i84 



IRISH GARDENING. 



Shrubs with Coloured Foliage. 



By J. W. Besant, Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin. 



BY these we mean shrubs having- leaves of a 

 g-olden hue, as in the golden elder, or 

 silvery grey, as in Atriplex Halimus, or 

 of a deep purple or bronze, as in Corylus maxima 

 ati'opurpurea, or variously coloured green and 

 white, or green and gold, as in some of the 

 cornus and eleagnus. 



When judiciously planted in park or pleasure- 

 ground masses of these shrubs have a beautiful 

 and telling effect, and when a reasonable number 

 of evergreens is used such planting has the 

 merit of being attractive at all seasons. 



It is necessary to carefully study the proposed 

 site of a group of foliage shrubs. When effect 

 from some considerable distance is desired 

 probably the brighter colours will be most 

 suitable, while closer to the eye the richer tones 

 of the purple-leaved kinds will be most satis- 

 factory. It is useless, however, to suggest any 

 rule in the matter of planting, as individual 

 taste and circumstances peculiar to the district 

 or scene of operations must be the guide. A 

 •very beautiful effect may be had by forming a 

 large bed, carefully planting it with a collection 

 of good colours. Such abed may very suitably 

 be an extension of some already existing 

 plantation of green-leaved species, as with 

 a darker background the effect is intensified. 

 At the back the taller kinds may be planted, 

 such as Pruniis cerasifera atropiirpurea and the 

 fine new form called Moseri, also the yellow 

 and white variegated forms of Acer negnndo. 

 The golden elders Sambuciis canadc7isis foliis 

 aureis and .S". raccmosa plumosa aurea are also 

 useful, and, like the first-mentioned kinds, may be 

 kept within reasonable limits by pruning. The 

 heights of the various subjects used must be 

 carefully studied, but it is neither necessary 

 nor, indeed, desirable to maintain an even 

 gradual slope. A much better effect is had 

 when the general form is that of an undulating 

 billowy mass, care being taken, of course, that 

 no plant or group is hidden from view. 



Other good shrubs for continuing such a 

 scheme are the purple corylus already noted, 

 the purple berberis, B. vtdgaris folis purpiireis ; 

 some of the beautiful purple or deep crimson- 

 leaved Japanese maples, the purple euonymus, 

 E. eiiropaeus afropurpureus, and the evergreen 

 Osmanthus aqiiifolhim ilicifoliiis purpitreus. 

 With these, golden or variegated kinds may 

 be harmonised or contrasted, as the case may 

 be. Corylus Ave liana aurea and Neillia 

 opidifolia hitea are both useful, while effective 

 use may be made of such golden varie- 

 gated subjects as Buxus sempc7'virens aureo- 

 inarginata, and others, the beautiful Cornns 



alba spdlhii, Klacagniis pimgciis ain'ea, golden 

 tree ivies, the broad-leaved golden privet, and 

 many others. 



Good shrubs for silver effect are found in 

 some of the boxwoods, such as Buxtis semper- 

 virens argentea, Conms alba sibirica variegata, 

 a very fine specimen of which may be seen near 

 the lily pond at Glasnevin, while for a marginal 

 group Euonymus radicans, " Silver Gem," is 

 very beautiful. Silver, variegated tree ivies 

 are also useful for winter effect, while the neat- 

 growing evergreen Rhamnus Alalernus variega- 

 tis should not be omitted. Not many plants 

 have the leaves wholly silver-grey in colour, but 

 we have a very beautiful example of this in 

 Atriplex Halimus. A very fine specimen of this 

 shrub may be seen by the sun dial walk in the 

 Royal Gardens, Glasnevin. As an isolated 

 specimen Atriplex Halimus is very beautiful, but 

 when contrasted with green or purple-leaved 

 shrubs the silvery effect seems intensified. 



For a small bed, or as a margin to a large 

 one, Santolina Chamaecyparissus is extremely 

 beautiful ; the tiny leaves become almost white 

 in summer, and the plant is commonly known 

 as the Cotton Lavender. 



Intending planters should endeavour to visit 

 some comprehensive collection in summer and 

 winter so as to note the various evergreen and 

 deciduous kinds. 



No attempt can be made to name all the 

 coloured foliage shrubs at command, since to do 

 so would mean simply a catalogue of names ; it 

 is much better to see the plants in a good 

 nursery or a public garden, where colours or 

 shades will be found to suit different tastes. 



Roses. 



By O'Donel Browne, M.D. 



IT is a long- shout from now till next July,- and 3'et I 

 know that when next July comes round I shall hear 

 that oft-made remark, " I wish I could grow roses 

 like you. You have lovely flowers — how do you g-et 

 tht-m ?" Reader, you never will until you put your 

 shoulder to the wheel, and take up roses as a study, 

 and do some work. By work I mean not a spurt now 

 and then, but a little well-directed work every day. 

 "What can I do in winter?" You can at any rate 

 see that your plants are snug- and comfortable, not 

 smothered with manure, as I do not believe in it ; you 

 can tie up a valuable shoot or standard that the wind is 

 fast makings a flag- of. A hundred other little thingfs 

 can one find if you will only look for them. I believe that 

 the sooner one has finished his planting- the better. I 

 do not mention ordering; your trees, as that part should 

 have been done long- ago. If you have ever planted a 

 rose or briar early in the year, say latter end of Septem- 

 ber, and if by any chance you find that you must move 

 that tree in November, you will be surprised to see new 

 tiny white roots already formed. These are valuable, 

 as they show commencingf root activity has beg;un in 

 the newly planted tree. Of course you cannot gfet a 

 plant from the nursery to do this. How, then, can we 



