TO THE FLOWER GARDEN. 253 



kinds are required in one garden, as there is considerable 

 sameness in their general aspect. 



SOLLYA. [Pittosporacese.] Pretty evergreen greenhouse 

 climbing shrubs, bearing small bunches of neat blue flowers. 

 They are vigorous growers, extending with a woody stem some 

 ten or twelve feet ; but the parts being small, they may readily 

 be trained on a cylinder trellis so as to form a bush-Hke out- 

 line, and to admit of their being cultivated in pots. For 

 front pillars in greenhouses and conservatories, however, they 

 are well suited. They should have a compost of equal parts 

 loam and peat, and increase either by cuttings or seeds with 

 facility. S. Drwnmondii, deep blue. S. heterophyllciy 

 flowers pale blue. S. linearis, flowers deep blue. 



SOLOMON'S SEAL. See Polygonatum. 



SOUTHERNWOOD. See Artemisia. 



SOUTH SEA MYRTLE. See Leptospermcm. 



SOWBREAD. See Cyclamen. 



SPARAXIS. [Iridaceae.] A family of showy iridaceous 

 bulbs, requiring a frame or greenhouse ; that is to say, pro- 

 tection from frost and damp, as with Ixia, to which genus 

 this is closely allied. All showy little plants. 



SPECULAPJA. [Campanulaceae.] A small family of 

 hardy annuals, formerly comprised under Campanula. The 

 common S. speculum, with purplish-lilac flowers, varies to 

 white and rose-coloured, and is distinct and pretty. The 

 plants form a small spreading mass of about nine inches 

 high, and may be had in bloom for the whole summer by 

 successive sowing from March to June. The seeds may be 

 sown — very thinly, for they are veiy small — in the open 

 border, and should be very lightly covered. Thin out the 

 plants well as soon as they are large enough to pick out those 

 not required : six or eight plants are enough to form a patch. 



SPEEDWELL. See Veronica. 



SPHENOGY'NE. [Compositse.] A genus of composite 

 plants, consisting of hardy annuals and greenhouse shrubs. 

 The most useful is S. speciosa, a very pretty half-hardy 

 annual, which may be had in succession through the summer 

 by successive sowings. The first may be sovm in a gentle 

 hotbed in March ; these may be followed by others in the 

 open ground in April, May, and June. The plants grow well 



