmia angustifolia, and Kalmia latifolia. 



There is no reason why Azaleas should not 

 thrive, assuming, of course, that the soil is not 

 water-logged. We are afraid the Plum tree would 

 not flourish under the conditions described, but it 

 would depend largely, of course, on how far the 

 thatch projects and the provision of drainage to 

 carry away superabundant moisture. 



