58 



IRISH GARDENING. 



ance, while the Red Clover is usually a much 

 larg-er plant than any of the rest, with a very 

 strong central root. In summer the seed ot 

 the former at once distinguishes it from any 

 of the Clovers or Trefoils, and in the case of 

 the Red Clover its big heads of red flowers do 

 the same ; but of course the difficulty lies in 

 distinguishing the plants, not in summer, but 

 in the immature condition in which they are in 

 the month of March. 



^^ e^^ ^^* 



Current Topics. 



By PETER BROCK, Horticultural Instructor, Enniskillen. 



THE chief topic is the American Gooseberry Mildew 

 and Black Currant Mite (Ireland) Order, 1908. 

 This combined proclamation with enacted penal- 

 ties will doubtless lead to the speedy extermination of 

 pests which have threatened the possibility of growing- 

 black currants or gooseberries for either pleasure or 

 profit. Having regard to the possible development of 

 the cultivation of these fruits on a commercial scale in 

 many parts of Ireland, it is to be hoped that owners of in- 

 fested bushes — which are worthless — will act promptly, 

 and burn or adopt methods of dusting and spraying 

 that will wipe out the condemned pests. 



The following different opinions regarding a new 

 winter spray fluid have recently come under my notice :^ 

 First the owner of some life-long neglected trees heavily 

 coated with fog writes stating that "the apple trees 

 were sprayed three days ago, but the moss has not yet 

 begun to fall off." Evidently, some people expect spray 

 fluids — even if the trees are coated with moss like the 

 back of a ditch — to act the mechanical part of scraper 

 and brush. From what I have seen of the action of the 

 spray fluid complained of I am of opinion that, if the 

 trees had been previously scraped and then properly 

 damped, a dose of patience and some rough weather 

 would complete the cleaning. Another enthusiastic ex- 

 perimenter with the same fluid, who was anxious to 

 ascertain by the smell what it was composed of, in his 

 endeavour to get a good sniff from the freshly-drawn 

 cork accidentally let it touch the top of his nose, which 

 resulted in a well-developed blister forming within sight. 

 This man informs me that this fluid makes the best 

 winter-spraying mixture for dormant fruit trees he has 

 ever used, as his trees (five weeks after spraying) 

 never looked so clean. He further asserts that eggs 

 which were plentiful before spraying have since nearly 

 all disappeared. 



Success in spraying with efficient fluid mixtures largely 

 depends on how they are applied. For example, force 

 is a factor second in importance only to the fluid used. 

 Before commencing to spray it is essential that the 

 pump and connections of the sprayer should be in per- 

 fect order, so as to deliver the spray under a high pressure 

 — leaving the nozzle with a sharp whizz, and forming a 

 white cloud-like mist that will thoroughly penetrate and 

 damp or dew every crevice or particle of the object to 

 be dealt with. There will doubtless soon be many 

 endeavouring to stamp out American mildew by spray- 

 ing with various formulas such as potassium sulphide. 

 Cooper's V2 K. and sar. This being so, the chief object 

 in view should be to keep the bushes in a non-septic 

 condition by spraying early and regularly — say every 

 ten days or at least within a fortnight- so that the mil- 

 dew may get no footing. It is very disappointing to find 

 after the crop has been gathered without blemish to 

 more than an occasional fruit to find growers relaxing 

 spraying. This neglect may permit the re-appearance 

 of the mildew on the tips of the shoots, thus further pro- 

 longing the work of extermination. 



The Escallonias. 



By J, W, BESANT, Royal Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin. 



THE members of this, another genus of 

 Saxifrageae, are shrubs mostly of 

 South American and Chilian origin. 

 Generally they cannot be considered quite 

 hardy, though in many parts of Ireland, also 

 South Wales, the south-west counties of 

 England, and parts of the west coast of 

 Scotland, satisfactory results attend the cultiva- 

 tion of, at least, some of the species in the 

 open. In less favourably situated gardens 

 good results are obtained by affording positions 

 against south or south-west walls. 



In common with any other plants worth 

 growing in our gardens, no efforts should be 

 spared to give the subjects under notice a good 

 start. Although not at all fastidious as to soil, a 

 good free loam will suit admirably. 



Escallonia exoniensis, a hybrid of E. rubra 

 X E. philippiana, is one of the hardiest kinds, 

 as well as one of the most beautiful. It is 

 a free grower, producing erect shoots bear- 

 ing spikes of white flowers, which are produced 

 successionally on young growths throughout 

 the summer and autumn. 



E. flon'bunda, from the Ecuador region, is 

 naturally somewhat tender for the ordinary 

 garden. It bears leafy panicles of white flowers 

 in summer, and might be tried in warm sheltered 

 localities or as a greenhouse shrub. 



Escalloiiia illinita, a Chilian species, is not un- 

 frequently met with as a wall plant. The pan- 

 icles of white flowers are produced at the ends 

 of the branches, while the leaves and branches 

 are sticky from the presence of a resinous 

 excretion. 



E. langleyensis, another hybrid, this time of^. 

 niacrantha x E. philippiana^ is a fairly hardy 

 sort, producing numbers of rosy red flowers on 

 shoots of moderate strength, which bear small, 

 sharp-pointed leaves. E. macrantha, from 

 Chili, is also a fairly hardy sort, in many gar- 

 dens growing vigorously, only presenting a 

 somewhat scorched appearance during winter 

 and early spring, a condition which quickly 

 vanishes as the summer advances. The hand- 

 some, dark-green foliage is dotted on the under 

 side, and the reddish crimson flowers are usually 

 produced in abundance. 



E. montev idol sis, from Montevideo, produces 

 erect, fairly stout shoots, clothed with rather 

 long serrate leaves and surmounted by panicles 

 of white flowers ; a good wall shrub, and pro- 

 bably a handsome shrub under favourable 

 conditions in the open. 



E. p/ii/ippiatia,2iW2L\dW\din species, is excellent 

 in beds and borders, and is successful in various 

 localities ; good beds of this species used to be 

 seen near the palm-house at Kew. The flowers 



