54 



IRISH GARDENING. 



are checked. Of the four principal f;ul)Stances it 

 would seem that nitrogen is particularly neces- 

 sary where luxuriant and sappy growth is de- 

 sired, and that w'hen used in excess, just as when 

 too much water is given, the plant< become over 

 sappy and long-jointed and are easily affected by 

 pests and disease, or by injury due to bruises — 

 rubbing, &c. ; and also that when nitrogen is 

 used to excess the plants are slower in reaching 

 maturity. Phosphates, on the other hand, appear 

 to have a slowing down and consolidating effect, 

 tending to hasten maturity and the production 

 of fruits and flowers, stimulating the production of 

 roots and root fibres, and raising the quality of 

 fruits formed. 



The effects of Pofnsh, while not so marked as 

 the others, probably because most soils, with the 

 exreptlon of poor sands seem to have a fair quota, 

 is again different. It would seem, first of all, 

 that where food is lieing stored up, either in stem, 

 root, leaf or fruit, that the presence of a sufficient 

 supply has a very marked effect. It would seem 

 as if wlir-n potash is lacking, or slightly so, that 

 the plant is not al)le to do successful work In its 

 green parts, or, i.e., transfer the food which l.&s 

 been elaborated from one part of the plant to the 

 other. Leaves, flowers and fruits appear, also, 

 to lose their cliaracteristic brightness of colour 

 where potash is lacking, while the flowers are 

 often less fertile. Phiiits are apparently more 

 liealthy and alile to resist disease and pests better 

 when fully supplied with potash. 



Lime is of greater value for its sweetening or 

 sanitary effect in the soil, also for its chemical 

 action on other soil compounds, than for its 

 direct feeding value. It is, however, particularly 

 necessary as a food for stone fruits, as the stone 

 is largely made up of calcium carbonate or 

 " lime " as we gardeners know it. It appears 

 also to act as a stimulant to root action, to in- 

 crease the vigour of plants, and acts as a tonic 

 generally, just as quinine does to some patients. 

 It will l^e seen, therefore, that the question of 

 manures is one requiring careful consideration, 

 not only from the points of view enumerated 

 above, ])ut also in relation to soil conditions, 

 whether containing sufficient air. sufficient w.tim-. 

 sufficient lime. &e. \\'. TT. •!. 



(Tn hr mrii'invrd .) 



The Fruit Industry. 



Arrival of Apples from British C'ouimri.v. 



Thref, thousand boxes of apples have arrived in 

 England from Briti.sh Colimibia din-ing the last 

 few days, including Jonathans, Wine Raps, New- 

 tons, Spitzenbergs and Rome Beauties. 



Samples are now being exhibited in the windows 

 of British Columbia House. Regent Street, and at 

 the offices of the Canadian Paeifn' Itaihvny. 

 Charing Cross. 



These Apples, grown in the Okanagan distriet 

 of British Columbia, are the finest that have 

 been seen in England for many years. In mo.';t 

 cases there are only from 52 to 5.5 Apples to n 

 ))0x, where ordinarily t lie re are 100 to 1.50. 



The Rock Garden. 



Early March produced many signs of spring in the 

 rock garden. Species of Crocuses, some previously 

 alluded to, proved their value for an early display. 

 Crocus chrysanthus Canary Bird will l)ear meii- 

 tion again for, from a smnll clump, the nuinl)er nf 



golden yellow flowers produced has been truly 

 anuizing, and the length of time din-ing which they 

 continue to push up is no less wonderfid. 



C. Tonnnasinianus has also kept on producing its 

 pale lavender flowers in great profusion. This 

 species is making itself tlioroughly at home in the 

 rockery, seeding about everywhere, and coming up 

 even by the sides of the hard paths. One hopes 

 that others may do likewise. 



Scilla bifolia rosea makes a welcome patch of 

 colour, and is satisfactory in its healthy growth. 

 The colour leaves something to be desired, as there 

 is just a hint in it that all the blue of the type has 

 not been got rid of; nevertheless, it flowers at a 

 time when there are not many " pinks '" or 

 " roses " on the rockery. 



Chionodoxa Luciliae var. Sardensis attracts every 

 one; the clear bhie of the flowers appeals to all, 

 and seems like a harbinger of Gentian days to 

 come. 



Tuli])a Kaufmanniana is a wonderful tulip of 

 March, so hardy and so free-flowering, bearing 

 abundantly its pale, yellow flowers which 0])en 

 wide in the sun, like water lilies. T. K. coccinea 

 is a variety of a fine orange red colour, and flowers 

 about the same time. 



Anemone blanda began to flower early in March 

 ;uid towards the middle of the month was begin- 

 ning to make a display. The two varieties alba 

 and Seythinica were in advance of the commoner 

 blue form. 



Saxifraga burseriana Emperor flowered well in a 

 granite moraine, and Magna was out at the same 

 time. A tuft of major which is usmilly good, this 

 year only gave a flower or two. A six inch pan of 

 S. Inirseriana tridentata has been carrying scores 

 of fine large pure white flowers on reddisli stems. 

 and was a beautiful object in the Alpine House. 

 The same may lie said of S. X. Irvingi, the beauti- 

 ful hybrid named after Mr. Irving, of Kew. A six 

 inch pan of this beautiful ])lant was literally 

 covered with pale pink, short stennned flowers, so 

 that scarcely a leaf could be seen. It is doing well 

 on the rock garden and is just coming into flower, 

 l)ut will ])robably ))e over ere these notes appear. 



Iris Rosenbachiana in a sunny l)order in deep 

 loam continues to flourish, and has flowered lately. 

 It is one of the jnost satisfactory of the stemless 

 •luno Irises, and the reddish pm-ple flowers 

 variously marked are most attractive. 



T. Tubergeniana flowered in the same position, 

 and l)elongs to the dwarf Juno set. The flowers in 

 this case are i)ale yellow, and bear a narrow beard 

 or crest, of a (lee]ier shade, on the falls. 



The Gromwells. 



1 AM obliged to my informant about the distinc- 

 tion l)etween Moltkia petrtea and Lithospermum 

 rosinarinifoliiun. There seems to he some am- 

 bignitv abotit the nomenclatm-e. for in the Kew 

 Hand List of Heibaceous Plants. 1902. Lithosper- 

 miun losimirinifolium is not mentioned, and in 

 the Hand Inst of Trees and Shrubs of the same year 

 the name is given as a synonym of Moltkia ))etr;ipa. 



Monreith. Heriu;i!T Maxwkll. 



[The omission of \i. rosmarinifolinm from the 

 Kew List of Herbaceous Plants may be due to it 

 not being hardy at Kew. or they may consider it 

 a shrub. Tn the List of Trees and Shrubs. L. ros- 

 marinil'olium of Reiclienbaeh is correctly given as 

 a synonym of Moltkia petrira. but the authority 

 Inr the true L. rosmarinifolinm is Tenore. — En.] 



