680 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
June 2 , 1888. 
GardeningNotes from Ireland. 
Rose Prospects. 
A FAIR estimate can now be formed of the probable 
quantity and quality of the Rose bloom, so far as 
outdoor cultivation is concerned, and I am glad to say 
that the prospect is a good one, both as regards trees 
on walls and those in the open quarters. This remark 
refers to Ireland generally, and not to places in the 
vicinity of Dublin alone. A few weeks ago Rose 
growers were not at all pleased with the appearance of 
their plants—the result, no doubt, of two successive 
frosts, one before last Christmas and the other in 
March, which killed back all the young growths. This 
is all changed now, and if attention is paid to prevent 
grub ravages plenty of good blossoms will be the due 
reward. These remarks lead me to refer to some 
splendidly-grown specimens of 
Tea Roses 
At Coolcronan, co. Mayo, the residence of E. H. 
Perry, Esq. The varieties grown are Gloire de Dijon, 
Reine Marie Henriette, Belle Lyonnaise, Climbing 
Devoniensis, Triomplie de Rennes, Madame Berard, 
Madame Lambard, Cheshunt Hybrid, and Madame 
Mathilde Lanaert. The climate and natural soil of 
eo. Mayo cannot be held to be very favourable to such 
tender subjects as Tea Roses'] but by a careful system 
of drainage and the wholesale introduction of suitable 
soil, combined with skilful treatment, natural influences 
have to a great extent been neutralised, and the result 
at the present time is that the trees are covered with 
healthy-looking flower-buds. The success attained in 
this, as well as other gardening items at Coolcronan, 
is in a great measure due to the action and shelter 
afforded by surrounding and judiciously laid out 
plantations, which are, indeed, one of the charms of 
the place. 
The Coolcronan Violet. 
Eew things receive more attention at Coolcronan than 
Violets, of which large quantities are grown in great 
variety, and all are made to produce a large and con¬ 
tinuous supply from September to May. From one of 
these varieties a sport has been produced, which is 
known as the “ Coolcronan Violet.” I am not suffi¬ 
ciently well instructed at present as to its character¬ 
istics, but am informed that it is a most desirable sort 
to have. The chief supply of flowers is obtained from 
frames, but a goodly number is had from plants which 
are only covered in very severe weather. 
Florists’ Flowers. 
These are also grown largely, and include Anemones, 
Ranunculus, double hardy Primulas, numerous varieties 
of Polyanthus, Narcissi, Tulips, &c. A fine border of 
Tulips had received considerable damage from frost a 
short time previous to our visit. All useful flowers for 
indoor decoration, and which may be required at 
different seasons of the year, receive more or less 
attention. Even the humble Wallflower is grown 
abundantly, both in the pleasure grounds and in the 
garden, and the air was highly redolent with the per¬ 
fume of the flowers. 
Peach Trees and Bush Fruits. 
The Peach trees at Coolcronan are young ones, which 
bore last year a good crop, and bid fair to do the same 
this year. While in bloom, and until after they cast 
their blossoms, they were kept covered with thick 
muslin, which gave them efficient protection during 
frost. Last year’s dry summer appears to have affected 
Raspberries to the extent of causing the canes to be 
deficient in strength, or perhaps I should say bulk, 
but their bearing properties are all that could be wished 
for. Currants are an extremely heavy crop, and 
Gooseberries will be very abundant. 
Old-fashioned Flowers. 
Mrs. Perry is a great admirer of these, and in the 
garden many useful things are to be found. I regret 
not having had time to note some of them, but may 
mention that Aquilegias are special favourites, and 
some selected seedlings of these are likely to prove 
satisfactory. I may add that the great excellence 
attained in securing a continuous supply of flowers is 
mainly due to the arrangement and foresight of Mrs. 
Perry, who devotes much of her time and thought to 
the subject. 
Irish-grown Tobacco. 
In a late issue of The Gardening World, reference 
was made to a sample of Irish-grown Tobacco, which was 
exhibited at the recent meeting of the London Chamber 
of Commerce. The sample alluded to was grown by 
Mr. John Cairns, of Clondakin, near Dublin, and 
would, it was stated, have won the first prize if the 
conditions with regard to weight had been fulfilled. 
