86 



IRISH GARDENING. 



Notes, 



Magnolias. 



The late season has suited the Magnohas ex- 

 tremely well, and though in some earlier dis- 

 tricts the flo\vers of some suffered from severe 

 weather in the end of April, yet in the Dublin 

 district they have seldom been finer. 



]\Iagnolia conspicua, the Chinese Yulan en- 

 Lily Tree, is one of the most attractive of the 

 larger growers, and bears abundantly its large 

 pure IV hit c flowers on the practically leafless 

 branches. 



Magnolia Houlangiana, another ])opular kind, 

 is a hybrid between ]\1. conspicua and M. obo- 

 vata, and differs from the former in that the 

 flowers are always more or less coloured with 

 reddish purple on the outside of the petals. 

 This hybrid and its forms are more common in 

 gardens than tlie pure white Yulan, and in 

 favourable seasons makes a tiuly fine disi)lay. 

 In cold districts the Magnolias are probably 

 better grown as wall plants, for though gener- 

 ally hardy enough, they enjoy warmth and sun- 

 shine, and respond in a profusion of flowers. 

 In Scotland they are frequently found adorning 

 walls. 



Magnolia stellata is a much smaller slirub 

 than either of the preceding, and flowers earlie)', 

 with the result that not infrequently a frosty 

 night ruins the season's display. Nevertheless, 

 it is such an attractive plant when furnished 

 with its pure-white star-like flowers that it is 

 worthy of a sheltered positipn^ where it could 

 be afforded some artificial protection. 



Osmanthus Delavayi. 



E.vcil succeeding year emphasises the value of 

 this Chinese shrub tor warm and sheltered posi- 

 tions in our gardens. It forms an attractive 

 flowering evergreen busli on one of the lawns 

 at Kew, though a phmt on a warm south wall 

 is flowering more freely. The growth of the 

 shrubs under notice suggest that in the milder 

 parts of the country Osmanthus Delavayi 

 would make a most useful ami attractivf hedge 

 of moderate si/e. 



A sturdy ])usii, tliickly clDtheil wilh siii;ill, 

 dark green leaves, it is ornamental thi(jughout 

 the year. In April the l)ranches are wreathed 

 with small, dainty, white, ttibular blossoms, 

 which are pleasingly fragrant. Cuttings made 

 of moderately Arm young slioots root freely 

 under a bell-glass towards the end ol the 

 summer. The bushes appeal' to thrive in most 

 soils, provided they are well-drained and freely 

 cultivated. 



A native of Yunnan, Osmanthus Delavayi 

 was flrst introduced to Europe by the Abbe 

 ])ela.vavi, who sent seeds to M. Maurice de 

 Vilmorin in IHOO. A. O. 



Rhododendron Augustini. 



This unique and attractive Chinese species 

 flowered freely dui'ing the early part of May, 

 and is likely to become popidar when better 

 known and nujie plentiful in commerce. 



The colour of the flowers varies in different 

 plants, some being slightly darker than others, 

 but the prevailing tone is blue, though pink and 

 white varieties have been noted. In its bluest 

 forms it is a most pleasing shrub, growing at 

 least four feet high, and very likely more in 

 time. The leaves are oblong lanceolate, scaly 

 on the under surface, and with a strong aro- 

 matic fragrance when bruised. It is much to 

 be hoj)ed that the new Chinese species of 

 lihododendrons now flowering annually will be 

 raised from seeds, cuttings, or layers in prefer- 

 ence to gi-afting. 



Rhododendron flavidum. 



Among the wealth of Rhododendron species in- 

 troduced from China during the last twenty 

 years, this is one of the most distinct. It can 

 be best descril)ed as a small shrub of close, 

 bushy habit, eminently suited to the rock 

 garden, or tlie sheltered, nai'row border of select 

 small shrubs, which each year becomes in- 

 creasingly interesting. In happy siu-roundings 

 IC flavidum forms a rounded bush during April, 

 freely clothed with primrose-yellow blossoms 

 about one inch in diameter. 



It is fign)('i| in the Bdiiinicnl Miujazine, tab. 

 H82G, as il. priiniiliniun. A native of West 

 Szechiu'U, China, the species was flrst intro- 

 duced by M: !■:. H. Wilson in lOO,"). 



Cuttings made of the half-ripe yoimg shoots 

 root ea)'ly in August, inserted in peaty soil and 

 covered with a bell-glass. A. O. 



Viburnum Carlesii- 



Tins delightlnl shrub from Korea is one of the 

 successes o[ the piesent backward season. 

 llaicly has it flowered more fively, charming 

 all w ith its compact corynd)s of wax-like white 

 flowers and delicious perfume. A well-drained 

 position in good loamy soil suits it perfectly, 

 while tlu! neat habit of growth is an advantage 

 whe)-e space is limited. The only drawback, if 

 sucli it may be called, is that the leaves are apt 

 to be attacked by hhicl: ihj in summer. A 

 timely application of an insecticide will du 

 iiwa\ wit h this. 



