I04 



IRISH GARDENING. 



/tlUIUN'i:.\IAS IX THK KOCK GaHDF.X AT ( i I.ASNK V 1 \. 



The y^thionemas. 



Whkn happily (jiact'd tln'ic aif tew more cliaiiiiing 

 and satisfactory alpines than the various species 

 of ^thionema.. Annually they flower with the 

 t^reatost freedom, and, with few exceptions, seem 

 jx-rfectly hardy if given the right conditions. 



They must have perfect drainage and a free ex- 

 posure. Poor, stony soil suits tliem hetter than 

 a richer medium, causing a harder growth; in fact, 

 most of them under sucli conditions become woody 

 at the l)ase, the woody portion slowly increasing 

 each year. Thus they will come through the 

 iiardest winter. The position should also lie 

 sharply sloping; even an old wall is preferai)le to 

 a flat pocket in districts notoriously wet in winter. 



Seeds are nearly always procuraVjle, and it is 

 advisable after flowering to leave sufficient to en- 

 sure a supply, otherwise most of the roots should 

 be cut back just behind tlie flower spike. 



Perhaps the two most popular si)ecies are 

 Jl'ltliiDveinii (ji(i iiiliflorii and A. j/uIcIipIIii m , tlie 

 former l)earing long r;icemes of rosy ])ink floueis 

 and the latter pale j)ink lilossoms of nnieli lieaiity; 

 both have pretty glaucous leaves. 



A. anifunum, which has lately become fairly 

 connnon in gardens, may be described as a largei- 

 edition of A. pulrJielhim, having larger flowers of 

 soft pale pink carried on rather stoiner shoots. 



.4. c'/nldfii III is unique in its suljjhur yellow 

 flowers, and is wortliy of inclusion among choice 

 rock plants. It repays some attention in cultiva- 

 tion, for it is inclined to be of somewhat leggy 

 growth, if left to itself. Immediately after flower- 

 ing tlu> growths should be well shortened back, 

 leaving only sufficient to obtain seeds; so treated 

 it will remain stocky for years and flower freely. 

 Seedlings of tliis species should be 7)inclu'(i once 

 or twice in spring and early sunnner to make 

 hushy young plants. A group of .1. cnnhihini 

 several feet square never fails to win admiialioii 

 when in full flower. 



A. (inn lie is a slender growing little plant with 

 something of the habit of .1. puh-heUinn. but less 

 vigorous, and with heads of deep pink flowers; it 

 grows quite well, however, in a sunny position in 

 gritty soil. 



An old favourite is A. iheiideum, forming a 

 dense mass of twiggy shoots clothed with small 

 ulaucous leaves, and bearing heads of pure white 

 flowers. .4. persicum forms neat b\ishes of wiry 

 stems, bearing glaucous leaves and terminated by 

 rosy lilac flowers. .4. srhistosum is a somewhat 

 spreading grower, the twiggy stems lying flatter 

 than most, but it is effective when bearing its pink 

 blossoms. Here it is perhaps the least satisfactory 

 in behaviour, odd branches, and sometimes whole 

 jjlants dying off muu-countably in the middle of 

 sunnner. .4. uiipi/sififolid forms a close little tuft of 

 slioots and leaves quite luilike the other species. 

 It l)ears a few white flowers, but is more of 

 hotanical than horticultural interest. 



Dublin Bay. 



Gardeners and Foresters under the 

 Department of Agriculture. 



Attention is directed to the annoiuicement in our 

 advertising columns relative to courses of training 

 in horticulture and forestry to be held during the 

 year 1919-20 under the Department of Agriculture. 



The Horticultural School attached to the Albert 

 Agricultural College, Glasnevin, Dublin, will be 

 open to two classes of resident students, viz. : — 

 (1) Horticultural Instructors in Training, and (2) 

 App)rentices. No applicant will be eligible for ad- 

 mission to the first mentioned course who has not 

 had from five to seven years' continuous experi- 

 ence of gardening. Ap])licants for admission as 

 apprentices will not be recjuired to have had any 

 special exjjerience of this nature. 



Students adnntted as Horticidtural Instructors 

 in Training will receive an allowance of 10s. per 

 week, and he ])rovided witli board and resWence at 

 the College. Apprentices will be j^'ovided with 

 board and residence at the College, and will, after 

 some months' training, b(> eligible^ to receive in 

 addition an allowance of 5s. per week. 



The course for Horticultural Instructors in 

 Training will provide facilities for the study of the 

 sciences l^earing on horticulture. Indoor instruc- 

 tion will be suj)])lemented by work in garden and 

 orchard, special attention being devoted to fruits, 

 vegetables, ))lant diseases and insect i)ests. In the 

 ease of the ai)prentic(>s. outdoor instruction will be 

 sup])lemented by s])ecial classes designed to enable 

 ail a5)prentice to understand the principles under- 

 lying horticultural ])ractice. 



.\rrjuigements have also been made for a course 

 (it instruction for non-resident pupils, open to both 

 male and female .students. These students will be 

 recjuired to lake part for seven or eight hours 

 daily in all the operations carried out in the 

 College gardens. They will, in addition, receive 

 class-room instruction in the sciences bearing on 

 gardening operations. No remuneration will be 

 allowed in the case of these extern st\idents. Tlie 

 instruction will be j)rovided free. 



Applicants for ai)prenticeships in forestry are 

 luit expected to have had any special knowledge 

 of forestry, iiut preference is given to those 

 wlio have had e\|)eri(Miee of work in woods. 

 A pn rent ices will lie 

 rate of Wages fi.ved hy tin 

 l5oard for Ireland in ihe 

 wor-kineii in t he (list riet in w 

 working, 



owed the minimum 



le Agricultm'al Wages 



ease of agricultural 



lieh the apprentice is, 



