AGAPANTHUS. 



Greenkouse and IStove Flaats. 



that without injuriously shading the other 

 occupants. Such a position, too, appears 

 to suit it well, and favours the free pro- 

 duction of bloom. Like most other plants, 

 the time of its flowering is considerably 

 influenced by the course of treatment to 

 which it is subjected, but it is generally 

 in perfection during the later months of 

 the year, a time when its scarlet or bright 

 led flowers are very eflective. They are 

 comparatively large for the size of the 

 plant, and when well grown are produced 

 iieely. Being of a creeping habit the 

 stems cling closely to any surface on which 

 it is grown — not unlike the way in which 

 the rhizomes of some Ferns, such as the 

 weaker growing Davallias, attach them- 

 selves. The leaves, which are borne on 

 short stalks, are ovate in shape. It may 

 be cultivated in a pot, but, as it is a true 

 epiphyte, it does best on a block of wood 

 — in this way it can be better hung up, 

 and as we have comparatively few subjects 

 of a similar character and so suitable for 

 the purpose, it is well to utilise it in this 

 manner. Its flowers in such a position 

 are also seen to the best advantage. 



To commence, procure a rustic-looking 

 piece of dry Oak wood about 6 inches 

 wide, a foot long, and 2 inches in thick- 

 ness ; if charred it will look none the 

 worse and will last longer — a considera- 

 tion in the case of such plants as this, that 

 have clinging roots that adhere tightly to 

 whatever they fasten upon, and cannot be 

 removed without injury. Fix a copper 

 wire by means of copper nails to each end 

 of the block to hang it up by. Cut a piece 

 of good fibrous Orchid peat about an inch 

 thick and the same size as the block, shake 

 as much of the earthy mattei' from it as 

 can be done without breaking it, fasten it 

 on the upper surface of the block with fine 

 copper wire, and shake a handful of silver- 

 sand over the peat (this will help to keep it 

 from getting sour). Then take a plant that 

 has been grown in a pot, or cut several of the 

 creeping stems with seveiul leaves to each, 

 and tie with wire or bast on the surface 

 of the peat. Give water immediately, and 

 shade until the roots have got hold. These 

 operations should be carried out in March 

 before growth has commenced. All through 

 the growing season the roots must be kept 

 moist, and even in winter they must never 

 be allowed to get too dry. During spring 

 and summer the night temperature should 

 range from Qb" to 70°, and from 80° to 85° 

 in the daytime. In winter it will do at 

 60° in the night, and a few degrees higher 

 by day. The shoots require little training, 

 simply bending about in such a way as to 

 cover the Iduck. As soon as the flowers 



make their appearance, do not allow more 

 water to lodge upon them than can be 

 avoided. It is a heat-loving subject, and 

 neither when in bloom nor at any other 

 time should it be submitted to a low 

 temperature or cold draughts. 



Insects. — "With xis the plant was never 

 at any time attacked by insects. 



AGAPANTHUS. 



The only assignable reason why these 

 elegant-habited greenhouse plants are not 

 now so generally cultivated is that they 

 are old-fashioned. They are amongst the 

 easiest of plants to manage, bearing with- 

 out inj ury usage that would kill most of 

 the species subjected to pot culture. Their 

 gracefully-curved leaves, which in a well 

 managed specimen droop so as to all but 

 hide the pot, render them at all times, 

 pleasing to look upon, and when, in ad- 

 dition, they are furnished with theii 

 straight erect flower-stems, surmounted by 

 dense umbels of blue or white flowers,, 

 there are few more telling plants. In ad- 

 dition to this they last a considerable time 

 in bloom. The flowers moreover aie- 

 amongst the most useful for cutting, eithei- 

 combined with others for ordinary decora- 

 tive purposes, or for bouquets ; and for the 

 latter use the blue kinds att'ord a colour that 

 is not over-plentiful in flowers that are of 

 suitable form and of a durable nature. 



Agapanthus may be raised from seed, 

 but, except in the case of a new, or scarce 

 kind, the usual course is to increase them 

 by division of the crowTis. This can best 

 be done by taking a large plant in the 

 spring just as growth is about to com- 

 mence and washing all the soil from 

 among the roots, so as to get them disen- 

 tangled as far as i^ossible without unnecc-^- 

 sary breakage ; then divide the crowns 

 singly, or in masses of several together, ac- 

 cording to the number and size of the 

 plants required. Where there is no ob- 

 ject in adding greatly to their number, 

 large specimens may be simply divided 

 into two or four as may be recpiired, with 

 these, as with the single crowns, giving 

 pots according to the size of the divided 

 pieces, potting firm and encouraging 

 groAvth by keeping them a little close in a 

 pit or greenhouse. All that is required 

 afterwards is to give pot-room as wanted ; 

 but it must be kept in mind that these 

 plants will bear confining at the roots to ■ 

 an extent that few will without suftering. 

 When the specimens are as large as re- 

 quired, and are in from 12 to 16 in. pots, 

 they may go for two or three years with- 

 out re-potting. 



