152 



IRISH GARDENING, 



lutely fir.st-rate roses — roses which no other firm in the 

 world could attempt to raise — that have not been 

 awarded the gold medal, the hall and high-water mark 

 of purity, simply because they had to go to make room 

 for the advancing host of future generations. If any 

 rose ever deserved the gold medal, surely Lady Ashtown 

 did— not to mention Killarney. I fancy I hear Dr. 

 Hall, in his own quiet way, grumbling about my not 

 mentioning his little lot, but as the plum is alwaj'S to 

 follow the nasty medicine, I have kept his little lot 

 as a tit-bit for the end. In a recent number of Irish 

 Gardening I gave a short account of his new rose, and 

 lest I should make him too conceited I will say no more. 

 Oh, horrors ! I find I have forgotten Messrs. Samuel 

 M'Gredy, of Portadown— the raisers of that pretty 

 flower Countess of Gosford, and winners of no less 

 than two gold medals at the show last month. Well, 

 you must change the order of Messrs. M'Gredy and 

 Dr. Hall, for certainly the doctor's production is a gem 

 of the purest quality. You must not expect all these 

 novelties to come at once ; some may not come for 

 years, but come they will, and when they do be sure 

 and write to their respective raisers, and show your 

 appreciation for their good works by helping them. 

 Now, when the catalogues begin to pour in by every 

 post, for goodness sake eschew those abominable 

 foreign productions and wait until the Northern firms 

 send theirs to you, and then order from them. You 

 will be helping to advance the very object for which 

 Irish Gardening was started, and your orders will be 

 appreciated by any Irish nurseryman. 



As I write a wire has come to me thus :—" London. 

 Dr. Browne, Naas. Gold medal, ' Dr. O'Donel Browne ' ; 

 ditto, ' Hill Gray.'— Wm." 



Cultivation of Mignonette in Pots. 



THIS popular plant is a valuable addition to the 

 amateur's greenhouse, as its hardy constitution 

 makes it admirably adapted to those who use 

 unheated structures. In order to keep up a succession 

 of bloom, seeds should be sown at intervals from 

 September to February. The soil best suited to its 

 requirements is two parts fibrous loam, one part leaf 

 soil, with a mixture of sand or lime rubble ; a light 

 dusting of soot thoroughly incorporated in the compost 

 will also be of benefit. Pots from four to five inches 

 will be quite large enough to grow nice plants. They 

 should be perfectly clean, and particular attention given 

 to their proper drainage by placing a large crock on the 

 bottom, taking care to put the hollow side downwards ; 

 over this a layer of smaller sized crocks, and, finall}', 

 some moss. Fill in the soil, leaving a space of one or two 

 inches. This will allow for topdressing afterwards when 

 the plants are in active growth. Slightly press the soil, 

 and make the surface level. Make slight depressions in 

 the soil a quarter of an inch deep, and drop the seed 

 evenly around the pot. Cover gently with finel)' lifted 

 soil, water with a fine rose, place on some coal ashes 

 in a cold frame, and shade from strong sunshine. 

 When the seedlings appear they should be given more 

 light and air on all favourable occasions. When fit to 

 handle they should be thinned before they become over- 

 crowded or drawn. It is better not to thin too severely at 

 first, as it will be easier choosing the healthiest plants at 

 the second and final thinning. F"ailures generally occur 

 at this stage by leaving the plants much too close. If well 

 grown, one or two plants are quite sufficient for a five- 

 inch pot. When they attain a height of three inches they 

 may be pinched at the top leaf. This will induce side 

 shoots to break away, and so form nice, bushy plants. 

 By giving occasional waterings of weak liquid manure 

 their blooming qualities can he. maintained for a long 

 period. P. Mahon. 



Gardens, Killeen Castle, Dunsanv. 



Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland. 



THE organising committee formed to stimulate 

 interest in our premier gardening body is 

 awaiting replies to a circular letter sent out to 

 members asking for co-operation in increasing the 

 membership and for suggestions from those interested 

 in order to help on the end in view. Some replies with 

 suggestions have already been received, and all will, 

 eventually, have due consideration by the council. 

 Two things are primarily wanted — viz., public interest 

 in the society's shows and increased membership, and 

 it is gratifying to note that some response is being 

 made in the latter direction. At the last council 

 meeting, Sept. loth, F. B. Jameson, Esq., Glencormac, 

 Bray, was elected, whilst the following were added to 

 the ranks of the practical members, viz. — Messrs. W\ 

 Hardy, J. Vincent, L. C. Humphrey, G. Sayers, J. 

 Allely, J. Ahern, and W. Baker. At the council 

 meeting specimens were exhibited of the pretty 

 crimson - burred Accena Nova - Zcalandiae and the 

 prostrate growing little Alpine hypericum, H. reptans, 

 the latter an attractive species, with t}pical golden 

 flowers an inch across, cushioned on slender, wiry 

 stems, set with miniature, emerald green foliage. 

 F"rom the gardens of the Hon. Ernest Guinness, Glen- 

 maroon, Mr. Vincent sent a bunch of a seedling viola, 

 in the way of V. cornnta, but which, as seen carpeting an 

 informal planting of rhododendrons at Glenmaroon, is a 

 decided acquisition in its persistent floriferousness and 

 substantial, shapely blossoms of pleasing bright blue. 

 The schedule committee has been engaged on the pro- 

 gramme for the Spring Show, 1909, whicii, after ratifica- 

 tion at the next meeting of the council, will be ready for 

 prospective exhibitors. It will, we venture to say, be 

 found a good programme, in which the daff'odil, of course 

 under its many glorified forms, plays a prominent part. 

 Hyacinths also are strongly catered for, and many 

 valuable prizes are offered, including the challenge cup 

 for roses and daffodils presented by the president. Lord 

 Ardilaun. Undoubtedly the society is receiving strong 

 support in donations to its prize list, although it may be 

 remarked that openings still exist for those interested 

 in particular phases of culture to make contributions in 

 this direction which would be duly esteemed, and surely 

 there is no better way for enthusiasm to encourage any 

 particular cult than by this means. The gardeners' 

 challenge cup, presented by members of the Irish 

 Gardeners' Association, and confined to competition 

 amongst its members competing at the Rc>yal Horti- 

 cultural Society Shows, has this year been won by Mr. 

 S. Davies, The Gardens, Obelisk Park, Blackrock, with a 

 total of 142 points, representing 11 first, 10 second, and 

 7 third prizes. All cups and medals won at the 

 autumn show have been ordered for engraving, and 

 should by this time be in the hands of the winners. 



LiNUM Perenne. — Although a native plant, inhabiting 

 a few of the chalk districts of England, this perennial 

 flax is far from common, and even under cultivation it 

 is rarely seen. To see it, nevertheless, on a summer's 

 day, with its circular satin flowers of an exquisite 

 coerulean blue, poised on slender stems, shimmering in 

 the sunshine, begets the desire to have it. It is an 

 excellent subject for the rockery, enjoying a fairly dry 

 and exposed position, and seems able to endure all 

 winters — the original we had from the late Mr Burbidge 

 having stood for at least ten years, and is now a bush 

 some two feet high by as much through. Apparently it 

 dislikes transplanting, and is best olstained by sowing 

 seeds where it is destined to grow. Li mini perenne is 

 also known as L. angliciini. Any members of the Royal 

 Horticultural Society of Ireland caring to have it can 

 obtain a few seeds by enclosing addressed and stamped 

 en\elope to the Secretary, 5 Molesworth Street, Dublin, 



