124 



IRISH GARDENING. 



tokens, and quite original in colour, deep reddish- 

 purple and violet with a large black centre. 



D. Yvette Guilbert, sent out some years ago, 

 but one of the loveliest of the light blues; flowers 

 single, large, and of the most charming pale blue. 



Jj. Zruster Lugten, a magnificent dark-coloured 

 variety, very effective, of the richest Oxford blue 

 with plum centre. 



Rhododendrons at Drumbrae. 



The photograph reproduced in our present issue 

 depicts a beautiful garden scene at Drumbrae, 

 Bantry, Co. Cork, the residence of Mr. A. B. B. 

 Wilkinson. The luxuriance with which many 

 rare and beautiful plants grow in the mild 

 climate of that district is well known. Mr. 

 Wilkinson, in sending the photos, remarks : — 

 " I enclose photo ... of hybrid Rhododendrons 

 and one of R. Falconeri 12 feet high. The flowers 

 are of great size, many of the trusses being 

 9 inches in diameter. Another Falconeri here had 

 123 trusses of flowers last year. Aucklandi hybrid 

 is just out of flower and proves quite hardy 

 here; it is a freer flowerer than true Aucklandi, 

 which also grows well in the open. 



" Myosotideum nobile flourishes here. One large 

 plant had five spikes of flowers this season. They 

 grow in soil composed half of Bantry coral sand 

 and half top soil from a meadow. Paroehetus 

 communis, planted last autumn, flowered pro- 

 fusely and now covers several square yards of 

 ground." 



Trial of Strawberries at Wisley. 



The Royal Horticultural Society will carry <.ut a 

 trial of Strawberries (outdoors) during the conung 

 season in their gardens at Wisley. They hope to 

 include as many varieties as possible in this trial 

 and would be glad if growers would send twenty 

 plants of each variety to be tried so as to rcoch 

 the Director, R.H.S. Gardens, Wisley, Kiploy, 

 Surrey (L. & S. W. Ry., Horsley), not later tl an 

 August IG. 



NOTICE 



T) EADERS are invited to submit questions 

 bearing on gardening m any of its 

 branches. It is our desire to stimulate and 

 encourage gardening in Ireland, and we are 

 in touch with experts who will be glad to 

 give every assistance. 



We are always open to consider articles, 

 and would be glad to receive photographs 

 of gardens or plants for publication, if suit- 

 able ; senders will oblige by stating whether 

 payment is desired in the event of publication. 



Contributions should reach the Editor not 

 later than the 1 5th of each month. 



Allotments. 



Competitions and Shows. — The annual show for 

 allotment holders has done a good deal to raise 

 the standard of growing vegetables on allotments. 

 In many cases, however, a good deal remains to be 

 done in the arrangement of vegetables on the ex- 

 hibition talile. With the suspension of the regular 

 horticifltural shows in many places allotment 

 holders have not had the opi)ortunity to observe 

 wliat the professional and more experienced culti- 

 vator is capable of doing. Cabbages for exhibi- 

 tion should be fresh, with firm hearts of medium 

 size, and the exhiljit should be uniform. Cauli- 

 flowers should be perfectly white and clean and 

 impress a judge with their freshness and solidity. 

 Potatoes should be free from disease, the skins 

 clear, fresh and clean, and the tubers all of the 

 same size. Many of the coloured Potatoes have 

 deep eyes and should always be in a class by them- 

 selves but failing this they are seldom able to com- 

 pete with white Potatoes, which have a smooth 

 appearance and are free from deep eyes. Peas 

 should be well filled; large pods of a deep green 

 colour. Condition and quality are also important. 

 In the case of Onions, the shape depends on the 

 variety shown, but the neck should be small; size 

 and firmness is essential. Leeks should be well 

 blanched, with the stems long and thick. Kidney 

 and Runner Beans are often shown too large. 

 The Beans should be brittle and clear and all 

 the pods sliould be of uniform length and form. 

 Long stringy Beet would never have a chance 

 with an exhibit of good quality and colour. 

 Carrots will differ in size and shape according to 

 the variety grown, but the skin and colour should 

 be clear and bright, and free from side roots. Ex- 

 hibition Celery is often a difficult problem for 

 allotment holders. The heads .should be of good 

 size, clean, well blanched and solid. Parsnii)S 

 should taper evenly, of moderate length and 

 smooth skin. In the case of Rhubarb, colour, 

 freshness and size is important. Separate classes 

 should l)e given so as not to include white and 

 vellow Turnips with the garden Swede. Coarse 

 i-oots are to be avoided. Vegetable Marrows 

 should 1)0 of fair size, nicely shaped and tender. 

 The colour will de])end on the variety grown. 

 Parsley and other herbs when shown in a collec- 

 tion should i)e tied in neat l)unches. 



Seed Sowing.— Seeds should be sown towards the 

 end of the month, of Cabbages, to provide supT)li"S 

 next spring. Useful kinds for sowing in autumn 

 are Flower of Spring, Ellam's Early, First and 

 Best and Earlv Offenhain. We find Flower of 

 Spring is a reliable variety and seldom or never 

 goes to seed with us when sown about the 25th 

 of the month. In cold situations the seed might 



