360 
JOUR.\^AL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
May  4,  1899. 
BEAUTY  IN  NATURE  AND  ART. 
Daffodils  waving  in  the  west  wind — Daffodils  galore.  Lusty 
Sir  Watkins,  noble  Emperor.’,  fair  Empresses  gave  a  right  royal 
greeting  as  we  trundled  our  wheel  up  to  the  garden  home.  Three 
and  twenty  miles  in  the  teeth  of  the  same  west  wind  accounted  for 
over  three  of  those  precious  hours,  wdiich  mean  so  much  in  a  day  at 
StrafiFau.  But  as  the  most  toilsome  journey  oft  brings  the  most 
pleasing  retrospect,  so  perhaps  one  enjoys  the  more  the  quiet  delights 
of  this  picturesque  place.  There  was  nothing  prettier  seen  than  a 
broad  patch  of  the  old  English  Daffodil,  N.  pseudo-Narcissus,  studding 
a  portion  of  the  lawn;  but  large  quantities  of  the  elegant  princeps 
made  a  brave  display  in  a  similar  position.  The  lattir  have  seeded 
freely,  and  numerous  progeny  surround  patches  of  the  parent  plants. 
Occasionally  a  bunch  of  rush-like  stems  show  where  the  seed  pod  has 
burst  without  scattering.  This  is  naturalisation  pure  and  simple,  and 
intensely  satisfying  to  those  who  love  the  “  Lilies  of  Lent.” 
It  is  worth  remarking  that  only  on  the  grass  has  the  production  of 
seedlings  been  in  evidence.  Probably  this  part  of  the  lawn  being 
mossy  forms  a  congenial  bed  for  germination.  Sir  Watkin  is  boldly 
assertive,  the  produce  of  nine  bulbs,  originally,  being  numbered  by 
thousands,  or  appeared  to  be  so.  These  are  offsets,  obtained  in  the 
planting  and  replanting  of  the  beds,  which  have  long  since  escaped  the 
bonds  of  orthodoxy,  and  grow  and  blow  at  their  own  sweet  will  on 
the  grass.  Would  that  stately  maximus  were  as  prolific.  We  .«ee  a 
dozen  or  so  of  its  deep  golden  blooms  among  the  peculiarly  narrow 
twisted  foliage ;  the  one  hero  is  the  fine  form  known  as  the  College 
Garden  maximus.  On  the  far  bank  of  the  Liffey  Daffodils  brighten 
the  scene,  and  some  have  crossed  the  frontiers  into  the  pastures 
beyond,  where  they  are  scrupulously  avoided  by  the  grazing  stock. 
By  a  suspension  bridge  “  The  Island”  is  reached, and  here  freedom 
reigns.  Graceful  Bamboos  bend  to  the  breeze,  and  are  well  represented 
by  such  k'nds  as  nitida,  nigra,  viridis-glaucescens,  palmata,  and 
japonica  (Metake),  all  being  pictures  of  health  and  happiness.  The 
po.sition  as  regards  soil  is  a  moist  one,  and  Mr.  Bedford  says  that  on 
Jiigher  and  drier  ground  they  never  did  well.  Leaf  mould,  with  a 
liberal  allowance  of  sharp  sand,  is  the  medium  they  revel  in.  An  infant 
Gunnera  manicata  is  puthing  its  way  like  a  young  Hercules  through 
the  protective  covering  of  last  year’s  foliage,  and  it  is  notable  that 
beyond  affording  some  compost  to  the  choicer  plants  when  introduced 
to  the  Island,  Nature  is,  practically,  allowed  to  have  her  fling;  hence 
there  is  no  tidying  up  or  trimming  down  of  dead  leaves  and  withered 
stems.  Down  the  reaches  of  the  river  red  Willows  are  very  fine,  but, 
strange  to  say,  the  golden  one  does  not  succeed  at  Straffan. 
Reluctantly  leaving  the  Island  for  a  turn  through  the  kitchen 
garden,  a  youthful  Bedford  in  knickerbockers  is  seen  violently  gesticu¬ 
lating  at  the  end  of  a  long  walk.  The  wireless  telegraphy  spells  out 
D.i.N.N.E.R,  for  which  inestimable  benefit  to  hungry  horticulturists  one, 
at  least,  would,  if  he  could,  make  “The  Missus”  a  Y.M.H.  on  the  spot. 
