310 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
April  2,  1896, 
Instead  of  Box  ;  stones,  tiles,  or  strips  of  wood  are  commonly  in  use. 
These  “  dead  ’’  edgings,  as  they  are  frequently  termed,  are  uninteresting, 
although  they  may  be  serviceable.  Edgings  of  this  character  can  be  made 
attractive  by  covering  them  with  some  hardy  flowering  or  foliage  plant. 
Where  flint  or  other  stones  are  plentiful  a  miniature  form  of  rockery 
can  be  constructed  and  made  thoroughly  interesting.  Even  with  a 
single  row  of  stones  much  variety  is  practicable.  They  should  be  set 
3  inches  deep,  preserving  a  perfectly  straight  edge  next  to  the  path. 
Any  irregularities  in  the  stones  themselves  on  the  opposite  side  will  be 
hidden  by  the  plants. 
Among  spring  flowering  plants  the  following  are  desirable — Aubrietia 
purpurea,  A.  Leichtlini,  A.  Hendersoni,  Double  Red  and  White  Daisies, 
Gentiana  acaulis,  Pansies,  dwarf  growing  Myosotis,  coloured  Primroses, 
and  Iberis  corretefolia.  What  may  be  termed  summer  flowering  kinds 
are  Violas,  Pinks,  Armerias,  dwarf  growing  Campanulas,  such  as  pumila, 
p.  alba,  turbinata,  pulla,  and  G.  F.  Wilson.  Heuchera  sanguinea,  Phlox 
of  the  setacea  type,  Saxifragas  in  abundant  varietv,  with  their  low 
growth  and  freedom  in  flowering  cannot  be  omitted.  Veronica  prostrata, 
with  its  mass  of  brilliant  blue  flowers  and  lowTdense  habit  of  growth, 
ought  not  to  be  overlooked.  In  addition  to  the  above  there  are  many 
suitable  plants  beautiful  in  foliage  onlv — Sedum  glaucum,  S.  Lydium, 
S.  acre  elegans,  Herniaria  glabra,  and  Veronica  repens. — E.  M. 
THE  SHAMROCK. 
An  Irish  correspondent  questions  the  accuracy  of  our  reply  to 
“  Nemo  ”  on  page  290  last  week,  as  to  Oxalisacetosella  being  the  original 
Shamrock.  Though  we  indicated  that  Trifolium  minus  is  the  plant  now 
regarde  1  in  Ireland  as  the  Shamrock,  the  following  references  from 
“  The  Wild  Flowers  of  Great  Britain  ”  are  not  the  less  interesting.  They 
were  the  result  of  considerable  research  by  the  late  Mr.  G.  W.  Johnson  : — 
OXALIS  ACETOSELLA. 
SYNONYMES. — Sorrel  Oxalis,  Bentham’a  Handbook,  149.  Cuckoo- 
bread  ;  Sour-sorrel,  English.  Gouk-meat ,  Scotch.  Suran  y  coed 
gyffredin,  Welsh.  JBiadh-eunain  ;  fiada-coille,  Gaelic.  Seamsog,  Irish  ; 
also  Alleluja. 
With  the  exception  of  Jerusalem  being  popularly  corrupted  from 
Gierasole,  the  Italian  for  “  Follower  of  the  Sun,”  and  connected  with 
the  tuberous-rooted  Sunflower,  our  Jerusalem  Artichoke,  no  greater 
contortion  of  a  word  ever  occurred  than  in  calling  the  Wood  Sorrel 
Alleluja  !  It  is  merely  a  corruption  of  its  Italian  name  Juiiola.  It  is 
also  called  Cuckoo-bread  in  England,  and  Gouke-meat  in  Scotland, 
because  it  blooms  about  the  time  of  that  bird's  arrival.  Sour  Trefoil, 
another  of  its  popular  names,  alludes  to  the  acidity  and  form  of  its 
leaves  ;  Wood-sour  also  alludes  to  its  acidity  and  place  of  growth  ;  and 
Stubwort  to  the  last  particular  only. 
The  generic  name  Oxalis  is  derived  from  the  Greek  oxys,  sour,  and 
ala,  salt,  an  acid  salt,  oxalate  of  potash  being  obtained  from  its  juices  ; 
and  the  specific  name,  acetosella,  is  the  same,  only  the  derivations  are 
Latin — acetum,  sour,  and  sal,  salt. 
The  word  Sorrel  is  derived  from  the  Anglo-Saxon  Sur,  sour,  and  its 
Danish  name  Syre,  and  its  Welsh  name  Suran,  have  the  same  allusion  to 
its  acid  nature. 
We  are  strongly  of  opinion  also  that  it  is — 
“  The  chosen  leaf 
Of  bard  and  chief 
Old  Erin’s  native  Shamrock.” 
