514 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
June  23,  1898. 
Near  the  aforesaid  trimly  kept  lawa  Nature  asserts  its  wild  ways 
in  an  unkempt  growth  of  Solomon’s  Seal,  now  in  all  its  beauty  of 
arching,  glossy  foliage,  and  pendant  bells,  beneath  which  again  the 
wild  Hyacinth  flourishes  at  its  own  sweet  will.  Near  at  hand  the 
bold,  bronzy  foliage  of  Rogersia  ppdophylla  is  very  assertive  to  the 
eye,  and  a  leaf  measured  by  the  saintly  umbrella  first,  and  my  tape 
afterwards,  made  a  record  of  36  inches  across. 
The  “  little  garden  ”  lies  high  and  dry,  and  many  of  the  lesser 
things  are  sheltered  by  the  greater — hidden  in  fact ;  but  those  who 
hide  know  where  to  find,  and  the  umbrella  now  acts  as  a  divining  rod 
to  disclose  a  perfect  plant  of  Ramondia  pyrenaica,  while  Primulas, 
notably  rosea,  in  the  most  luxuriant  foliage,  and  a  thousand  plants 
have  a  foothold  in  or  abotit  rock-studded  banks.  One  bank  in 
particular  is  a  galaxy  of  creeping,  clinging,  rambling  plant  life,  an() 
upon  the  crests  of  these  mounds  and  banks  bashes  of  the  Gum  Cistus 
are  bristling  with  buds.  Aralias,  Bamboos,  and  others  form  a  kind  of 
maze,  through  which  one  wanders  oblivious  of  time  or  space,  as  the 
enthusiastic  guide  leads  the  way. 
How  lovingly  the  Lady  of  the  Anemones  tells  the  story  of  some 
favourite  plant,  disclosing  the  hidden  grace  and  beauty  of  its  charms  ! 
The  bond  of  sympathy  betwixt  her  and  them  seems  complete  when 
some  tangly  plant  clutches  the  cloak  of  some  shimmering  material, 
donned  as  a  passing  shower  scudded  by. 
The  kitchen  garden,  or  what  may  have  been  so  once,  for  the 
kitchen  part  is  conspicuous  by  its  absence,  is  entered  by  an  archwa}- 
of  Clematis  montana  grandiflora.  Here  are  breadths  of  countless 
Narcissi  and  borders  (  f  Hellebores.  The  unique  single  white  Paeony 
is  in  strong  force,  with  such  plants  on  the  walls  as  Clinodendron 
Hookeri,  now  gorgeously  arrayed  with  long-stalked,  pendant,  crimson 
blooms.  It  is  rare  I  suspect ;  who  can  tell  us  something  about  it?® 
Solanum  jasminoides  grows  rampantly  along  the  top  of  the  wall. 
It  is  here,  perhaps,  in  this  portion  of  the  “little  garden”  that 
St.  Brigid’s  labours  of  love  are  most  in  evidence.  Here  are  the 
Anemones  bearing  her  name  and  fame,  but  not  quite  so  happy  as  they 
were,  I  am  told,  at  Howth  on  the  opposite  shores  of  “sweet 
Dublin  bay,”  where  the  old  strain  of  garden  Anemone  under  her 
skilful  hands  yielded  its  handsome  progeny.  However,  the  good 
work  is  now  going  on  with  the  Daffodils  and  with  the  Hellebores, 
the  now  declining  foliage  of  the  former  measuring,  in  the  case  of 
some  varieties,  40  inches  in  length,  whilst  of  the  latter  a  bed  of  babj' 
seedlings,  it  is  hoped,  will  speak  for  themselves  later  on. 
Each  season  of  the  year  has  its  own  story  to  tell  in  the  “  little 
garden,”  the  aim  of  its  mistress  being  to  have  flowers  all  the  year 
round,  and  this  without  a  suspicion  of  glass  or  greenhouse  ;  hence,  as  I 
said,  the  enjoyment  is  perennial.  Noticeable  among  things  noticed, 
and  too  numerous  to  mention,  were  Homer’s  white  Rose,  Rubus 
deliciosus,  large  bushes  of  Salvia  fulgens  (a  speaking  testimony  of 
the  climate),  Clianthus  puniceus,  and  a  bush  of  the  helmet  Calceolaria, 
smothered  in  its  quaintly  pretty  blossoms.  A  Smilax  in  particular 
is  pointed  to  with  pride,  in  spite  of  its  nomenclature  of  S.  asparagoides 
retrofractus  arboreus. 
