TO THE FLOWER GARDEN. 143 



under a bell-glass in sand, and grow in a mixture of equal 

 parts sandy loam and peat. H. Ciuuiintjhami, flowers yellow, 

 in June. H. grosstda rice folia, trailing, flowers yellow, in 

 March. H. perfolinta, flowers yellow, in May. H. voluhilis, 

 twining, flowers yellow, in March. 



HIBISCUS. [Malvaceae.] A very extensive genus, com- 

 prising hardy and stove annuals, hardy herbaceous perennials, 

 and hardy greenhouse and stove shrubs. The hardy annuals 

 may be sown in the borders in March and April. They will 

 grow well in good garden soil, and merely require to be 

 thinned properly after they are up : the plants taken up to 

 thin the others may be planted out carefully in other places. 

 The hardy shrubs are splendid objects towards the end of 

 summer when planted in dryish soils : they are increased by 

 layers. The hardy perennials require a peaty soil, and a 

 moist sheltered situation. The stove and greenhouse shrubs 

 include some of the most gorgeous of plants : they grow 

 freely in a compost of loam, peat, and sand, and are pro- 

 pagated by cuttings planted in sand, and put in a hotbed. 



HINDSIA. [Cinchonacese.] Showy evergreen sub-shrubs, 

 requiring a stove temperature. Soil, peat, with one-third 

 loam and one-sixth sand. Propagated by cuttings in sand in 

 a hotbed. The principal ones are H. lonyiflora and H. 

 r-iolacea. 



HIPPEASTRUM. Knight's Star. [Araaryllidacese.] 

 Splendid stove and greenhouse bulbs, but they all grow well 

 in a stove ; and if, when they have opened their flowers, they 

 are gently reduced to the greenhouse temperature, they last 

 in flower some time. They all require to rest after they have 

 perfected their blooms. To accomplish this some turn out 

 the bulbs, and let them dry on a shelf. If, however, water is 

 withheld from the time the bloom declines, and the pots are 

 placed in a dry situation, it is just as well as taking them out of 

 their pots. When they begin to grow in spring, which they 

 will do without watering, the ball of earth should be turned 

 out whole and placed in a larger pot, and then water must 

 be supplied, and the plant set to work near the light in the 

 warmest part of the house. If the bulbs are taken out of the 

 soil, which will be required once in two or three years, let the 

 leaves all turn yellow before they are disturbed ; then they 



