I20 



IRISH GARDENING. 



FriniuUi Becisiana, introduced from China 

 some years ago, is very useful as a late Howerer, 

 Ijroducing tall stems 18 inches to 2 feet high, 

 and can-ymg numerous whorls of pale, purple 

 flowers, a colour not in itself perhaps very 

 attractive, but a healthy colony bearing nume- 

 rous spikes always attracts attention. 



r. Bulleyana is distinctly one of the best of 

 the lately mtroduced Chinese Primulas, and is 

 so easily grown that no garden should be with- 

 out it. The orange-yellow flowers, produced in 

 whorls on tall stems, are very lovely in a shady 

 position. Between these two species a fine 

 race of hybrids has been raised, giving many 

 beautiful shades of orange, reddish orange and 

 jiink. The hybrids are generally robust and 

 free flowering, and make a glorious display 

 wlieii phmted in generous masses. 



Needless to say, all the seedlings are not first- 

 rate, and the worst should be weeded out. The 

 finest may be divided after flowering, and those 

 who prefer groups of one colour or shade have 

 endless opportunities of enjoying masses of 

 pink, orange, reddish orange and yellow, in 

 July, by separating the different plants when 

 dividing, thereafter planting them where de- 

 sired. 



F. Jidodoxa flowers towards the end of June 

 and right into July, bearing vei^ tall stems, 

 furnished with whorls of clear, yellow flowers. 

 'ri:is in a mass is a telling plant, and it is diffi- 

 cult to forecast what may be the outcome of 

 crossing it with some of the other tall growers, 

 l)ut it seems likely that other fine things may 

 result. 



P. StnitJtiaua is of the same nature as helo- 

 (](i:r(t, but rather smaller in all — not so tall, and 

 with rather smaller flowers, also clear yellow. 



P. Littoniana will appeal to many on account 

 of its quaint and unusual appearance, ft is at 

 first sight altogether unlike a Primula when in 

 flower. It grows from a foot to 15 inches high, 

 having hairy leaves, from among which arise 

 the stems, terminated by dense spikes of small 

 (lowers, conspicuous in the bud stage by reason 

 of the bright red calyx; on opening, the bhu; 

 (•f)rolhi protrudes, the whole combining to make 

 this a truly remarkable plant. 



P. Poissoni is an old favourite, not however 

 <(uite so easy to do as some others. It likes 

 moisture, but must not be too wet in winter, 

 conditions not easy to provide. The tall st^ms 

 hear numerous whorls of deep purple flowers, 

 and a healthy colony makes a fine displa3^ 



P. Wilfioni, from a pardon point of view, 

 resembles P. Poissoni, but is a distinctly better 

 grower. It flom-ishes quite near water, and 

 never fails to produce abundance of tall stems, 

 with numerous whorls of flowers, rather similar 

 to those of P, Poissoni, but not so largo, There 



is no doubt P. Wilsoni will become popular on 

 account of its freedom and season of flowering. 



Seeds of all the above are produced in plenty, 

 and should be sov\-n as soon as ripe, placing the 

 pots in a cool frame in shade. Some, at least, 

 will usually germinate in a few weeks^ and the 

 majority certainly in the following spring. Tlie 

 seed pots must not be over-ivatered in winter, 

 otherwise the seeds will rot. 



Old plants should be divided after flowering, 

 and if to be replanted on the same site, a 

 quantity of fresh soil, peat or leaf -mould, and 

 a little well-rotted manure, may be added. 



Nuphar Polysepalum. 



This remarkable N. American Pond Lily has 

 flowered freely this summer in the Lily Pond 

 at Glasnevin. In point of size, it is the most 

 distinct of the Nuphars cultivated there, and 

 is worthy of inclusion where collections of water 

 plants are grown. 



Tlie leaves are large, mostly held somewhat 

 above the surface of the water, on stout stalks. 

 Most striking, however, are the flowers : large 

 in size, the outer sepals greenish yellow and 

 the inner deeper, with reddish shading, while 

 the petals are reddish brown ; the large central 

 stigma is very prominent. 



The plant at Glasnevin has been in the pond 

 for manj' years, showing little disposition to 

 spread, and is only now making offsets. 



Other species grown at Glasnevin in addition 

 to the above are N. macrophyllum, N. mini- 

 mum, N. intermedium, N. japonicum, N. 

 jurasnum, and the common N. luteum. 



Notes from my Rock Garden. 



Campanula and Dianthus. 



August finds only liere and tliere a blossom on 

 the various lovely patches that have kept the 

 Rock Garden gay in ])ast months, and it is a wise 

 gardener who has, like myself, planted many 

 varieties of Campanuhi and Uianthus. Of course 

 a general tidying up should now be done, all ripe 

 seeds sown if required, and every withered stalk 

 and hloom cut off, all surplus growth cut back, and 

 tlie rich greens, the greyish, variegated or silvery 

 plants, such as the lovely varieties of Artemesias. 

 will make pleasing patches amongst the Campan- 

 ulas and Dianthi. Most plants will bloom again 

 more or le.s.s after the dead fiowers have been re- 

 moved, so it is well to try to prolong the blooming 

 period when possi1)lc. 



Ajuga grandifloTu is one that keeps sending 

 up its gentian-blue spikes if cut back, and many 

 Campanulas will fontinue w(>ll into October if 

 thus treated. 



Campanula muralis is now groat masses of wide 

 violet l)elis. as are also Bavarica and portens- 

 schlagiana in the larger forms, and certainly no 