There  i.s  no  more  interesting  thing  in  Straffan  than  the  low  wall  in 
front  of  Mr.  Bedford’s  house.  It  was  a  happy  thought  of  the  Bedford 
boys  when  they  decked  it  with  Alpines.  It  has  been  noticed  before, 
but  never  did  it  appear  so  much  a  thing  of  beauty  and  interest  as  it 
did  to-day. 
In  the  greenhouse,  chiefly  devoted  to  plants  in  bloom,  there  is 
“nothing  to  see.”  The  “  nothing”  consists  of  as  bright  and  varied  a 
show  of  bloom  as  the  house  will  hold,  including  a  number  of  superb 
examples  of  the  old  Machet  Mignonette.  From  the  roof  of  a  warmer 
house  hang  pendant  panicles  of  the  quaintly  pretty  Hexacentris 
mysorensis.  Tiie  orangery  holds  some  noble  trees  in  fruit  and  blossom, 
and  some  coveted  Kentias  enjoy  the  subdued  light,  flourishing  in  such 
small  pots  as  are  dear  to  the  heart  of  the  decorator.  Orchids  are,  as 
they  always  are,  well  to  the  front  at  Straffan.  The  famous 
Wardianums  are  on  the  wane,  but  still  beautiful  ;  one  deep  tinted 
variety  is  very  consjacuous. 
With  all  that  is  rich  and  rare  under  glass,  however,  the  outside 
appears  to  have  especial  attractions  to-d.^y.  The  improving  hand  i^ 
so  much  in  evidence  over  a  score  of  years,  and  we  would  fain  do  like¬ 
wise  in  our  own  sphere  of  operations  recently  migrated  to.  In  a 
sheltered  glade  is  a  collection  of  Japanese  Maples,  cunningly  con¬ 
trived  to  catch  the  eye  as  one  passes  them,  on  a  shrubbery  walk  at 
right  angles.  A  good  effect  is  created  in  some  beds  of  herbaceous 
Pasonies  by  clumps  of  D.ffodils  informally  disposed  through  them  ; 
the  purple-red  springing  foliage  of  the  one,  and  the  golden  blooms  of 
the  other,  being  almost  daring  in  its  tone  amid  the  faintly  discernible 
greenery  of  tree  and  bush  ;  and  what  an  aggressive  thing  is  the  hybrid 
Briar,  Anne  of  Gierstein  !  Up  some  barely  visible  support  it  has 
climbed  fully  15  feet,  and  must  when  in  bloom  be  a  pillar  ot  beauty. 
But  the  day  declines  and  our  “  wheel  ”  awaits  ;  the  miles  are  many, 
and  thorns  lurk  bv  the  wayside.  It  is,  however,  an  easy  run  back, 
for  the  wheel  and  the  river  are  both  making  for  the  sea,  until  the  Phoenix 
Park  is  reached,  where  there  is  no  choice  but  to  join  a  long  procession 
of  jaunting  cars  returning  frjm  Fairyhouse  races.  Poor  fairies  !  how 
those  jaunty  jarvies  rattle  their  bones  over  the  stones  as  we  descend 
into  dear,  dusty  Dublin  !  Through  the  city,  out  on  the  Rock  Road, 
no  rocks  ahead  now  save  a  limb  of  the  law  who  looks  suspiciously  as 
we  dismount  staggering  with  stiffness,  but  braced  with  pleasant 
memories  of  Straffan. —  K.,  Dublin. 
P.S. — Some  Irish  notes  recently  intimated  that  changes  might 
occur  at  Straffan  consequent  on  the  death  of  its  honoured  master. 
Such  is  the  case,  and  the  Hon.  Mrs.  Barton,  whose  devotion  to  gar¬ 
dening  has  so  widely  developed  its  beauty  and  interest,  is  about  to 
reside  at  Luttrellstown  Castle,  fortunately  within  touch  of  her  old 
home,  whilst  Mr.  Bedford  remains  on  the  scene  of  those  labours  of  love 
which  have  been  unremittingly  carried  on  by  him  for  over  twenty-three 
years. — K. 
EXPERIMENTAL  HORTICULTURE.— 3. 
Establishing  Experimental  Stations. 
From  what  has  already  been  said  it  will  be  judged  that  there  is 
ample  room  for  the  foundation  of  experimental  gardens  and  stations. 
The  more  they  can  be  increased  in  numbers,  especially  if  they  be 
established  on  anything  like  a  uniform  system,  the  greater  the  gain  to 
cultivation  and  the  nation.  Experimental  work,  as  regards  plant  life 
and  horticulture,  may  be  summari.-od  under  three  heads. 
