98 
THE GARDENING WOKLD 
October 13, 1888. 
GardeningHotesfrom Ireland. 
Marino. 
As a first-class gardening establishment, Marino, 
Clontarf, co. Dublin, was many years ago famed 
amongst gardeners, and being the suburban residence 
of manyEarls of Cliarlemont, was in those days the resort 
of many people who, as well as their entertainers, hare 
attained some historical celebrity. All this is changed 
now, and instead of being associated with colossal 
entertainments and artistic reunions, the place is now 
devoted to the uses of the world-known Artane In¬ 
dustrial Institution. On the grounds, too, have been 
erected, but I believe not yet occupied, some magnificent 
buildings destined as a home for orphans, and which 
have been built out of funds left for that purpose. Not¬ 
withstanding changes like these, this fine old place 
still retains all its arboreal grandeur, and so far as I 
could judge from what I saw, both as regards grounds 
and gardens, there is a manifest desire to retain intact, 
as far as possible, all the old prominent features of the 
place. This observation has special reference to the 
fine old wall trees in the garden, many of which, 
although gradually dying out, are allowed on account 
of their great age to remain. On the other hand there 
are many old trees showing a wonderful vigour of 
growth, and an equally extraordinary power of fruit 
production. Some of these are to be found amongst 
Pears, , 
And when I give some of the names, at least a guess 
may be given as to their age. One of these is a noble 
tree, and of the kind known to ancient growers as 
Moorfowl’s Egg. I am not aware if it is still to be found 
in nurserymen’s catalogues ; but the specimen of it 
growing here is a fine one, and its extent of growth 
along the wall may be considered large when it is 
stated that over 1,800 fine fruits were gathered off it 
last year. Equally fine in health and crop were trees 
of Gansel’s Bergamot, Autumn Bergamot, Beurre Diel, 
Glou Morceau, Beurre d’Amanlis, Uvedale’s St. 
Germain, and others. Among pyramids, standards 
and bush Pears there are numerous varieties, and as 
many of these have not been planted out long enough 
to judge of their merits, I refrain from saying anything 
about them further than to observe that they are 
all of approved sorts. Some of the older-planted 
pyramids, &c., were bearing very heavy crops—so 
heavy in many instances that they had to be supported 
with forked sticks where they could he reached. 
Conspicuous in this respect were two sorts known as 
Bishop’s Thumb and the perhaps better-known Louise 
Bonne of Jersey. Another variety forming a grand 
standard is Vicar of Winkfield. This tree was 
covered with fine fruits, and like the others, had to be 
supported with long stakes placed in the ground. 
Although from such heavy crops it might be supposed 
the fruits were small, yet this was not the case, as they 
were clean grown and of a fair average size. 
Apples. 
These were in fair abundance all round, hut many of 
the crops had been already gathered in. Those re¬ 
maining were such sorts as Lord Suffield, Ecklinville 
Seedling, Cellini Pippin, Worcester Pearmain, &c. 
Outdoor Peaches. 
In other years the middle of October might be con¬ 
sidered late enough to have Peaches standing out on 
the walls, and that too for only one or two varieties, 
but I found no less than four varieties still to be 
gathered. One of these was carrying a very heavy 
crop, and I question if such another tree is to be seen 
in this country. The size of the tree appeared to me 
to be so unusual for a Peach that I was curious 
enough to ask for it to be measured, and it was found 
that on a wall 14 ft. in height it occupied a running 
space of 33 ft. The sort is that known as Late Wal- 
burton, and for the whole space covered the tree is 
one unbroken surface of foliage and fruit. There are 
no patches of brick-work peeping out here and there 
through the foliage to indicate indifferent health, or it 
might be, to relieve the picture in its colouring ; but 
this was sufficiently and profitably done by the splendid 
fruit-colouring in the foreground. The tree is in excel¬ 
lent health, and to keep so large a Peach tree in that 
state shows that there is a well-skilled, master hand at 
Peach-growing managing it. Growing alongside of this 
is a smaller tree of an American Peach, under the 
name of “ Stump the World,” and from its appearance 
here I have no doubt will prove a most desirable sort 
for producing a late crop. It is of good size, handsome, 
and a free bearer. Exquisite and Barrington were just 
ripening in, and must prove most useful so late in the 
year. 