In your last issue, Messrs. Carter & Co. drew attention 
to a statement made that none of the Tobacco exhibited 
was in what was termed a “ merchantable state.” This 
does not affect the Tobacco grown by Mr. Cairns, as I 
am in a position to state that he disposed of his lot to 
the manufacturer at 7d. per lb. This, I believe, is the 
highest price obtained by any home-grower of Tobacco, 
and testifies to the skill and ability with which Mr. 
Cairns treated his crop. The point raised by Messrs. 
Carter as to the “May sweat” is an interesting one, 
and no doubt explains the reason why the exhibited 
Tobacco was not in a “merchantable state.” 
Bedding Out. 
Except in favoured localities, bedding out about Dublin 
has by no means become general. The warm bright 
days during the past fortnight were succeeded by very 
clear cold nights, and if not actually frosty, at least 
tended in that direction, consequently, except where 
protection could be given, much has not been done. 
In general, little progress is made in the way of growth 
in getting beds filled too soon ; it is too frequently the 
other way, and unless where time and other conditions 
are favourable, I always prefer waiting until the first 
week of June to begin this work. Sometimes employers 
are impatient to see the beds furnished with summer 
stuff, and the result, when their wishes are complied 
with, is often to retard the growth, if not to kill the 
plants altogether. This is a point on which the ex¬ 
perienced gardener should be allowed to exercise his 
judgment, as where he is forced to act against it, 
great loss of time, as well as loss of plants often follows. 
St. Stephen’s Green. 
Among the many places of public resort in the neigh¬ 
bourhood of Dublin, St. Stephen’s Green shows at the 
present time a very gay appearance. Interspersed 
through the grounds, as well as around them, Lilacs, 
Laburnums, single and double white and scarlet Thorns 
have been extensively planted, and these just now are 
showing a profusion of bloom. Where the Laburnums 
are backed up by the green foliage of forest trees, they 
look well and catching to the eye, but in this respect I 
think the old landscape planters, as a rule, were ahead 
of our latter-day practitioners. The former generally 
backed their Lilacs and Laburnums with copper Beech ; 
the latter appear to content themselves with Elms, or 
frequently with no backing at all ; and hence much 
or all of the good effect which would otherwise be pro¬ 
duced is lost. To a certain extent this is the case in 
the park of St. Stephen’s Green, and it is much to be 
regretted, as the grounds otherwise are most admirably 
kept. In many of the old private grounds in the 
county of Dublin, plenty of instances of the sort I 
allude to could be met with, and anyone who has once 
observed the grand effect of copper Beech fronted with 
Laburnums, must feel the tame appearance in com¬ 
parison with a backing of green foliage.— TV. D. 
Destruction of a Seedling Turnip Crop. 
I have more than thirty years experience in theoretical 
and practical gardening, yet I know of no precedent 
for the following:—About a fortnight since I sowed, 
immediately previous to the then heavy downpour of 
rain, a large portion of our field with a Swede Turnip 
crop. The soil is somewhat tenacious. This rain was 
followed by very unusual sun-heat for the month of 
May ; my thermometer stood at 72° F. in the shade. 
A crust formed on the surface of the drills. More than 
two acres solved afterwards came up all right—the same 
seed ; but on removing the crust there were the seedlings 
right up to it, quite blackened and parboiled. I had 
to rake off the crust and sow again. The moral is 
plain.— TV. J. Murphy, Clonmel. 
-- 
HARDY PLANTS IN FLOWER. 
Geum montanum. 
This is a very distinct Geum, and one well adapted for 
the more exposed parts of the rock-garden. The 
flowers are solitary, upon erect stems of a bright yellow 
colour, many of them measuring 1 in. across, the whole 
plant not being more than 1 ft. in height; even when 
out of flower the plant has a curious appearance, due to 
the fruits (achenes) ending in elongated filiform styles 
which are more or less pilose. 
Saxifraga Wallacei. 
Of the many moss-like Saxifrages this is by far the 
most useful and attractive ; the flowers are large, and 
upon shorter stalks than some of the species, and as cut 
flowers they are extremely useful. This plant is 
equally at home in the rock-garden and in the front row 
of the herbaceous garden, and is also a capital plant for 
edgings. 
