IRISH GARDENING. 



69 



a striking bush. F. suspensa atrocaidis, intro- 

 duced by ^Ir. Wilson, has dark, purplish shoots 

 and pale j^ellow liowers, freely produced; it is 

 a notable and beautiful shrub, deserving of wide 

 recognition. AnielancJtier canadensis^ the June 

 Berry of Canada and the States of America, 

 is one of the most satisfactory of small flower- 

 ing trees, rarely failing to provide a wealth of 

 blossom in April, followed by reddish berries in 

 June, while the leaves change to delightful red 

 and yellow shades in autumn. The flowers, as 

 a rule, do not last long, but as the tree is small 

 and does not occupy much space, its beauty 

 can be enjoyed in various positions. 



Water Lilies. 



Nymphj.a, Ordkh Xympileace.e. 



A GF.xus of magnificent and most desirable 

 aquatic plants; there is every likelihood that 

 the cultivation of these plants will be more ex- 

 tended, with the introduction of the new hardy 

 iiybrids which have given colours hitherto un- 

 known among the hardy ^Yater-Lilies. Their 

 handsome leaves and beautiful flowers render 

 them ornaments to any garden, whether they 

 are grown in the open or in tanks imder glass. 



They thrive best in a situation open to the 

 sun, and may be grown in barrels, basins, 

 streams, creeks, rivers and lakes. 



A natural basin may be formed in a river by 

 planting for protection against floods such 

 aquatics as the Giant Reed Mace, Acorus 

 calamus and Iris pseudo-acorus in shallow 

 water. 



The plants should be tied to stakes driven 

 into the bed of river. 



Soil . — For barrels and artificial l)asins place a 

 good layer of loamy clay at the bottom, and 

 four or five inches of fibrous loam and leaf- 

 mould for planting tubers in, then fill up with 

 water. 



PJaniing. — The best time is from the middle 

 of April to the end of June. When planting in 

 lakes or ponds use shallow baskets filled with 

 soil, plant tubers, then tie down and sink where 

 required. 



Varieties suitable for tubs, barrels, basins, 

 and small ponds: — Nymphsea, Laydekeri, 

 N. pygmea alba, X. Ellisiana, and N. odorata. 



Varieties suitable for rivers, lakes, and large 

 ponds: — N. Gladstoniana, N. alba, N. Marli- 

 acea carnea. 



Propagation. — By division in spring; a small 

 portion of the rootstock with a bud will soon 

 make a good plant, with ordinary cai'e. 



By seeds sown in spring in small pots of soil 

 sunk in water and placed in a warm tempera- 

 ture. AxGUs Slater. 



14th April, 1919. 



Hardy Plant Notes. 



DoRONicuM Miss Mason is quite a good early- 

 flowering form of the Leopard's Bane, and was 

 open early in April on a sunny border. At this 

 time it was not more than six inches high, the 

 bright yellow flower heads looking very bright in 

 the cold days we then endured. Like others of 

 its kind it is easily increased by division of the 

 roots in autumn or spring. 



Vnleridiin pttii (ivreii. though of little account 

 during the rest of the year, is quite attractive in 

 spring, when the leaves and young growths assume 

 a bright yellow colour. Later in the year the 

 plant is green and of little value from a decorative 

 point of view; it should therefore be planted in 

 some position where it will not be in the way of 

 better summer plants. 



Anemone pulsafiUa ulba has not the merits of 

 the violet coloured type, yet, when seen in good 

 clumps or masses, it is not without value in April. 

 The white flowers generally do not seem so large 

 as those of the conunoner form, but are neverthe- 

 less ^effective in contrast. A loamy soil containing 

 lime suits the Pasque Flower very well. 



Anemone hiandci scythinica is a really beauti- 

 ful variety of A. blanda differing from the type in 

 having the petals pure white wifliin and deep blue 

 without. It is difficult to say at which stage the 

 flowers are more attractive, in the bud when the 

 blue is most in evidence, or when fiflly open, show- 

 ing the glistening white inner side of the petals. 

 The plant sows itself freely, and the seedlings 

 come wonderfully true, though occasionally some 

 have wholly blue flowers, and good forms can 

 often be picked out. A moist position in peaty soil 

 or leaf-mould suits it admirably. 



Tiflips of garden origin have been little seen in 

 our gardens of late years, if we except those lucky 

 places where Darwins and Cottage Tulips thrive 

 and do not " break." Happily, however, many of 

 the more robust wild species have remained with 

 us and have been a source of delight to many. 



TtiJipa pniestons, Tuliergen's variety is worthy 

 of notice, being hardy and prolific, so that a stock 

 may soon be acquired by carefully lifting the bulbs 

 annually, taking care of the small ones as well as 

 the large. The pointed flowers are bright salmon 

 red in colour, and look remarkably well when 

 grouped in the rock garden in a warm sunny 

 position. 



Tiilipn pohjrhromn has pale pink flowers, the 

 petals yellow at the base inside; the leaves are 

 comparatively long and slender, mostly lying flat 

 on the soil. 



Tulipn pulrhelln is a pretty little species with 

 pink flowers a shade deeper than those of poly- 

 chroma and with narrow wavy leaves close to the 

 soil also. 



Tiilipo prnecox is a tall strong grower remmi- 

 scent of the Cottage or Darwin varieties. The 

 globiflar flowers are rich red with dark blotches at 

 The base of the segments. 



Tiilipn Fosterinno was a blaze of colour up to 

 the middle of April and attracted much attention. 

 The huge scarlet flowers are readily seen from a 

 considerable distance, and never fail to win the 

 warmest praise from every visitor. 



Tulipn Greigii is somewhat of an enigma and 

 does not lend" itself to lifting annually so weH as 

 some others. It is an attractive species, however, 

 and our greatest success with it has been in plant- 

 incT close to the base of a sunny wall, in loam and 

 sand and then "leaving well alone," There it 