Fruit Houses. 
There is a fine range of vineries containing numerous 
old varieties, all planted in outside borders, but possibly 
from being neglected before the place got into its 
present working state, the Vines are not giving satis¬ 
faction. The Peach house is a range of about 90 ft., 
and having a quarter span. Here again the trees are all 
old ones, the sorts being Double Montagne, Bellegarde, 
Scarlet Admirable, and Royal George. These usually 
bear heavy crops, but this year were rather under the 
average. 
Plant Houses. 
Other low-roofed houses on the span principle are to 
be seen, all well adapted to the growth of dwarf¬ 
flowering plants, large quantities of which are grown 
for market ; indeed, it should be borne in mind that 
everything of marketable value not used for the 
institution is disposed of in order to help to provide 
funds for the education and training of the boys under 
the care of the Christian Brothers, so that Mr. Colgan, 
the able gardener, while he may very reasonably lay 
claim to much succsss here as the result of a long and 
practical experience, it is easy to see that his position 
is not bed of Rose. 
Strawberries. 
Immense quantities of these are forced every year, and 
I saw a fine stock of Sir Harry and British Queen, with 
good well-ripened crowns, ready for being transferred 
to their forcing quarters. 
Chrysanthemums 
Are also cultivated in large quantities, and there is a 
great number of them on hand this year. The stock 
contains many of those kinds best known, and a 
vigilant watch is kept for such as are likely to suit best 
for market flowers. 
Vegetables. 
Amongst vegetables Seakale, Potatos, Mushrooms, and 
Rhubarb receive most attention for forcing, and of 
Seakale and Rhubarb large breadths are kept. For all 
of these there is usually a good price to be had until 
they begin to come in, in a seasonable way. There is 
a splendid lot of Wright’s Grove Red and White Celery, 
as well as a fine lot of Veitch’s Autumn Giant Cauli¬ 
flower, both apparently in time for a good market. 
My visit here was of a somewhat hurried nature, as I 
was not able to reach it at an early hour in the day, 
otherwise I am sure some interesting particulars could 
have been referred to. 
Fuchsias. 
In a very small, neatly-kept place, I lately met with 
some small but profusely-bloomed plants of Fuchsias. 
One of these was Frau Emma Topper, with very large 
flowers, and although the plant was a small one it was 
covered with blooms from the pot upwards. Another 
was Adolphe Legour, having fine flowers on it and pro¬ 
ducing them very freely. Another handsome Fuchsia 
is The Minstrel, it shows good double flowers and is 
very attractive. 
Zonal Pelargoniums. 
In the same place I saw plants of zonal Pelargoniums, 
remarkable for their colours and size of blooms. 
Among single whites one would have no difficulty in 
picking out as good varieties, La Cygne, Queen of the 
Belgians, Alexander Albrecht, Czarina, and Evening 
Star. Among darks I noticed two very fine ones, 
Black Knight, a single, and Count Lamberle, a double. 
Last Week’s Frosts. 
I regret having to say that the effects of last week’s 
frosts have been most disastrous to many tender things. 
The damage done here to single Dahlias and other 
delicate plants is sad to look at. In many places 
where Begonias remained uncovered, not only has the 
foliage been destroyed, but it is feared the tubers will 
not recover. Tender annuals, many of which were in 
a high state of bloom, were all cut off; these included 
Asters, Phlox Drummondi, &c. In some public gardens 
a rush has been made to get in every tender thing, so 
that summer bedding has received a shock, and the 
public are deprived of a few weeks’ longer enjoyment.— 
W. D. 
-- 
Calliopsis atrosanguinea. —A very showy annual 
is this, and well worth growing. Clumps of it on a 
mixed border in our own garden have been very pretty. 
Considering its light elegant appearance when cut, 
it is a wonder that this plant not more frequently 
grown.— E. D. 
THE SEVERE FROSTS. 
The destructive character of the recent frosts—par¬ 
ticularly that which occurred on the 2nd inst.—is, I 
believe, unprecedented within the past twenty years. 
At the above date 9° is severe indeed, and considering 
the state of vegetation at this period, and in such a 
severe season, no wonder such havoc is made among 
vegetables and flowers. The appearance of many of 
these subsequently is most deplorable. Beds and 
borders of autumnal flowers, which the week before 
were more brilliant than ever this season, are perfectly 
wrecked, and now present a wretched appearance, 
which to a lover of flowers is grievous to behold. 
