IRISH GARDENING. 



t35. 



All Irish roads are not adapted for tree-plant- 

 ing, and it is not suggested that it should be 

 carried to extremes in any case. But the en- 

 virons of many of the smaller towns and villages 

 in the country would have a much better 

 appearance if the main roads leading into or 

 out of them were planted for short distances 

 with such trees as limes, chestnuts, or others 

 of that nature, and examples of such planting 

 may be occasionallv met with even now. 



Whatever the means employed to assist the 

 average individual planter of the country, how- 

 ever, it is by no means likely that the present 

 tendency to cut rather than plant will be re- 

 versed for some years. In many cases where it 

 has been carried to excess a disposition to plant 

 may show itself, but 

 public opinion and 

 the gradual educa- 

 tion of the new race 

 of proprietors must 

 be the chief agencies 

 in leading to re- 

 afforestation on the 

 lines referred to in 

 this article. 



Notes from 

 Glasnevin. 



Annual 



Delphiniums. 



VISITORS to these 

 gardens during' 

 the months of 

 July and August could 

 not have failed to 

 notice the very re- 

 markable effect made 

 b\' the annual delph- 

 iniums in the herba- 

 ceous border. This 

 seed came from V^il- 

 morin, Andrieux & Co., 

 Paris, under the name 

 of Delphinium Ajacis 

 carminea. It was sown in the autumn in boxes, 

 pricked out when fit to handle, and planted in rich 

 ground in the spring. The effect was really beautiful, 

 and the difference between the autumn sown seed 

 and the spring sown is worthy of note. There was 

 also a pure, white variety, and another shade of 

 pink. 



Among other autumn sown annuals was a very good 

 form of the white Candytuft. This seed came from 

 Sutton, of Reading, as White Spiral. It was very fine, 

 and well worthy of trial by those who have not already 

 done so. 



As well as the foregoing plants, the V'erbascums 

 played a very important part in the collection, and among 

 them was one lately named by Kew, as Vcrbascmn 

 leianthum. Seed of this species was sent out b}- Mr. 

 T. Smith, of Newry, some years ago, who obtained it from 

 Cataman. Last year the plants made wonderful growth, 

 some of the leaves measuring four feet long, by two 

 feet broad, and this jear they threw up tall, stately flower 

 stems, the tallest of which was fourteen feet high. The 



/'/,„/„ hy\ 



Clump of Rose-pink Annual Larkspur in Mixed Border 

 (Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin). 



yellow flowers, although small, are borne in great 

 quantity. These good species are well suited for bold 

 massing on the borders of shrubberies. 



R. M. Pollock. 



Sweet Peas — Best Varieties. 



EACH September for the past two years I have 

 written a short note under above heading, hoping 

 to promote a useful discussion not only on the 

 best varieties of sweet pea but also on the preparation 

 of the ground, manures, and time and method of 

 sowing. That the sweet pea is now the most largely 

 grown and popular of annual flowers there can be no 

 doubt, and I hope successful growers will help others 

 less fortunate in this respect by giving in Irish 

 Gardening a short account of how they grow sweet 

 peas, with the names of those varieties they would in- 

 clude in the best dozen 

 for exhibition and gar- 

 den decoration. 



The following fifteen 

 varieties, if well 

 grown, should give a 

 wide range of colour 

 and a nice selection 

 for those intending 

 to compete at shows 

 in stands of twelve 

 varieties : — Helen 

 Lewis, orange pink ; 

 Mr. H. Sykes and 

 Paradise, shades of 

 pink ; George Herbert, 

 John I n g m a n (as 

 the latter often comes 

 very mixed I prefer 

 George Herbert, one 

 of the largest peas 

 grown), carmine; 

 Prince of the Asturias 

 dark maroon ; Menie 

 Christie, mulberry; 

 Etta Dyke or Nora 

 LTnwin, white ; Clara 

 Curtis, primrose ; 

 Frank Dolby, laven- 

 der ; Elsie Herbert, 

 white, pink edge; 

 Constance Oliver, sal- 

 mon pink ; Mrs. H. 

 Bell or Mrs. C. W. 

 Breadmore, buff" 

 shading to outside of petals, violet and pink ; Marjory 

 Willis, mulberry red ; Helen Pierce, marbled blue, 

 and Queen Alexandra, scarlet. Many old favourites 

 will be missing from above list, and what must 

 strike all readers is the great number of waved 

 varieties — viz., thirteen in fifteen varieties, but it only 

 bears out what I wrote twelve months ago when I said 

 it was only a question of time for waved flowers to 

 oust all others. 



\ couple of grand, new varieties to be sent out the 

 coming year are — Nancy Perkins, a waved Henry 

 Eckford ; George Stark, waved Queen Alexandra ; 

 while St. George (sent out last year at four seeds is.), 

 though small, must be largely grown, being such a 

 brilliant waved orange crimson. W. T. 



ft^^ ^W ^^ jr 



A new garden tray has been registered by Messrs. 

 Wilmot & Co., Bristol. The tray is made of galvanised 

 sheet steel, and is therefore proof against rot. 



[G. O. Sherrard. 



