IRISH GARDENING. 



Correspondence — continued. 



Winter Flowek-gkovvinc; as an Indi stry in 

 Ireland. 

 Sir, — We are rapidly drawing' to the end of the 

 season for winter g-rowing- of violets, and though mostly 

 owing; to the excessive wet of last summer the plants 

 came in late, and throug'h a succession of frosty nights 

 in November and December did not do so well as last 

 year (a bumper year for growers owing to a specially 

 favourable season and Riviera frosts), results have 

 been good. One great cause for satisfaction is the 

 g'reater demand for winter flowers. This we can see 

 by the increased sales for the month over same month 

 last year. Another reason for congratulation has been 

 the increased price for violets received from the sales- 

 men during the spring months. This I feel certain 

 points to the fact that buyers are realizing that the 

 home-grown flower is preferable to the French, which, 

 though sold cheap enough by the hawkers, is generally 

 nearly scentless ; indeed, on the whole, the outlook is 

 good. From an eig'ht-years' experience now I can note 

 an annual increasing demand for winter flowers in the 

 markets of the United Kingdom. What is wanted, 

 however, from the grower is great care and attention 

 in producing the article for the market. — Yours faith- 

 fully, ' J. H. Miles. 



5^'* tt^^ 0^^ 



Shows. 



Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland. 



The Spring Show was held in the Royal University 

 Buildings, Dublin, on April 8th and gth, in fine but cold 

 weather. Despite the se\erity and bc'ickwjirdness of the 

 season, it was much better than was generally expected. 

 Bulbs, g'enerally, are not flowering' or g'iving; so fine 

 blooms this year as is usually the case, so that the 

 fine display of hyacinths, tulips, and narcissus in pots 

 and cut flowers at this show was much better than the 

 writer expected, and speaks not a little for the cultiva- 

 tion, care and attention bestowed by the growers upon 

 I lie exhibits to yet them to such perfection. This points 

 lo the usefulness of shows to yive impulse to endeavour 

 and impel all to excel in whatever bianch of gardening 

 they take in hand. The attendance of the g-eneral 

 public left much to be desired, and unless the shows of 

 this society are better attended in the future some extra 

 attraction will have to be provided to draw a crowd, 

 as beautiful flowers, fruit, and vegelfibles do not seem 

 to appeal to the people of Dublin. All arrangements for 

 the show were perfect, and reflected much credit on 

 Mr. Keating- and his able tent committee. 



Classes i to 23, inclusive, were for pot plants of various 

 kinds, the best being- Mr. Laidlaw's mignonette ; Mrs. 



SUMMER GARDENING. 



THE " bedding--out " time will shortly be here, 

 despite April's wintry weather, and gardeners 

 everywhere will be making ready plants to 

 ensure bright beds for the Summer. Professional 

 gardeners will have grown quantities of the plants 

 most suitable for the purpose, but meritorious novel- 

 ties are worth adding ; stocks wear out and require 

 replenishing with new blood, and losses of stock 

 from causes outside the gardener's control will 

 occur. It is here the nurseryman proves of service. 

 Visitors to last year's International Exhibition were 

 greatly struck with the glowing beds planted by Messrs. 

 Watson & Sons, of the Clontarf Nurseries, Dublin. 

 This firm's new copyright catalog'ue of Summer 

 Bedding' Plants may now be obtained free by post, and 

 those who desire up-to-date Summer beds will here find 

 all they require. Wonderful quantities of all varieties 

 have been propagated during the Winter, and are now 

 being hardened oft"; and, as Messrs. Watson do not 

 believe in growing good stuff and spoiling it when de- 

 spatched, a special feature is made of packing country 

 orders at Clontarf, where Messrs. Watson attend 

 personally to their clients' instructions. Attention is 

 directed to the fact that all the plants offered have 

 been transplanted from the seed-beds or g-rown singly 

 in pots. 



a'- 



P. J. BYRNE, 



=t;^ 



Horticultural Builder and 

 General Contractor ^ 



32 Shelbourne Road, 

 Dublin. 



Established 1830. 



CROSSES "GARDEN FERTILISER, 



ff 



Alex, CROSS & SONS, Ltd., 



Horticultural Specialists, 



GLASGOW. 



(Almost 100 YEARS Established.; 



GARDEN SEEDS, 



AND INSECTICIDES. 



On Sale by ALL SEEDSMEN. 