Interesting,  too,  is  Drimys  Winteri,  not  merely  as  affording  the 
“  Winter  Bark  ”  of  commerce,  used  for  the  same  purposes  as  cinnamon, 
but  because  the  plant  was  first  brought  to  England  from  the  Straits 
of  Magellan  in  1579  by  Captain  Winter,  who  went  out  with  Sir 
Francis  Drake  in  his  voyage  round  the  world. 
^  et  with  all  its  interest,  grace,  and  charms,  comes  a  tale  of  woe  from 
the  “  little  garden.”  The  ubiquitous  slug  is  no  respecter  of  persons  or 
of  plants.  “Could  I  suggest  a  remedy  ?”  “Oh!  birds — blackbirds  and 
thrushes.”  “  But  they  can’t  eat  them  all.”  A  thought  crosses  one’s 
mind  that  the  slugs  might  have  been  banished  wfith  the  snakes  and 
toads  instead  of  fattening  and  battening  on  these  tender  plants,  then 
things  would  be  nearly  perfect.  Nearly,  not  quite,  perhaps,  for  over 
the  tiniest  of  cups  in  the  daintiest  of  drawing-rooms  comes  the  faint 
echo  of  complaint  in  another  direction,  and  this  from  one  of  the 
fraternity,  for  So-and-so  grumbles  he  can’t  grow  his  vegetables  in 
*  e  do  not  see  the  name  in  the  Index  Ketvensia.  Is  it  “  Crinodendron  ” 
syn.  Tricuspidaria  Hookeriana— a  Chilian  plant  ? 
the  shadow  of  the  house,”  hence  the  reason,  perhaps,  there  is  no 
recollection  of  seeing  any. 
No  pen  of  mine  could  do  justice  to  the  unique  situation  of 
St.  Brigid’s  Home,  from  the  front  of  which  one  looks  over  a  valley  to 
the  mountains  of  Wicklow  close  at  hand.  Seascape  on  the  left  with 
Bray  Head  in  the  background,  and  immediately  opixisite  sunshine 
chases  the  shadows  over  Lugnaqiiilla,  the  Sugarloaf,  as.  the  return  is 
made  to  Ballybrack  Station,  with  a  bouquet  culled  from  St.  Brigid’s 
garden. — K.,  Dublin. 
EOUTINE  IN  MELON  CULTURE. 
When  the  crop  is  over  and  the  plants  are  healthy  and  not  affected 
with  red  spider,  they  may  be  reserved  for  a  second  crop,  in  which 
case  growth  should  have  been  retained  and  encouraged  in  the  late 
stages  of  the  first  crop,  and  a  good  set  of  fruit  secured  on  these,  whilst 
the  structures  were  kept  drier  for  the  fruit  ripening.  The  old  growths 
in  this  case  should  be  cut  clean  away,  but  not  all  at  once,  as  that 
would  give  a  check,  reserving  the  best  of  the  growth,  and  any  cuts 
that  bleed  should  be  dressed  with  quicklime. 
Remove  a  little  of  the  surface  soil  and  supply  some  lumpy  loam. 
Soak  with  tepid  water,  and  follow  at  once  with  liquid  manure.. 
Mulch  with  horse  droppings  spread  previously  in  a  shed  and  turned 
over  two  or  three  times  before  using  for  the  Melons.  They  are 
best  given  a  little  and  often  rather  than  a  heavy  mulching  all  at  once. 
If  kept  moist  the  roots  will  soon  spread  in  the  loam.  Thin  the  fruits,, 
apportioning  them  to  the  vigour  of  the  plants — half  a  dozen  is  a  full 
crop,  and  overcropping  fatal  to  quality . 
Replanting  in  Houses,  Pits,  and  Frames.— Where  the  plants 
are  not  in  a  condition  to  bear  second  crops  clear  them  out  at 
removing  the  soil.  If  the  heat  be  supplied  by  fermenting  materials,, 
remove  a  portion  of  it  and  add  some  fresh,  mixing  it  with  the  fresher 
portions  of  the  old,  which  will  revive  the  bottom  heat  sufficiently  to 
give  the  young  plants  a  start.  Cleanse  the  house  or  structure  thoroughly, 
success  greatly  depending  on  a  good  start.  Plant  on  hillocks  or  ridges. 
