IRISH GARDENING 



luauve blotch being fairly large for the size of 

 the pretty leaves — brown and bright green, turn 

 about. It loves to run amongst small, pebbly 

 stones, and does wvU if once established and 

 saved from slugs ; a damp situation suits it best. 



Among the others are Pnitia rcperis, Calce- 

 claritt pohjrMza, Hehichrtjsuni belUdioides, 

 Pote'ntiUa nitida, which likes lime, and speci- 

 ally nice in the rose variety — Thymus larnjul- 

 )wsus, the wooUij TInjiiic: Oxalis enneaphijUa 

 and Hutchinsia aliilmi. with clusters of white 

 flowers and shining dark, evergreen leaves; 

 quite a little gem. 



For a splendid display of colour and being in- 

 dispensable the Aubrietias rank with the 

 Phloxes P. Vivid, Laphnmi and LUtlc Dot 

 being specially good. 



Though connoissevus in alpines may not give 

 the Aubrietias a prominent part, yet as rock 

 plants they are very deservedly popular, the 

 deep violet of Dr. Mules making a charming 

 contrast with Lavender, which is one of the 

 prettiest of lilacs. Most of the crimson and 

 pink shades are lovely, many are long blooming, 

 all are pretty and of easy culture. 



Berberis empstrifolium* 



HiR Hkrbkrt jNIaxwell is always so accurate 

 in his remarks concernmg plants that one hesi- 

 tates to doubt anything wliich comes from his 

 pen. The dimensions he gives for Berberis 

 empetrifolium at Monreith are so remarkable 

 that they must at once attract the attention 

 of everyone interested in shiubs. ^Ir. W. J. 

 Bean (" Trees and Slu'ubs hardy in the British 

 Isles," Vol. 1, p. '240) describes it as " a lov.- 

 evergreen rarely more than 12 to 18 inches high, 

 with slender trailing branches in this country 



..." " The Dictionary of Gardening 

 (Nicholson) says 1^ to 2 feet, while plants in 

 the Royal Botanic Gardens at Glasnevin are 

 little more than three feet at most although 

 known to be up to 40 years old. 



Eeaders of Irish Gardening would appreci- 

 ate, a further communication from Sir Herbert 

 as to the age of his specimens and whether they 

 have received any special treatment likely to 

 encourage such remarkable development. 



B. 



Chrysanthemums. 



It is often said that the " )ng l)loom " Chrysan- 

 themums have had their day. Yet it is true that 

 even yet they have many tidmirers, and a weU-set- 

 up group of big blooms rarely fails to draw a crowd 

 whenever a display is open to the public. Many 

 of our public gardens still find it necessary to have 

 a display of " mums " during the early winter 

 niontlis, and big blooms still find a place, though 



the small-flowered decorative varieties, free flower- 

 ing and graceful, are winning more admirers 

 annually; and rightly so, for they are eminently 

 suitable for cutting, and, beyond doubt, most 

 attractive in their beautifrd colours of yellow, 

 orange, red, white, pink, and various shades, not 

 easily described in words. The hardy border kinds, 

 too, are a host in themselves, and are as varied 

 and beautiful in colours as the indoor varieties. 



Many firms specialise in the beautiful flowers of 

 autunui and winter; among others, Messrs. K. 

 Lurford' d- Co., of Harlow and Sau-J>rid(jeirort]i, 

 who have just issued their new season's catalogue, 

 which growers should certainly have a copy of. In 

 it the best varieties of every section are offered. 

 Tills firm also specialises in Perpetual Carnations. 



Messrs. \V . Wells & Co., of Merstham, Surrey, 

 have scored many notable successes in the Chry- 

 santhenuim world, and few firms have taken a 

 more prominent part in the development of the 

 Queen of Autiunn. Their catalogue may now be 

 luicl.on application, and readers of this joiu'nal who 

 fiiM it necessary to have abiuidance of flowers in 

 autunm and winter will find Wells' catalogue of 

 inestimable value. Now is the time to prepare for 

 next autunni, and for the trifling cost of a few 

 shillings a few new varieties should be obtained 

 for trial. 



Plants Flowering in January. 



The wet and comparatively mild weather in the 

 early part of the month brought many plants into 

 flower. This is not unusual, for it is remarkable 

 that frequently more flowers are evident in 

 January than in March. Weather conditions, of 

 course, are a controlling factor, some plants being 

 coaxed' into flower by a mild spell, only to be cut 

 off by a sudden change to hard frost. It is interest- 

 ing, however, to note what January is capable of 

 producing.in this connection. 



The most .conspicuous alpine and herbaceous 

 plants in flower at the middle of the month are as 

 follows : — 



Crocus chrysanthus Canary Bird, C. Fleischeri, 

 Crocus Imperati, C. reticulatiis, and the connnon 

 yellow Dutch Crocus; Hellebores in variety, in- 

 eluding various forms of H. niger and hybrids of 

 colours varving fronij white to pink and phuu- 

 coloiu'ed and species such as the green flowered H. 

 viridis; the fine-large-flowered Snowdrop Galanthus 

 Elwesii; Iris unguicularis, the Algerian Iris, Iris 

 Histrio and I. reticulata variety sophensis; the 

 Spring Snowflake, Leucojum verniun; Saxifraga 

 Inirseriana major; and S. b. niagna, two fine large- 

 flowered white varieties; Sax. apiculata, Alberti, 

 and Sax. Desoulavayi, together with Omphalodes 

 verna, often called Blue-eyed Mary, just beginning 

 to open. 



Among ])lants of a shridjby nature the following 

 have l)een conspicuous : — Erica mediterranea and 

 its white variety, many lovely forms of E. carnea. 



Rhododendron dauriciun, Rh. moupinense, with 

 large white flowers, Cornus officinalis Chimonan- 

 thus fragrans the Winter Sweet; Hamamelis 

 aiborea; Prunus Davidiana, Sarcococca humilis, 

 with small white, sweet-scented flowers; Arbutus 

 Unedo, the Strawberry Tree in various forms; and 

 not least, the old and well-tried J^aurustinus or 

 Viljurniun Tinus to be correct. The ever-welcome 

 Jasminum nudiflorum also made a fine display. 

 Surely a goodly company at this early season of 

 the year. 



