TO THE FLOWER GARDEN. 21 



annuals may be sown in pots in a frame in March, and 

 planted out in May. The principal varieties are English 

 seedlings. 



AOTUS. [Leguminosae.] Pretty greenhouse evergreen 

 shrubs, with papilionaceous flowers. Soil, turfy, with one- 

 third loam and one-eighth sand. Propagated by cuttings of 

 the young shoots in sand under bell-glasses. A. gracilUma, 

 orange yellow. A. incana, A. villosa, and A. virgata, all 

 bloom yellow, in May. 



APHELEXIS. [Compositge.] Elegant dwarf greenhouse 

 evergreen shrubs. The leaves, which ai'e small, and somewhat 

 woolly, are close pressed to the stems, which thus appear to 

 be covered with long scales instead of leaves. At the ends of 

 all the most vigorous shoots appear the flowers, which are 

 richly coloured, and of the chaffy texture known as " ever- 

 lasting." Soil, sandy, turfy peat, well drained. The plants 

 should have a day temperature of 60° while growing. Pro- 

 pagated by cuttings of the small half-ripened side-shoots in 

 sand, under a bell-glass. Those most cultivated are A. fas- 

 ciculata, yellowish ; a white-flowered variety, alha ; and a red 

 one, rubra ; A. himiilis, rose ; A. piu-jmrea macrantha ; and A. 

 sesamoides, pale rose. 



APHYLLANTHUS. Lily Pink. [Liliacege.] Half- 

 hardy perennial. Soil, sandy peat. Propagated by division 

 of the plant. 



APICRA. [Liliacese.] Small curious greenhouse suc- 

 culent herbs. They are increased by planting the lateral 

 shoots as cuttings, in sandy soil very moderately supplied 

 with water until they have rooted. Soil, saridy loam and 

 pounded brick rubbish, the pots being drained to one-third 

 of their depth by broken potsherds. As they grow, the pots 

 may be changed for larger ones ; but being only small- 

 growing plants, they never require very large pots, and it is 

 preferable to raise young ones, rather than to keep large 

 masses of the older plants. There are many varieties, but 

 none striking. 



APIOS. [Leguminosfe.] A tuberous-rooted hardy climb- 

 ing perennial. The tubers have been recommended as a 

 substitute for potatoes, but are not likely to. supplant them. 

 Rich loamy soil. For flowering, the plants must stand undis- 