Rather  strong  loam  three  parts,  one  part  horse  droppings,  and  one  part 
old  mortar  rubbish,  mixed  and  rammed  firm,  will  grow  Melons  well. 
When  warmed  through  plant  carelully,  shade  from  bright  sun  for  a 
few  days,  ventilate  early  in  the  morning,  and  close  early  with  a  moist 
atmosphere. 
Plants  Setting  the  Fruit. — With  a  sturdy,  short-jointed,  and 
not  crowded  growth.  Melons  set  freely  at  this  time  of  year,  but  air 
should  be  admitted  so  as  to  keep  the  pollen  dry,  and  the  atmosphere- 
genial  Insects  visit  the  flowers,  and  bv  pollen  transference  effect 
fertilisation.  In  moist  weather,  however.  Melons  do  not  set  freely  in 
frames ;  in  that  case  apply  good  linings,  and  admit  air  freely,  ventilating 
a  little  at  night  so  as  to  prevent  the  deposition  of  moisture  on  the 
blossoms,  as  to  be  effective  the  pollen  must  be  dry,  and  the  stigmas 
not  destroyed  by  moisture.  Keep  the  foliage  fairly  thin,  for  without 
light  and  air  a  good  set  of  fruit  need  not  be  expected.  A  free  use  of 
the  knife  is  not  desirable  whilst  the  fruit  is  setting.  Afford  water 
only  to  prevent  the  leaves  flagging,  and  keep  it  from  the  foliage. 
Plants  Swelling  their  Crops  — When  the  fruit  is  the  size  of 
a  hen’s  egg,  add  fresh  soil  to  ridges  or  hillocks  after  a  good  watering. 
Syringe  the  plants  in  houses  at  closing  time,  and  damp  well  down 
in  the  mornings  and  evenings  of  hot  days.  Afford  liquid  manure 
copiously,  always  weak  and  tepid,  or  sprinkle  a  little  fertiliser  on  the 
surface  and  wash  it  in.  Supply  supports  to  the  fruit  in  good  time, 
placing  slates  under  those  in  pits  and  frames.  Keep  the  loliage  fairly 
thin,  not  allowing  a  large  amount  to  be  made,  and  afterwards  have  to 
reduce  it  in  quantity,  for  that  gives  a  severe  check,  and  may  result 
in  gumming.  Ventilate  at  75°,  keeping  the' temperature  through  the 
day  at  80°  to  90°  with  sun,  and  close  so  as  to  raise  it  to  95°  or  100°,. 
w'ith  plenty  of  atmospheric  moisture.  In  dull  weather  a  little 
ventilation  without  lowering  the  temperature  prevents  the  foliage 
becoming  soft  and  unable  to  bear  sun  after  such  periods.  Admitting 
a  little  air  about  6  p.m.  on  days  when  the  houses  have  been  closed 
early,  wfill  allow  the  temperature  to  fall  gradually,  and  any  vitiated, 
air  to  escape.  As  the  fruit  approaches  ripening  reduce  the  water  at 
the  roots,  but  not  to  the  extent  of  causing  the  foliage  to  flag,  and 
withhold  water  from  the  fruit.  A  gentle  warmth  in  the  pipes  or 
linings  to  frames,  with  a  little  air  constantly,  afford  the  best  safeguard, 
against  cracked  fruit,  which  is  mostly  caused  by  a  moist  atmo¬ 
sphere  at  night,  or  a  dull  moist  period  following  hot  weather. — 
Practitioner. 
Paris  Exhibition  of  1900. — We  are  requested  to  state  that  the- 
Royal  Commission  are  now  prepared  to  circulate  iniormation  respecting 
the  exhibition.  The  classification  and  rules  for  exhibitors,  together 
with  forms  of  application  for  space,  can  be  obtained  by  applying  to  the 
Secretary  of  the  Royal  Commission,  Paris  Exhibition  1900,  St.  Stephen’.^ 
House,  Westminster,  S.W. 
