IRISH GARDENING. 



Dog's-tooth Violets. 



DOG'S-TOOTH violets ( Erytlironhon ) are charm- 

 ing- ,spniig--fiowei-ing: plants of easy cultivation. 

 The mottled leaves spring- from a short stem 

 that passes below into a corm or rhizome. The flowers 

 are drooping, and occm- sometimes singly and some- 

 times in pairs from a relatively tall, slender scape. 

 The floral loaves are usually turned back, bringing the 

 six antlers well into view. It is scarcely necessary to 

 say that Erythroniuin is not a true violet ; it belongs 

 to the Lily family. There are over a dozen species of 

 this genus (together with intermediate forms) in cultiva- 

 tion, of -yvhich E. Dens-Canis is the most common in 

 gardens. Phis is the only species native to Europe 

 (the others being North American). Its flowers are 

 rose or violet-purple, with a brown spot at the base of 

 each of the six segments. 



Dog's-tooth violets are n.'iturally woodland plants, 

 and therefore require shade in the g-arden. They love 

 a deep, rich, light soil, with plenty of organic matter 

 (fallen leaves being g-ood). To enable them to pass 

 the winter unharmed the soil must be well drained, and 

 if the}' are to occup}' the same site year after year top- 

 dressing occasionally with well-rotted stable manure 

 will be necessary to secure continuous vigorous growth 

 of foliage and flower. They are excellent subjects for 

 pot culture. 



The most showy species is E. gigaiifcuni , a native of 

 California, where it grows at an elevation of 6,000 to 

 10,000 feet. The flowers are from one to six oti the 

 stalk, are of a creamy white or pale j'ellow, suffused 

 with orange at the base. It is a strong grower. 

 Another fine Californian species is E. Hart-n'cgi, with 

 single pale yellow flowers 2^ to 3 inches across. 

 E. revohitxun is a beautiful species from Nootka Sound, 

 with large wavy leaves mottled with brown, and 

 carrying- 1-2 pink or rosy-purple flowi-rs on tall scapes. 



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LoVE-iN-A-MiST {Nigella) is an old garden favourite 

 known also as " Devil-in-the-Bush " and Fennel-flower. 

 It is an annual, its various species being- native to 

 Southern Europe and Asia Minor. Plants are of course 

 raised from seeds, and may be g-rown in any ordinary 

 garden soil. The seedlings, when old enoug-h to handle, 

 should be thinned out to at least six inches apart. The 

 best variety is the comparatively new one, " Miss Jekyll." 

 It grows to a height of one foot, and produces flowers of 

 a most beautiful shade of blue. The blooms are suc- 

 ceeded by ornamental seed pods, which will persist 

 throughout the winter. The cut flowers are most use- 

 ful for room decoration. Nig-ella belongs to the same 

 family as columbines and buttercups. 



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Shady Corners in the garden may be made beauti- 

 ful and interesting by proper preparation of the ground, 

 and by planting such subjects as demand little light for 

 their successful growth. The work should be proceeded 

 with at once. The more or less sour and impoverished 

 soil should be removed to a depth of two or three feet, 

 and good loamy soil substituted, supplying- a propor- 

 tion of peat in spots where ferns are intended to be 

 g-rown. Prune away such overhanging branches as 

 may be dispensed with, and root up useless underwood. 

 Native ferns may be used, such as the Hart's Tongue, 

 Male and Lady ferns common in most parts of the 

 country. A writer in Country Life recommends for 

 such situations Woodruff, Japanese primrose, Day lilies, 

 clumps of Liliutri g/ganfiint, Spanish scillas. Primroses, 

 Trinity flower ( Trillium grandifolitiin). Auriculas, Christ- 

 mas roses, Mimulus ciipreiis, the May flower [Galax 



aphylla), Forg-et-me-Nots, Omphalodes verna, and 

 Daft'odils. There are also many decorative shrubby 

 subjects that may be planted in the shade, such as 

 Periwinkle, Hypericum (Rose of Sharon), Ivy, &c., but 

 this note is not intended to deal with them. 



A Dog's Tooth "Violet 



(Erytlironiuiii Martin gi . 

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Notes from Glasnevin. 



Plants of Interest. 



Aiiemojie Fannini. — A rare and uncommon 

 Anemone of giant proportions compared with 

 most of its relations. The stem is almost two 

 feet high, bearing two creamy white flowers 

 measuring three inches across when fully open. 

 The foliage does not appear until the flowers 

 are over, and is large and handsome. The 

 plant was discovered in 1863 at Dargle Farm, 

 Natal, by Mr. G Fannin, and was sent to Kew 

 in 1883. The plant, now in flower in the open 

 at Glasnevin, under the wall of the stove, was 

 presented to the Gardens by Mr.W. E. Guinbleton 

 in 1901, whose name as a collector of rare and 

 interesting plants is well known. 



R. M. Pollock. 



