IRISH GARDENING. 



153 



ing shrub, suitable for a wall. The small, 

 w'hite flowers, borne in panicles, have an agree- 

 able Hawthorn scent. The leaves are only an 

 inch, or little more, in length, and narrow, 

 placed alternately on the slender, wiry twigs. 

 Propagation may be effected by cuttings taken 

 in summer before the fiower-buds form, and 

 occasionally seeds are produced. 



B., Dublin. 



Crinums and Nerine Out-of-Doors 

 in October. 



Plants which flower well in October are much 

 to be desired, and are worthy of attention, more 

 partieularl}^ those of a perennial nature. 



The abnormally warm, dry sumn:ier we have 

 just experienced has suited many plants, 

 though some few may have suffered from 

 drought. The fine spell, continuing well into 

 October, has proved very beneficial to plants 

 which naturally flower late, or given suitable 

 weather continue to produce flowers. 



The Crinums, mentioned at the head of this 

 note, belong to the latter category, and although 

 they have flowered freely since August, are 

 still, in the middle of October, carrying flowers 

 in plenty. The species figured in the present 

 number of Irish G.\rdexing is C. Powellii, per- 

 haps the best-known of the hardy Crinums, if 

 we except C. longifolum, better known as C. 

 capense. 



C. Powellii is a hybrid Ijetween the S. Afi'ican 

 C. Moorei and C. longifolium, also from S. 

 Africa. The 'habit of growth is well shown in 

 the illustration, the flowers being produced in 

 succession in umbles carried on tall, stout 

 stems. In colour, they are pale pink, and there 

 is also a white variety of equal beauty. 



C. Moorei is quite as suitable for outdoor cul- 

 ture, and is of similar habit, the flowers, how- 

 ever, being deeper in colour; like the last- 

 named, this species too has a pure white form. 



All the Crinums rejoice in a deep, warm soil, 

 in a sunny position, and when planting, the top 

 of the bulb should be at least six inches below 

 the surface. Where hard frosts are common in 

 winter and early spring, the base of a sunny 

 wall or close to a greenhouse is a suitable place 

 to plant Crinums, as there the soil is usually 

 fairly dry and well drained, and frost does not 

 penetrate to the same extent. 



Nerine Bowdeni as an outdoor plant is quite 

 a recent feature in gardens, but one that has 

 come to stay. Judging from our experience so 

 far, it is quite as amenable to cultivation in the 

 open as Amaryllis Belladonna, and enjoys the 

 same conditions. Generally speaking, the 

 Crinums, Amaryllis and Nerine require warm, 



well drained soil and sunshine to ripen the 

 bulbs sufticiently to flower well. The Crinums 

 usually retain a proportion of their leaves 

 throughout the year, at least in this locality, 

 but the Amaryllis and Nerine lose their leaves 

 in summer and push up their flowers in 

 autumn. A native of S. Africa, Nerine Bow- 

 deni can now be purchased cheaply, and will 

 be welcomed by many who wish for interesting 

 perennials with beautiful flowers. The flowers 

 are pink, with a darker line down each seg- 

 ment, and are produced in umbels of from 6 to 

 12 flowers, produced at the end of a tall stem 

 from 18 inches to 2 feet high. B. 



Looking Ahead. 



SHOWS AND COMPETITIONS. 



During the montlis of July and August manj 

 local societies arrange for flower shows, allot- 

 ment and cottage garden competitions, &c. 

 A pertinent question to ask concerning these 

 would be : with what object are they inaugurated? 

 and to what extent do they fulfil tlieir purpose? 

 and if they failj what is the reason for any 

 apparent failure ? Is it to create a pleasant social 

 function ? to encourage a higher standard of 

 cultivation and productivity ? to induce the intro- 

 duction of new varieties and novelties of plants ? 

 to educate the public and cultivators ? or to give 

 the many underpaid gardeners a sporting chance 

 of winning a few shillings by means of their 

 industry and skill ? Take allotment holders' com- 

 petitions in particular. What arc the objects of 



Photo by] 



[E. Miller 



Nkrine Bowdeni. 



