IRISH GAKDENiJMG 



99 



Hardy Calceolarias. 



The gorgeous Calceolarias of the greenhouse 

 are objects of much admiration, and never 

 fail to attract visitors at iiower shows and in 

 public gardens. 



To the lover of the outdoor garden, and 

 especially to one who is interested in rock 

 gardening, it is satisfactory to know that several 

 species and at least one hybrid may be grown 

 in the open. 



There are two sections — viz., herbaceous 

 species and shrubby species, looked at from 

 a gardening point of view. 



To the first section belongs C. plantaginea, 

 a low growing plant spreading by means of 

 short side growths; the leaves, formed in 

 rosettes, are broadly ovate with toothed mar- 

 gins and attain a considerable size in moist 

 positions. The flowers, produced on slender 

 stems, nine inches to a foot high, are a fine 

 bright yellow,, a good i)lant nzaking a fine 

 show. 



C. polyrhiza increases rapidly by means of 

 wide-spreading rhizomes, and quickly finds 

 its way into conditions which suit it. At 

 Glasnevin, where it was originally planted in 

 a small bog, it spread vip a bank on one side 

 and established itself among the roots of ferns 

 growing there ; it appears to like rather drier 

 conditions than C. plantaginea. The leaves 

 are long and narrowed into a petiole and are 

 softly hairy on both surfaces. The flowers, 

 produced singly on slender stems, have a 

 rounded "pouch" yellow with numerous 

 reddish brown spots underneath. 



Calceolaria John Innes is a remarkably fine 

 plant raised at the John Innes Horticultui'ul 

 Institute, Surrey. It is the result of crossing 

 the two species previously mentioned, and 

 combines the good qualities of both parents. 

 In habit it closely resembles C. plantaginea, 

 forming a comparatively compact mass in- 

 creasing by short side growths ; the leaves are 

 intermediate, narrower than those of C. jilant- 

 aginea, but not showing the distinct petiole 

 of C. polyrhiza. The flowers, produced in pairs, 

 are carried on wiry stems nine inches to a 

 foot in height ; they are longer than either of 

 the parents, the pouch widening as it expands, 

 becoming somewhat wedge-shaped. The coloiu- 

 is bright yellow, with a few brown spots on 

 the underside of the pouch. 



Shrubby Speciks. 



Of these there is a considerable number, but 

 only a very few can be grown outside, and these 

 only in the milder parts of the country, or in 

 very slieltered positions. 



C. alba is one of the most attractive, with 

 narrow dark green leaves, slightly toothed. 



The tlowers, produced in branched racemes 

 are small and pure white. The whole plant is 

 somewhat viscid or clammy. This makes an 

 mterestmg wall plant, and is worth persever- 

 mg with where good plants are appreciated. 



C. integrifolia is fairly hardy ni mild locali- 

 ties or with shelter. The leaves are oval, 

 tapering to a blunt point, dark green above, 

 grey below with prominent veins. The flowers! 

 produced in clusters on long stems, are bright 

 yellow, and make a good display from July 

 fmwards. 



C. Sinclaiii is an attractive plant where it 

 succeeds, but cannot be reckoned as hardy, 

 though it lives in a cold frame, and is frequently 

 subjected to frost. Where it can be kept fairly 

 dry in winter it seems to survive all right, and 

 a position should be selected accordingly when 

 planting in the open. The base of a wall, or 

 a sheltered dry position in the rock garden, 

 where M'ater could be applied in summer, would 

 seem to offer the greatest hopes of success. 

 C. Sinclairi forms a low-spreading bush, the 

 leaves, green above and whitish below, are 

 distinctly stalked, the stalk and midrib of the 

 leaf being tinged with a dull reddish brown 

 colour. The flowers are white, with I'eddish 

 purple spots. 



C. violacea is certainly one of the hardiest, 

 and survives in a variety of positions, but re- 

 quires protection from cold winds. The leaves 

 are oval lanceolate and stalked, while the light 

 violet-coloured flowers are marked with darker 

 spots below. Given shelter in winter and an 

 adequate supply of moisture in summer, C. 

 violacea is a most attractive and distinct 

 ])lant wortliy of a place among choice things. 



X., Dublin. 



At Powerscourt 



With the Dubhn Microscopic Club. 



On Saturday, the 28th June, the Dublin 

 Microscopic Club held its annual outing in 

 the magnificent gardens and grounds of 

 Powerscourt. 



Lord Powerscourt gave the members a 

 hearty welcome, and accorded them permis- 

 sion to go where they liked and examine every- 

 thing of interest. 



The magnificent specimens of Pinus radiata 

 (insignis) flanking the approach to the entrance 

 gate gave the key to the whole place. These 

 noble specimens, splendidly branched and of 

 great height and girth, are among the finest 

 to be seen anywhere. Just inside the entrance 

 are many fine old Beeches, with clean, straight 

 boles such as delight the forester's eye. 



In the grounds surrounding the mansion, 

 and surrounded by hills, the collection of trees, 



