FLORA DOMESTICA. 



AFRICAN LILY. 



AGAPANTHUS. 



IIEMEROCALLIDEiE. HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 



The botanical name of this flower is from the Greek, and signifies a 

 delightful flower. 



This Lily is a native of the Cape of Good Hope : it is of 

 a bright blue colour ; very showy and elegant. The flowers 

 blow about the end of August, and will frequently preserve 

 their beauty till the spring. 



It is increased by offsets, which come out from the sides 

 of the old plants, and may be taken off at the latter end of 

 June ; at which time the plant is in its most dormant state. 

 It should be turned out of the pot, and the earth carefully 

 cleared away, that the fibres of the offsets may be the 

 better distinguished : and these must be carefully sepa- 

 rated from those of the old root. Where they adhere so 

 closely as not to be otherwise parted, they must be cut off 

 with a knife ; great care being taken not to wound or break 

 the bulb, either of the offset or of the parent plant. 



When these are parted, they should be planted, each in 

 a separate pot filled with light kitchen garden earth, and 

 placed in a shady situation, where they may enjoy the morn- 

 ing sun ; a little water should be given to them twice a week, 

 if the weather be dry ; but they must not have much, espe- 

 cially at this season, when they are almost inactive ; for as 

 the roots are fleshy and succulent, they are apt to rot with 

 too much moisture. In about five weeks the offsets will 

 have put out new roots : they may then be removed to a 

 more sunny situation, and may have a little more water; 

 but still not plentifully. In September they will put out 

 their flower-stalks, and towards the end of the month, the 



