Apr. 29.—We had the pleasure of calling on lone of Shanghai's foremost Iris experts last jSundsy. When we arrived, he was" busy pruning trees in his garden'on Lucerne Road, lout he found time to show us his fine collection lof Bearded Irises, many of which were in full bloom, There were some beautiful varieties the beds especially prepared for them and the growth was so healthy and strong that we wondered why more of these plants are not grown here. There must be few plants so Jaccommodating as the bearded irises: they are not very hard to please; but they do repay Jerowers for a little more care and attention fond a better location than that generally provided for the old-fashioned "Blue Flag" Iris, [They dislike organic manure; but they do not mind a little bone meal and, unlike the Japanese iris, they like lime. The gentleman. we visited i a real iris enthusiast: he takes ple: sure in giving away nis surplus plants and we shall not be very far away when he is divid~ ing his roots late in Moy. It is impossible to describe the flowers we saw on Sunday and at the same time do them justice: there are many shades and coloured veins in some of them that the combinations of colour can only Ibe termed remarkable, We even found it dif-fre ult to choose a favourite and it is with a feeling that we are being unfair to many of the others when we say that the variety "Souv, de Loetitia Mignaud" appealed to more than the rest. The flower stems were four feet high and the Mowers were large and such jo lovely shade of blue. We counted twenty [perfectly shaped, pure witte Rowers, on a single ut of "Purissima," while the top flowers on 2 plant of "Luaia" were five feet above ground "Alto California," with its charming yellowish flowers, is worthy of special mention Jand a variety named "Happy Days" standing head and shoulders above all others in a bed close to a bind bath, was a real beauty, "Sum~ mer Days," "Pink "Opal," and "San Gabri were also' charming and it Is a pity that the huge flowers of these irises are so fragile, However, the planting of a windbreak protects them from strong winds and we could not expect lowers with such beautiful colourings as hard to damage as those of some of our lather garden plants, Perhaps we should not ike them so much if they were—W.J.K, May 1.—The Banksian Rose (Rosa Banksiae) is now making a fine show on many pergolas jand harbours. This non-prickly Chinese climber Produces stems of great length and masses of double white or yellowish flowers. The lowers are small and slightly fragrant. The double white form was introduced into Europe by a namesake of ours in 1807 and it was named in honour of Lady Banks, whose husband, Sir Joseph Banks, was a great patron of botany fond horticulture. The first plant introduced is said to be still growing at Isleworth. We saw "Banana" shrub in fower the other day: it was hidden away in a shrubbery, but It was impossible to pass it by unnoticed: the scent Jot its flowers was so strong. This shrub Is known botanically as Michelia fuscata, it is a native of China and the flowers are of a brown-{sh yellow. colour, edged with a thin carmine Hine: they are a Iitle over one inch in diameter and exhale a very strong bananadlike fragrance. There are many Deutzia gracilis plants to be seen in full flower these days, this is probably the best of the Deutziss, it is certainly the most graceful and attractive. It is a Japanese shrub fand as its pure white Mowers are produced in [erect abundance in racemes along the slender stems, the plants are most attractive when in dower. There are many other deutzias grown here but the one in flower is a low-growing. shrub and ideal for planting on mounds or along the banks of a pond, Hybrid Tea roses are commencing to flower: there are some very pretty varieties to be seen here and there despite the hot weather which we are experienc. ting: the sun bleaches many of the blooms and although it is ripening the wheat and barley {in the country, we could do with some rain to fhetp newly-laid turf and many of the recently transplanted trees: we notice that many of the shallower creeks are drying up; but May is here Jand we are expected to pick our flowers while holding an umbrella in one hand during. this month, so we may shortly get more rain than May 3—We visited the Pure Karma Temple Garden this morning and found a most colour. ful and interesting tree planting ceremony in progress. Saplings of the Bodhi-tree or "Peepul" (Ficus religiose), the sacred Fig tree of the Buddhists, had been brought: to Shanghai by Bhikkhu Narada six yeary ago and the planting of one of these in its permanent location took place today. This tree, under which Buddha is said to have learned the mystery of the universe, produces leaves with tali-tike append ages,'on long flexible petioles;. they rustle in the Slightest breeze. It is said to be fairly hardy
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