1,  Scientific  research.  This  would  deal  with  the  more  abstruse 
problems  of  plant  life,  structural  .and  physiological  variations  affected 
by  different  treatment,  the  causes  of  varying  manurial  actions  in 
different  soils,  and  all  the  laboratory  work  concerned  in  the  analysis 
of  soils  and  products. 
2,  Practical  work.  Directed  to  the  elucidation  or  improvement  of 
ordinary  horticultural  operations.  This  series  should  also  include 
experiments  intended  to  advance  the  cultivator’s  knowledge  of  manure.’, 
and  their  most  profitable  applications.  The  important  matters  of 
insect  destruction,  and  disease  prevention  or  cure,  would  likewise 
demand  attention. 
3,  Commercial  aspects.  Under  this  head  the  experimentalist 
would  be  concerned  in  the  endeavour  to — A,  Economise  the  cost  of 
production  ;  B,  Increase  the  productiveness  of  land;  0,  Improve  the 
plants  grown. 
A  complete  experimental  station  should  include  the  three  scries  of 
investigations,  but  where  that  is  not  jiossible  valuable  work  can  be 
done  in  dther  of  the  others  provided  it  be  commenced  and  carried  out 
on  a  carefully  considered  plan.  Instances  are  known  to  me  where 
from  defects  in  the  original  design  or  in  the  subsequent  execution, 
years  ot  labour  and  great  expense  have  been  rendered  comparatively 
useless.  When  there  are  so  few  attempts  at  research  this  is  e.«pecially 
deplorable,  because  it  serves  to  deter  others,  and  throws  an  unmerited 
odium  upon  scientific  work.  The  essential  points  to  be  determined  at 
starting  are : — 
1 ,  The  objects  of  research. 
2,  A  systematic  plan  of  work. 
3,  The  method  of  recording. 
These  are  mutually  dependant,  and  a  defect  in  either  will  very 
seriously  affect  the  final  value  of  the  work.  Without  a  definite  object 
in  view  it  is  impossible  to  form  a  satisfactory  plan;  in  the  absence  of 
a  judiciously  organised  system  the  best  work  will  be  of  little  avail ; 
and,  lastly,  failiog  an  accurate  and  well-devised  method  of  recording 
results,  the  whole  becomes  profitless,  disippointing,  and  even  mis¬ 
leading. 
These  preliminaries  being  settled,  the  next  considerations  are  the 
conditions  under  which  the  experiments  are  to  be  conducted.  If  it  is 
intended  to  deal  with  cultivation  in  the  open,  the  selection  of  land 
becomes  a  matter  of  the  first  importance.  The  site  should  be  pre¬ 
ferably  one  that  is  not  unduly  exposed  to  extremes  of  temperature, 
wind,  or  rainfall.  The  soil  of  the  area  to  be  cultivated  should  be  as 
nearly  equal  in  character  as  possible,  and  beyond  this  it  is  desirable  to 
have  some  knowledge  of  previous  treatment  and  cropping,  especially 
when  this  has  varied  in  different  parts  of  the  selected  land,  as  it 
may  often  throw  a  light  on  the  seemingly  erratic  behaviour  of 
subsequent  crops.  In  most  cases  an  equalising  influence  is  exerted 
by  placing  the  whole  of  the  land  under  one'  kind  of  crop  previous  to 
commencing  experimental  work.  Rough  or  foul  land  may  be  planted 
with  Potatoes  as  a  good  preparation,  provided  the  soil  be  not  deficient 
in  potash,  and  a  suitable  dressing  of  artificial  manure  be  applied,  the 
exact  composition  of  which  is  known.  If  the  land  be  poor  in  nitrogen 
a  crop  of  some  leguminous  plant  could  be  sown  and  turned  in. 
Samples  of  the  soil  for  analysis  should  be  taken  from  different 
depths,  and  where  the  land  appears  to  vary  in  character  it  may  be 
necessary  to  select  several  spots  in  the  same  field.  At  most  first-class 
stations  it  is  usual  to  take  samples  of  the  soil  at  three  depths,  the 
first,  second,  and  third  9  inches,  the  total  depth  thus  tested  being 
27  inches.  For  the  majority  of  crops  with  which  horticulturists  are 
concerned  this  is  sufficient. 
Apart  from  the  cropping  already  mentioned,  the  actual  mechanical 
preparation  of  the  soil  is  a  matter  of  some  moment.  For  farm  crops 
ploughing  is  always  adopted,  but  for  horticultural  work  digging  or 
