68 



IRISH GARDENING. 



Rhododendron taliense. 



There is no published rucurd of this evergreen 

 Chinese Rhododendron tiowering in the British 

 Isles, though first introduced by Mr. E. H. 

 Wilson during his 1903-190-4 Veitchian Expe- 

 dition. It is distinct in habit, forming a com- 

 paratively dwarf, rounded bush at present, 

 though as a wild bush it is said to reach a height 

 of 15 feet to 25 feet. The leaves are dark green 

 above, tawny beneath, with a decidedly 

 leathery texture, ovate to ovate-lanceolate in 

 shape, H inches to 4 inches long, and about 

 one-third of this in width. The Howers are 

 described as about 1 inch in width and depth, 

 up to ten or twelve, occasionally more, Howers 

 in a compact truss. The colour is said to var\ 

 from milky white to cream and yellow, and 

 sometimes a flush of pink. 



li. taliense is found at considerable elevation. 

 The Abbe Delavay collected specimens in 

 Yunnan about 1885, Mr. E. H. Wilson sent 

 home seeds from Western Szechuan in 1903-04, 

 and from Tachien-lu in 1908-10. This note is 

 perhaps more concerned with its further intro- 

 duction by Mr. George Forrest in 1900, as he 

 is responsible for the illustration of the plant 

 growing on the eastern flank of the Tali and 

 Lichiang ranges at an elevation of 11,000 

 to 14,000 feet. Cultivated specimens max 

 easily be confused with li. ]*rzewalskii, which 

 it most nearly resembles. In fact, some of Mr. 

 Forrest's numbers may prove to be this species. 



A. O. 



NOTICE 



y? EADERS are invited to submit questions 

 bearing on gardening in any of its 

 branches, it is our desire to stimulate and 

 encourage gardening in Ireland, and we are 

 in touch with experts who will be glad to 

 give every assistance. 



We are always open to consider articles 

 and would be glad to receive photographs 

 of gardens or plants— for publication, if suit- 

 able ; senders will oblige by stating whether 

 payment is desired in the event of publication. 



Cyclamens. 



The accompanying photo of the Cyclamen Ciaut 

 White was taken fourteen months after sowing 

 the seed, and shows what may be exj^ected from 

 these fine winter-flowering plants. The seed 

 was sown at the end of July in heat and grown 

 in heat during the winter and spring months, 

 the plants being kept potted on, before they got 

 pot-bound. From the beginning of May to the 

 end of August they were grown in a frame, 

 syringed in sunny weather, and given light 

 shading from hot sun. At the end of August 

 they were brought into a warm greenhouse, 

 when the Hower spikes were beginning to show 

 freely. The plants were stimulated with liquid 

 manure, and uccasionalh with Clav's Fertiliser. 



A. S. 



Fruit Prospects. 



It is yet too soon (2ist April) to pro])hesy 

 with regard to the fruit crop for tiiu coming 

 season. The blossoming jjeriod is a critical 

 time, and hail and frost often do irreparable 

 damage to the bloom. The prospects, how- 

 ever, are good, and given a favourable spell of 

 weather during the next few weeks, there 

 should be an excellent crop of fruit. The 

 season is a late one, and the si)ring has been 

 extremely harsli, consequently there is no 

 danger of premature blooming. Flower buds 

 are numerous on the apple trees, and swelling 

 fast, though on some varieties they are yet 

 quite dormant. This is all to the good. 



Varieties of Apples like Lane's P. Albert, 

 Lord Grobvenor, Golden Spire, Newton 

 Wonder, &c., which cropped heavily last season, 

 should have the flowers or fruit thinned if neces- 

 sary. This will relieve the strain of over 

 cropping, and enable the trees to carry better 

 fruit. The (juestion of feeding such trees also 

 arises, and sh(juld not be neglected. D, 



Trees and Shrubs. 



TdW.MiiJ.s the eiul of April there was a remark- 

 able imi)rovement in the number of woody 

 plants in flower. In the course of a few days 

 winter vanished, at least in the day-time, and 

 spring arrived. Although the nights remained 

 cold and even frosty, the warm sun coaxed 

 many shrubs into flower. 



The wonderful improvement in the popuhii' 

 Foiftijiliids is evidenced l)y the oiiening of such 

 handsome varieties as F. intcnurdia driisijiora, 

 which well merits the varietal name from tlie 

 dense way in which the flowers are ])roduced ; 

 F. 'uttcrnieiJia aprctdhili.'i is deeper in colour 

 than the type and flowers more freely, making 



