IRISH GARDENING. 



127 



Annuals are plants which beghi and end their tfrowth, 

 ripen, seed, and die within twelve months ; therefore, 

 plants capable of being- propagated bj- cuttings are 

 not true annuals. 



Biennials are plants ordinarih' requiring- two full 

 seasons to complete their growth, and die before the 

 third season. 



Perennials are plants that continue for many years, 

 and include all not annuals or biennials. 



•' Heibaceous " are plants the stems of which die 

 down yearly, but the root stocks remain alive and throw 

 up stems again the following year. F"or garden pur- 

 poses the word i-ootstock includes bulbs, corymbs, and 

 tubers. Such plants as carnations and pinks are not 

 herbaceous, and if a class in a schedule was for herba- 

 ceous plants the above two would be excluded. A class 

 for hard\- perennials would not only include carnations 

 and pinks, but also roses, genista, clematis, syringa, &c. 

 The word "distinct" should never be used alone in 

 schedules without the addition of the words kind and 



stout, carrying three or more flowers free from spotting 

 and scorching. 



Sweet Peas — Value of Potnts. 



Points. 



Form and Substance ... . ... 2 



Colour and Freshness . . ... ... 2 



Attractive Setting-up ... ... ... 2 



^^^ ^^^ ^^ 



A Model Exhibit. — Readers who are exhibitors at 

 our horticultural shows will be interested in the photo- 

 graph here reproduced (through the courtesy of Messrs. 

 E. Webb & Sons, of Wordsley, the exhibitors) of the 

 collection of vegetables that secured the gold medal 

 (one only being awarded) at the International Horticul- 

 tural Show recently held at the Franco-British Exhibition 

 in London. There were nearly 100 varieties included in 

 the prize collection, which, in addition to " vegetables " 

 proper, contained melons, tomatoes, cucumbers, &c. 



A Model Exhibit of Vegetables. 



variety in classes for hardy flowers. If the word kinds 

 is used only one member of each family can be included, 

 as poppy, delphinium, helianthus, &c., while if the word 

 variety is only used all the bunches might be only- 

 different varieties of delphinium. Phlox decursata, or 

 poppy, &c. If the word distinct varieties is used in 

 classes in schedules the mixture of colour variations 

 should disqualify. But in connection with showing 

 annuals colour variation is allowed unless specially 

 forbidden. 



The following are the points given in judging a 

 collection or bunch of hardv' flowers, as takeii froni 

 N. H. S. Rules for judging : — 



Hardy Flowers- 



-Valle of Points, 



Points. 



- i) 



For each 

 Bunch. 



For whole 

 Exhibit. 



Quality of blooms 



Freshness 



Elegance of habit ... ... 21 



Rarity or difficulty of cultivation 3I 



V^ariety of form and colour ... 2) 



Arrangement, Naming, &c. ... 2) 



Now that sweet peas are so largely grown, and the 

 National Sweet Pea Society's Provincial Show being 

 held in Dublin on August 5th, it would be well for 

 exhibitors to bear in mind the following rule :— Sweet 

 peas to be shown in lightly arranged bunches, so 

 that all flowers can easilj' be seen. Stems long and 



In these days of sensational newspaper booming of 

 " F"rench gardening," it is some satisfaction to know 

 that a British seedsman can beat all-comers when put 

 to the actual test of an interriational competition. 



f^f 5^^ e^^ 



Does a Garden Pay? 

 " Does a garden pay?" I might answer indignantly, 

 does it pay to kiss your wife, to dandle your baby, or 

 do anything else agreeable to human nature? Is the 

 gain in health, strength, and happiness which this Eden 

 form of recreation secures to be gauged by the dollai- 

 symbol? Can the flavour of your own crisp lettuce or 

 strawberries and cream be bought? Is the perfume of 

 the flowers that your own hands have planted to be had 

 in the market? I don't 'oelieve that Eden was laid out 

 on the principle of a "truck-garden," every inch being 

 planted in a profitable crop ; nor do I think that Adam 

 and Eve bustled out every morning with the expression 

 seen on so many faces — " Time is money." The ques- 

 tion in regard to a garden seems to me tc^ be : Shall we 

 enjoy a little bit of Paradise this side of Jordan ? 



—E. P. Roe. 



' ' Pis always morning somewhere, and above. 

 The awakening continents, from shore to shore. 

 Somewhere the birds are singing evermore." 



— Longfellow . 



