IRISH GARDENING. 



73 



power, but it lacks the funds to work with. In 

 order to carry out a national scheme of affores- 

 tation, the forestry section of the Department 

 needs to be strengthened and developed, and 

 special funds provided for the work that this 

 section may be called upon to do. Finally, it is 

 suggested that the proceeds of the Irish Quit 

 and Crown rents might be appropriately utilised 

 for financing such schemes of national aflforesta- 

 tion of Ireland. 



e,?* ^^ ^^ 



The Spriiitf Show of the Royal Horticultural Society 

 of Ireland, held on the Sth and 9th of April, was a very 

 successful function so far as variety and excellence of 

 the exhibits were concerned. The one g-reat dis- 

 appointment was the poorness of attendance. It is a 

 g-reat pity that the people of Dublin show such little 

 interest in functions of this kind, and it is most creditable 

 to the society to persevere as it does in providing; such 

 excellent shows in the face of the persistent apathy of 

 the g-eneral public. It is the clear duty of every lover 

 of the g-arden to do all that in him lies to interest his 

 tViends and neighbours in the g-ood work of this truly 

 national society. 



e^* e^* tt^* 

 Irish Forestry Society. — The annual meeting of 

 this society was held in Dublin on the evening- of April 

 22nd. A new departure was taken this year in the form 

 of a conversazione, at which exhibits bearing upon 

 Forestry formed an interesting- feature of the g-athering-. 

 Mr. Giuin (of Messrs. Dicksons, Dawson St.), who bore 

 the brunt of most of the hard work in connection with 

 the P.xhibition, deserves much praise for getting together 

 such an extensive and representative collection in so short 

 a time. Readers interested in the proceedings of this 

 society may obtain the annual report on application to tiie 

 secretary, A. H. Walkey, 12 College Green, Dublin. 



^5* ^^^ Z^^ 



We have received from the office of the I. L. P., 23 

 Bride Lane, London, a pamphlet on " Socialism and 

 Agriculture." The writer takes as his text "The 

 organisation of the production of agricultural wealth 

 of the best quality, without scarcity, without waste, and 

 in such a way as to produce the highest type of 

 humanity." He argues that modern farming has not 

 produced food in a clean, healthy and wholesome state, 

 and says : — "The filthy story of private enterprise still 

 awaits a sensational writer to tell." He quotes a 

 Forestry Report in which it is insisted that " State ov 

 Corporate control is the only means to secure that 

 continuity of management without which a sustained 

 annual yield and a maximum return is impossible," and 

 argues that if this is so necessary for forestry it is a 

 huiulred times more necessary for agriculture. 



e^^ ^^ ^^ 



"Garden Flowers" is the attractive name of an 

 illustrated catalogue forwarded to us by Messrs Watson 

 and Sons of Clontarf Its title sufficientl}' explains its 

 contents. 



We have also received a neat little illustrated 

 catalogue of hardy perennials from J. Cunningham, 

 Shergrim, Omagh. 



A very interesting catalogue is that of the Hardy 

 Plant Farm, Enfield, Middlesex (Perry's). It includes 

 descriptions of new and rare plants of recent intro- 

 duction, and is illustrated. 



^* ^^ ^^ 

 We should be pleased to receive from Secretaries of 

 local Horticultural Societies copies of their reports or 

 schedules of forthcoming shows. 



Water-plants in Small 

 Gardens. 



AQUATIC plants are interesting to all nature 

 Jr\. lovers, yet, excepting in large gardens, 

 they are seldom cultivated. This need 

 not be, however, as even the smallest garden 

 rnay have its pond ni miniature. There can be 

 no difficulty in 

 stocking the 

 " pond," as many 

 of our n a five 

 plants are com- 

 mon enough and 

 handsome enough 

 for our uiiQiX and 

 purpose. 



Tubs or paraffin 

 barrels (sawn in 

 two) may be 

 utilised. If the 

 latter be used 

 thc}" must be first 

 cleansed by burn- 

 ing with a bundle 

 of lighted straw. 

 The tub is sunk 

 in the ground so 

 that the rim is on 

 a level with the 

 surface. The bot- 

 tom of the tub is 

 then well covered 



with small stones or gravel, over which is placed 

 a mixture of rough fibrous loam and well-decayed 

 manure to about halfway up the tub. It may 

 then be filled with soft water, and allowed to 

 settle for a day or two, and then planted. 



The present month is one of the best to start 

 such gardening. The plants that may be used 

 are such as can be discovered by margins of ponds 

 and sluggish streams. The following are good 

 subjects : — Typha, or reed-mace, has broad 

 lance-shaped leaves and tall poker-like flower 

 spikes ; it is very effective. Bur-reed {Spar- 

 ganiuni) has a branching stem, with erect 

 leaves and globular flower heads. Arrow-head 

 {Sagittaria) is local in Ireland. It is so named 

 because of the shape of its leaves. The scape 

 is tall, and carries two kinds of flowers (male 

 and female). It is stoloniferous, and produces 

 globular winter tubers. Flowering rush {Buto- 

 mus) is rare in Ireland. It is one of the most 

 handsome of our native aquatics. The flowers 

 are rose-coloured, and are produced in umbels 

 upon tall, leafless scapes. Water violet 

 {Hottonia) is a floating plant with erect racemes 

 of lilac flowers with a yellow eye. 



One need not necessarily confine oneself to 