Iberis Tenoreana. 
At this season of the year the perennial Candytufts are 
most useful and ornamental plants in the rock-garden 
and herbaceous grounds. Tenore’s Candytuft is a 
showy species, somewhat after the type of I. gibraltarica 
but more neat, compact and smaller. The flowers are 
freely produced, of a light purplish colour, some nearly 
white. It should be grown on dry sandy soil, but it 
can be had on heavy soils with a little care ; our plan 
on a clay soil is to take cuttings during the summer 
and winter, then planting out in the cold frames as 
soon as all danger from heavy snows is gone. Seed 
sown in early autumn will flower the following spring. 
Anemone alpina sulphurea. 
A fine vigorous perennial that should be in every 
collection of Windflowers. On a good site, 'with plenty 
of sandy loam, it forms a striking plant fully 2 ft. 
high. The leaves are rather woolly, while the flowers 
are of a light sulphur-yellow tint, with soft down on 
the outside. This plant, together with A. alpina and 
the Snowdrop Anemone (A. sylvestris), should be 
planted in groups. Treated thus, they would form a 
most attractive display—one that could hardly be 
equalled during May. 
PuLMONARIA SACCHARATA. 
The Lungworts form a group of plants that deserve a 
little better treatment than is usually accorded them ; 
some of them have beautifully spotted leaves, which 
in early spring are very pretty and welcome, when 
vegetation is not so forward as it is now. The Sugar 
Lungwort (P. saccharata) has very attractive mottled 
leaves, and just now they are more or less attractive by 
reason of the bright pink flowers that are produced in 
the greatest profusion. This species, like P. officinalis 
and P. angustifolia, is easily increased by division of 
the plants in autumn.— J. TV. 0., Pinner. 
The Eastern Poppy. 
The showy character of Poppies is well known, as well 
as the short-lived almost ephemeral nature of their 
flowers. This latter fact has been immortalised by 
Burns in the following couplet:—■ 
“ But pleasures are like Poppies spread, 
You seize the flower, its bloom is shed.” 
There are few lovers of the open garden, however, who 
cannot admire a good clump of Poppies, whether they 
consist of annuals or perennials. The double forms of 
Papaver Rhoeas and P. somniferum are simply grand 
while they last, and so are the single forms—large, 
frail and perishable. Most of the annuals, however, 
are preceded by the Eastern Poppy (P. orientale), as 
well as its variety, P. o. bracteatum. They are per¬ 
fectly hardy, and are now producing a glare of bloom in 
the garden that is very effective at some considerable 
distance away. They may be grown in the border, or, 
better, in isolated beds in the pleasure grounds, where 
they can enjoy unrestricted room and attain their best 
development. The flowers are of the most brilliant 
scarlet, with a black spot at the base of each petal, and 
measure 6 ins. or more in diameter. There are several, 
varieties in the grounds of Mr. Walker, at Whitton, 
Middlesex, who grows them for market. 
Papaver Rhceas umbrosdm. 
Already has this beautiful Poppy made its appearance 
in the market, no doubt from autumn-sown seedlings. 
By sowing again in spring a long succession is kept up. 
The dazzling brilliancy of the scarlet flowers is greatly 
enhanced in appearance by the presence of a large 
black blotch at the base of each petal, while the blotch 
is itself occasionally surrounded by a grey border. For 
border decoration it is very effective, and more so as 
cut flowers than the common garden forms of the 
species. It is also a dwarfer plant, and more refined in 
every way, deserving extended cultivation. 
The Yellow 7 -flowered Columbine. 
One of the most graceful of hardy plants is Aquilegia 
ehrysantha, which was introduced from California as 
recently as 1873. It is perfectly hardy, but sometimes 
not very long-lived, owing to the nature of the soil in 
which it is grown ; though that is a matter of small 
importance, seeing that it seeds readily, and young 
plants can be raised by the hundred without any 
trouble. The stems grow from 18 ins. to 3 ft. in 
height, according to the depth and tilth of the soil. 
The foliage is good and graceful, while the ramifications 
of the stem bear gracefully poised flowers in great abun¬ 
dance at various periods of the year, or continuously from 