Moreover, I fear the consequences will materially 
damage another class of plants, such as Bouvardias, 
Chrysanthemums, and Arum Lilies. These subjects 
are usually grown in beds out of doors during the 
summer months, and will not withstand a frost like the 
one in question. It will be interesting to read the 
reports from different places in regard to these subjects. 
In the vegetable department its effect is equally as 
bad. Peas, Beans, and Yegetable Marrows, which, we 
had in abundance, were completely killed, whilst 
Cauliflowers, Lettuce, &c., were materially damaged. 
Tomatos, which have scarcely yielded any fruit out of 
doors this season, will now certainly be a most unpro¬ 
fitable crop. With such severe losses at this early 
date, it is, notwithstanding, a source of satisfaction to 
know that the winter crops of Brussels Sprouts and 
other green stuff in this department are looking remark¬ 
ably well.— G. F. Miles, Wycombe Abbey. 
‘ ‘ How are your Chrysanthemums ? Did you or they 
get caught? If they did not, you are fortunate ; and 
if they did, you are not. ’’ Such are the observations we 
have .heard ad nauseam since the frosts of Monday and 
Tuesday of last week, which played terrible havoc among 
all classes of tender things outside. It is to be feared 
that many were caught napping. We had over 100 
plants out, which would have been housed on the first 
day of the month, but it was very stormy and soft. 
On the folloiving morning, what a sight they presented! 
but as they were heavily drenched all over with cold 
water, we saved over eighty per cent. The weather 
has played most remarkable antics lately—variations 
of frost, snow, hail, rain and wind, that have been 
anything but pleasant. On Monday last we had 9° of 
frost, with snow all day, and 3 ins. deep through the 
night; Tuesday, 15° of frost, with wind and hailstorms ; 
Wednesday, 11° of frost, and bright sunshine ; Thurs¬ 
day, 10° of frost, andbrightsunshine ; Friday, 9° of frost; 
Saturday, 7° of frost ; and Sunday, 7° of frost. Did 
anyone ever know such a cold first week in October ?— 
A Yorkshire Gardener, Oct. 8th. 
--- 
FARM-GARDENING IN IRELAND. 
Mr. W. H. Hall, J. P., Six Mile Bottom, Cambridge¬ 
shire, has addressed a letter to the Lord-Lieutenant of 
Ireland, from which we take the following :—What 
strikes me most painfully in Ireland—except in parts of 
the semi-Scotch province of Ulster—is the remarkable 
absence of those accessories to agriculture, which are 
indispensable to the success of small holdings everywhere. 
I do not here allude to the Flax industry, peculiar to 
North-eastern Ulster, but the fruit-farming and market¬ 
gardening. Had Mr. Gladstone’sTamous big Gooseberry 
growing remedy for the depression of Britishjagriculture. 
been specially addressed to Ireland, he would undoubtedly 
have been on the right track. For in Ireland alone 
the economic conditions necessary to its success 
already prevail—viz., farms so subdivided as not to 
afford a comfortable maintenance, except on the 
intensive or market garden system of cultivation, 
together with the prevalence of abnormally large 
families. In the wives and deft-fingered children of the 
300,000 impoverished so-called farmers below £10 
valuation, you have ready at hand and crying out for 
employment an abundant supply of the personally- 
interested and delicate labour required for sowing, 
thinning, transplanting, and gathering the finer kinds 
of vegetables and all bush fruit. The mild and moist 
climate of Ireland, where sufficient sun heat cannot be 
relied on for ripening the larger kinds of stone-fruit, 
is peculiarly favourable to the free growth of Currants, 
Cherries, Raspberries, Gooseberries, Filberts, Walnuts, 
and fairly adapted to Strawberry, Apple, Pear, and 
Damson culture. Most kinds of vegetables will do well 
everywhere in Ireland, and her warm and moist south 
coast might rival the Channel and Scilly Isles in the 
production of early Peas, Potatos, Seakale, Broccoli, 
and Rhubarb. The finer kinds of vegetables are un- 
ccountably scarce at all times in Dublin, where two- 
