TREES AND SHRUBS IN IRELAND
It is not possible, without going beyond the limits of a volume of
comfortable size, to do anything approaching justice to the trees and
shrubs that are the glory of many gardens in the sister Isle. It is a
favoured isle for the growth of Conifers, and trees and shrubs that in
other parts of Britain, except under exceptional conditions, completely
fail. The Sikkim Rhododendrons at Kilmacurragh, Co. Wicklow, the
residence of Mr. Thomas Acton, D.L.; the Rhododendrons and Ghent Azaleas
at Houth Castle, Co. Dublin; the noble Conifers in the gardens of
Viscount Powerscourt at Enniskerry, Wicklow, and of Lord Annesley,
Castlewellan, Co. Down, besides other counties, are well known to every
one deeply interested in trees and shrubs; while among other notable
gardens filled with rare treasures and specimens of individual
development may be named, St. Annes', Clontarf, Co. Dublin; Cong, Co.
Mayo; and Muckross, Killarney, residences of Lord Ardilaun. The gardens
of Mr. W. E. Gumbleton, Belgrove, Queenstown, Cork, contain interesting
collections; and the same may be said of Straffan, Co. Kildare, the Duke
of Leinster's famous residence; Carton, near Maynooth, in the same
county; Woodstock, Kilkenny, the residence of Mrs. Tighe; Hamwood,
Dunboyne, Co. Meath (Mr. R. Hamilton, D.L.); Killarney House, Killarney
(the Lord Kenmare); Kylemore, Co. Mayo (Mr. Mitchell Henry); and Narrow
Water Park, Co. Down (Capt. Roger Hall). And we are not forgetful of the
beautiful Fota Island near Cork (Lord Barrymore), where plants accounted
tender in more northerly latitudes flourish with almost tropical
luxuriance.
The gardens of Ireland must be seen to realise their beauty and climatic
advantages. Ireland is happy in having many enthusiastic gardeners, and
it will be well for those who wish for some information as to the great
variety of trees and shrubs that will live unprotected in the sister
Isle to read the contribution of the Earl of Annesley to the Journal of
the Royal Horticultural Society, upon "Ornamental Trees and Shrubs in
the Gardens at Castlewellan, Co. Down," vol. xxviii. The Earl's garden,
to quote his own words, "Is on one of the foot hills of the Mourne
Mountains in the county of Down, about three miles from the Irish
Channel, thus benefiting by the mild influence of the Gulf Stream: it
faces east and south, and is surrounded by old forest trees, so that it
is well sheltered. We suffer little from frost; ten degrees is the
average; once, in the hard winter of 1895, we had fifteen degrees. The
rainfall is about thirty-two inches; the subsoil is gravel, and as it
lies on rather a steep hill there is perfect drainage--a great advantage
for tender, as indeed it is for all plants."
In a future edition of this work, if it be called for, the gardens of
Ireland in relation to the trees and shrubs that are grown therein will
receive greater justice than it is possible to give at present, owing to
the number of rare and tender species and varieties that are at home in
the sister Isle. Ireland has two interesting Botanic gardens, one
attached to Trinity College, Dublin, of which Mr. F. W. Burbidge, M.A.,
is the well-known curator, and the other at Glasnevin. This is under the
care of Mr. F. W. Moore and is exceptionally beautiful. Both contain
rare trees and shrubs, but the terrific storm in the early part of 1903
wrought sad havoc.