An  early  writer,  Sir  Henry  Piers,  in  Valiencey’s  “  Collectanea  de 
Rebus  Hibernicis,”  says,  “  Between  May-day  and  harvest,  butter,  new 
cheese,  curds,  and  Shamrocks  are  the  food  of  the  meaner  sort.”  Now, 
Wood  Sorrel  is  an  agreeable  salad  herb  ;  whereas  Clover  or  Trefoil, 
which  are  usually  considered  as  the  Shamrock,  are  anything  but 
palatable. 
Another  authority,  the  “  Irish  Hudibras,”  published  in  1689,  says  of 
the  Irishman  : — 
“  Shamrogs  and  watergrass  he  shows, 
Which  was  both  meat,  and  drink,  and  close.” 
A  description  more  applicable  to  the  Wood  Sorrel  than  to  Clover. 
Then  Fynes  Morrison  writes  of  his  countrymen,  “  They  willingly 
eate  the  herbe  Shamrocke,  being  of  a  sharpe  taste,”  a  description 
applicable  to  the  Wood  Sorrel,  but  not  to  any  species  of  Trifolium. 
Moreover,  the  Clovers  never  grow  in  woods  ;  whereas  the  Wood  Sorrel 
has  there  its  native  place,  and  coincident  with  this  the  “  Irish  Hudibras” 
states — 
“  Within  a  wood  near  to  this  place, 
There  grows  a  bunch  of  three-leaved  grass. 
Called  by  the  boglanders  Shamrogues, 
A  present  for  the  Queen  of  Shoges  (spirits).” 
These  authorities,  we  think,  justify  our  conclusion  that  originally  the 
Wood  Sorrel  was  the  Shamrock  of  ancient  times  ;  nor  is  it  difficult  to 
explain  why  the  White  Clover  (Trifolium  repens)  is  adopted  as  its 
substitute.  When,  in  the  olden  times,  the  country  was  covered  with 
forests  the  Wood  Sorrel  abounded  ;  but  now  that  the  land  is  cleared  of 
forests  and  is  better  drained,  the  Clover  is  more  abundant,  and  the  Wood 
Sorrel  comparatively  rare.  The  Clover,  therefore,  was  readily  accepted 
as  the  national  plant  to  be  worn  on  their  saints’  festivals  ;  for,  in 
conformity  with  the  legend,  nothing  more  was  needed  than  that  the 
plant  should  have  three  leaflets  equal,  and  united  at  oae  point  to  one 
stalk.  The  legend  is  that  when  St.  Patrick  landed  near  Wicklow,  and 
unfolded  to  the  semi-barbarous  natives  the  trinitarian  doctrine,  they 
objected  to  its  incomprehensibility.  In  illustration  of  the  doctrine  he 
plucked  a  Shamrock,  and  retorted,  “  Is  it  not  as  possible  for  the  Father, 
Son,  and  Holy  Spirit  to  form  one  Deity,  as  for  these  three  leaves  to  unite 
upon  a  single  stalk?”  St.  Patrick  prevailed,  and  the  Shamrock  was 
adopted  as  the  emblem. 
The  Acetosella  is  totally  inodorous,  but  has  a  grateful  acid  taste.  In 
its  medical  effects  it  is  refrigerant,  antiscorbutic,  and  diuretic.  It  is 
recommended  by  Bergius  in  inflammatory,  bilious,  and  putrid  fevers, 
and  to  restore  an  appetite  for  food.  The  principal  use,  however,  of  the 
Acetosella  is  to  allay  inordinate  heat,  and  to  quench  thirst.  For  this 
purpose,  a  pleasant  whey  may  be  formed  by  boiling  the  plant  in  milk. 
An  essential  salt  is  prepared  from  this  plant,  known  by  the  name  of 
Essential  Salt  of  Lemons,  and  commonly  used  for  taking  ink-stains  out 
of  linen.  It  is  the  bin-oxalate  of  potash  ;  20  lbs.  of  the  fresh  leaves 
yield  about  6  lbs.  of  juice,  and  from  this  may  be  obtained  about  3  ozs.  of 
the  oxalate. 
“THE  GROVE,”  HARBORNE. 
AMONGST  the  numerous  aristocratic  suburban  residences  of  Birming¬ 
ham  one  of  the  most  charming  is  The  Grove,  at  Harborne,  owned  by 
William  Kenrick,  Esq.,  M.P.,  who  represents  the  Northern  Parliamentary 
Division  of  Birmingham.  The  estate  was  purchased  by  Mr.  Kenrick 
about  twenty  years  ago,  since  when  it  has  been  subjected  to  considerable 
improvement,  especially  in  a  landscape  point  of  view,  by  the  late  Mr. 
Milner,  the  celebrated  landscape  gardener,  and  it  reflects  much  credit 
on  his  taste  and  ability  in  having  so  well  taken  advantage  of  the 
geographical  features  of  the  domain.  Various  improvements  also  have 
been  added  from  time  to  time  by  the  appreciative  owners — Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Kenrick.  The  estate  is  situated  on  a  gentle  slope,  with  a  southern 
aspect,  and  from  which  an  extensive  and  interesting  view  of  the  Clent 
and  Frankly  ranges  of  hills  is  commanded.  The  principal  entrance 
to  the  grounds  is  in  close  proximity  to  the  Harborne  and  Selly  Oak 
highway,  whence  the  carriage  drive  leads,  with  a  bold  serpentine  outline, 
through  a  park-like  field  to  the  mansion,  about  300  yards  distant. 
