AND GENEEAL HOETICULTURE. 



17 



ALO 



pelago, «fcc. A. metallica is a magnificent spe- 

 cies from Borneo, producing very large oval 

 leaves, having a rich bronze-colored surface, 

 making it a conspicuous ornament for the hot- 

 house. The leaves look like large polished 

 metal shields. Many other species, some of 

 them of great beauty, with large and hand- 

 somely variegated, usually peltate, leaves, are 

 highly-prized occupants of our plant stoves. 



A'loe. From alloeh, its Arabic name. Nat. Ord. 

 Liliacece. 



The name Aloe is so frequently applied in 

 conversation to the American Aloe, or Agave, 

 that many persons are not aware that the true 

 Aloe is not only quite a different genus, but 

 T)elongs to a different natural order, the Amer- 

 ican Aloe being one of the Amaryllis tribe, 

 while the true Aloe belongs to the Lily tribe. 

 The qualities of the two plants are also essen- 

 tially different, the American Aloe abounding 

 in starchy, nourishing matter, while every 

 part of the true Aloe is purgative. The true 

 Aloe also flowers every year, and the flowers 

 are tube-shaped, and produced on a spike ; 

 while each plant of the American Aloe flowers 

 but once, sending up an enormous flower-stem 

 with candelabra-like branches and cup-shaped 

 flowers. The true Aloes are succulent plants, 

 natives of the Cape of Good Hope, and grow 

 best in this country in green-houses or rooms, 

 in alight, sandy soil. To this, when the plants 

 are wanted to attain a large size, may be added 

 a little leaf-mould. When grown in rooms, a 

 poor soil is, however, preferable, as it keeps 

 the plants of a smaller and more manageable 

 size, and makes them less easily afft^cted by 

 changes of temperature. The colors of the 

 flowers will also be richer when the plants are 

 grown in poor soil. The drug called aloes is 

 made principally from the pulp of the fleshy 

 leaf of the A. socotrina, the flowers of which 

 are red, tipped with green ; but it is also made 

 from several other species. 



A'loe, Partridge-Breast. Aloe variegata. 



A'loe, Pearl. Aloe margaritifera. 



A'loes-Wood. See Aquilaria. 



Alo'na. From nolo, a little bell (letters trans- 

 posed) ; in allusion to the shape of the flowers. 

 Nat. Ord. Nolanacece. 



A genus of pretty evergreen shrubs, A. Ccb- 

 lestis, has pale-blue, large flowers ; an excel- 

 lent plant for growing out-of-doors during 

 summer. Propagated by cuttings. Intro- 

 duced from Chili in 1845. 



Alonso'a. The Mask Flower. Named after Za- 

 nomi Alonso, a Spaniard, by the authors of 

 Flora Peruviana. Nat. Ord. Scrophulariacece. 

 The species are low under-shrubs, or herba- 

 ceous plants, natives of Peru, and two of them 

 — A. incisifolia and A. linearis — are very orna- 

 mental, either in the green-house or grown as 

 annuals in the open border during summer. 

 They thrive well in any light, rich soil, and 

 are readily increased by seeds or cuttings. 

 They are very desirable for flower-gardens, on 

 account of the brilliant scarlet of their flow- 

 ers ; and where there is no green-house, the 

 plants should be raised from seeds sown on a 

 hot-bed in February, or struck from cuttings 

 early in spring, and brought forward in a frame 

 or pit, and turned out into the open air in May. 



Alopecu'rus. The generic name of the Foxtail 

 Grass 



ALS 



Aloy'sia. Lemon Verbena. Named in honor of 

 Maria Louisa, Queen of Spain. Nat. Ord. Ver- 

 benacecB. 



The only known species of this genus is A. 

 citriodora, introduced from Chili in 1784, and 

 formerly called Verbena triphylla, or the Lemon- 

 scented Verbena. Under this name it is gen- 

 erally sold, and is a universal favorite, readily 

 propagated from cuttings, and planted in the 

 open border in May. If taken up after a light 

 frost and put in a cold frame or cool cellar 

 during winter, the plants will keep well ; and, 

 planted out in spring again, they make large 

 and pleasing shrubs. The leaves, when dried, 

 will retain their odor for many years. Syn. 

 Lippia citriodora. 



Alphabet-plant. Spilanthes acmella. 



A'lpine. Strictly speaking, this term refers to 

 the higher part of the Alps, in contradistinc- 

 tion to "mountainous," which designates the 

 middle portion of the higher Alps, or tops of 

 inferior mountains. Plants found in very high 

 elevations are called Alpine Plants. 



Alpine Azalea. The popular name for Loisleu- 

 ria procumbens. 



A'lpine Plants. This very interesting class con- 

 sists mostly of plants nativesof high elevations, 

 and, although they are naturally exposed to 

 the full influence of the s\m and wind, they 

 require in our hot, dry summers shade and 

 and shelter more than exposure. Wherever 

 a Eock Garden or Eockerj' is constructed, a 

 portion of it should be devoted to the culture 

 of Alpines, for as a rule they flourish . better 

 on a properly-constructed Eockery than in any 

 other position, because thorough drainage is 

 effected, and the long, flne roots can run down 

 in the crevices where the soil is cool and moist. 

 It should, however, be so arranged that all 

 aspects ai'e secured, shady and sunny, fully, 

 or in a degree only. Many Alpines are 

 easily grown in the ordinary border in a 

 sheltered, well-drained situation. Excavate 

 to the depth of eighteen inches, put in a layer 

 of stones or rubble six inches deep, and fill up 

 with a mixture of good fibrous loam and leal- 

 mould, adding sand enough to keep it porous. 

 When the desired subjects are firmly planted, 

 the surface may be covered with small stones 

 or rough gravel, which, while allowing the 

 rain to penetrate the soil, checks evaporation, 

 keeping it moist and cool, as well as giving 

 the surface an appearance more in keeping 

 with the plants. 



Alpi'nia. In memory of Prosper Alpinus, an 

 Italian botanist. Nat. Ord. Zingiberacece. 



A genus of tropical herbaceous perennials, 

 mostly natives of the East Indies, requiring 

 to be grown in great heat and moisture. A. 

 vittata is an ornamental- leaved species of small 

 growth. The plant throws up numerous 

 stems from the underground rhizomes, bear- 

 ing lance-shaped leaves, pale green in color, 

 striped with creamy white. A. alba bears a 

 fruit known as Ovoid China Cardamoms; others, 

 as A. nutans, are remarkable for the exceeding 

 beauty of their flowers. They are increased 

 by division of their roots. 



Alseuo'smia. From alsos, a grove, and euosmia, 

 a grateful odor ; alluding to the powerful fra- 

 grance of the flowers. Nat. Ord. Caprifoliaceoe. 

 A small genus of highly-glabrous shrubs, 

 with greenish or red flowers, and generally 



