23? 
The hish Natmalist. 
November, 
spreading leaves. Saxifraga decipiens from Clare Island 
is a valuable plant in the garden, forming a striking cushion 
of soft greyish green. Of alpine ferns, Polystichum Lon- 
chitis and Asplenium viride give no trouble. 
Of Connemara plants, the three famous heaths, along 
with the hybrid E. Stuarti and the double E. Mackaii 
(known as E. Crawfordii) flourish in dry peat. Arahis 
ciliata grows tall, and sows itself. Ajuga pyramidalis 
(from Bunowen, near Slyne Head) is a wanderer, appearing 
constantly in new places on the shady side of beds. Allium 
Bahingtonii is a nuisance unless all bulbils are removed 
before they get a chance of falling. 
To take the Burren plants next : Helianthemum vineale 
and Astragalus Hypoglottis are easy and pleasing. Asperula 
cynanchica sows itself abundantly. Potentilla fruticosa 
should be in every garden. Neotinea intacta I have had 
now for seven years ; it has outlived all my other Irish 
Orchids. Ophrys muscifcra and Epipactis atroruhens lasted 
only a couple of seasons with me ; and with Spiranthes 
autumnalis I could not succeed at all, nor with 0. apifera, 
which is notoriously difficult. 
Among the plants brought from the South-west, the 
numerous hybrids and varieties of Saxifraga mnbrosa and 
S. Geuni are very interesting. Pingmcula grandiflora is 
difficult to keep through the winter, because the roots as 
well as the leaves die off, and the little bulb -like buds get 
loose and perish. I am growing it under a mat of Anagallis 
tenella to keep the plants in place, and this device promises 
success. Euphorbia hiberna is a very handsome spring 
plant in the garden. Sisyrinchium angusti folium, and its 
ally 5. californicum (from Wexford), while sowing them- 
selves freely, show no inclination to spread widely, but 
form compact colonies. Asplenium A diantum -nigrum var. 
acutum seems very sensitive to light, and only succeeds 
in deep shade ; I never found it wild save in quite shady 
situations. Sedum dasyphyllum (from Cork) is established 
on my garden wall, and makes ver}^ dainty patches of 
pinkish gray, contrasting with the bright green and purple 
of Erinus alpinus from Downpatrick. 