The  mansion  is  a  picturesque  and  massive  structure  of  a  modified  Gothic 
style  of  architecture,  and  is  internally  replete  with  all  that  art  and  wealth 
can  produce. 
Reverting  to  the  lodge  entrance,  the  outside  boundary  of  the  grounds 
diverges  to  the  right  and  left  therefrom,  and  is  occupied  by  a  well 
established  belt  of  trees  and  shrubs,  thus  affording  an  excellent  screen 
from  the  public  road.  A  large  proportion  of  the  shrubbery  belts  in 
question  is  faced  with  a  wide  bordering  of  hardy  herbaceous  flowers  and 
alpines,  so  that  altogether,  and  combined  with  the  undulating  character 
of  the  ground,  a  very  pleasing  effect  is  produced.  A  gravel  walk  runs 
parallel  with  the  whole,  and  a  horizontal  barred  iron  fence  afEords  pro¬ 
tection  from  the  cattle;  A  similar  provision  is  accorded  to  the  carriage 
drive.  Midway  between  the  lodge  and  the  mansion  is  an  ornamental 
lake  of  a  river-like  outline,  a  portion  of  it  being  overstretched  by  a  rustic 
wooden  bridge.  The  lake  is  further  adorned  with  edgings  of  clumps  of 
evergreen  shrubs  and  herbaceous  plants  and  flowers  suitable  for  the  posi¬ 
tion.  A  prominent  feature  amongst  the  shrubberies  are  healthy  masses 
of  Rhododendrons  with  borderings  of  Mahonia  aquifolia.  Pleasingly 
disposed  about  the  grounds  are  naturalised  groups  of  Daffodils  and 
Crocuses  in  variety.  In  close  proximity  to  the  south-western  fagade  of 
the  mansion  stands  a  flourishing,  manv-limbed,  upright-growing  Cedar 
of  Lebanon  ;  otherwise  the  grounds  are  not  remarkable  for  fine  specimens 
of  Conifer®,  probably  owing  to  climatal  conditions.  A  tall  specimen, 
however,  of  Abies  nobilis,  located  close  to  the  carriage  drive,  may  be 
noted,  more  as  to  its  height  than  density  of  growth.  The  Austrian  Pine, 
which  serves  materially  in  the  formation  of  the  belt  of  the  boundary 
trees  already  mentioned,  succeeds  admirably. 
There  is  no  formal  parterre,  and  the  numerous  beds  are  disposed  here 
and  there  about  the  charming  lawns  with  pleasing  effect.  A  considerable 
space,  however,  is  devoted  to  herbaceous  flowers,  whilst  Alpines  are  a 
marked  speciality  with  Mrs.  Kenrick  as  much  as  are  Orchids  with  her 
brother,  the  Colonial  Secretary.  Before  leaving  the  pleasure  grounds  it 
would  be  an  omission  not  to  remark  that  the  view  of  the  mansion  from 
the  towers  and  south-west  portions  of  the  grounds  is  delightfully 
imposing. 
The  well-stocked  fruit  and  vegetable  garden  is  comparatively  small 
for  the  requirements  of  the  family,  so  that  the  extra  supply  is  procured 
elsewhere.  Contiguous  to  the  mansion  is  a  commodious  span-roofed 
conservatory  and  a  charmingly  furnished  “  Pulham  ”  rock  fernery  con¬ 
joined,  in  which  several  remarkably  strong  and  healthy  Rex  Begonias 
afford  a  striking  contrast  to  the  Ferns,  Ficus  repens,  and  other  suitable 
plants.  The  conservatory  at  the  time  of  our  visit  a  short  time  ago  was 
very  gay  with  Cinerarias,  Cyclamens,  Hyacinths,  Tulips,  Azaleas,  Olivias, 
Lachenalias,  Hippeastrums,  Chorozema  cordifolia,  and  special  mention 
must  be  made  of  one  or  two  exceedingly  well-flowered  specimens  of 
Dendrobium  nobile.  Cut  flowers  are  greatly  in  demand,  and  must  often 
try  the  somewhat  limited  resources  at  the  command  of  Mr.  William 
Eades,  the  painstaking  and  competent  head  gardener.  Supplementary 
to  the  conservatory  are  two  good  and  commodious  span-roofed  stove  and 
cool  greenhouses,  a  “  lean-to  ”  vinery,  and  a  small  span  pit.  Of  Orchids 
there  is  only  a  small  but  select  stock,  and  amongst  the  rest  of  the 
numerous  denizens  of  the  greenhouses  we  noticed  a  stock  of  Sutton’s 
strain  of  Cyclamen. 
We  had  nearly  forgotten  to  mention  the  existence  of  a  fine  old 
specimen  of  Platanus  orientalis,  whose  wide  spreading  weird-looking 
