HARDY PLANTS. 



Greenhouse and Stove Plants 



199 



the way usual with other Amaryllidaceous 

 plants. The flowers, varying in colour 

 from pure white to red and crimson, are 

 very showy, the heads being in the case of 

 some of the species as large as double 

 Paeonies ; they are produced at various 

 periods of the year according to the time 

 the bulbs are started. 



Hsemanthus are increased like Amaryllis 

 by ofi'sets which the strong bulbs produce : 

 these should be detached from the old bulbs, 

 say in spring at the time of potting before 

 starting them into growth. Put the ofi'sets 

 singly into 3 or 4 inch pots according to 

 the size they have attained ; drain well — 

 free open soil is requisite, such as com- 

 posed of equal parts peat and loam, with a 

 moderate quantity of sand : insert the 

 bulbs to about half their depth, pressing 

 the soil firmly. If a little more warmth 

 than that of an ordinary greenhouse can 

 be given them, say 45° or a little over in 

 the night, with a proportionate rise in the 

 day, it will be an advantage. Give no 

 more water than is necessary to keep the 

 soil slightly moist until growth has fairly 

 commenced and they have made fresh 

 roots, after Avhich apply it more liberally ; 

 let them have plenty of air in the daytime 

 as they progress. Syringe overhead when 

 the house is closed in the afternoons and 

 continue to treat in this way through the 

 summer until the plants show signs of 

 going to rest, when withhold water, letting 

 the soil get quite dry. Winter the bulbs 

 in the pots in which they were grown in a 

 temperature not lower than 45°, and about 

 April shake them out of the old soil and 

 repot, gi^'ing increased room according to 

 the size they have attained. Treat in 

 every way as ad\nsed for the simimer 

 previous. Unless the ofi'sets were a con- 

 siderable size when taken from the parent 

 plants, another season will elapse before 

 they bloom. Again withhold water as 

 soon as the plants show signs of going to 

 rest, and ^\^nter as before. Re-pot in 

 spring, and grow on as last year ; when 

 the bloom stems appear do not let water 

 lodge about them, and as they advance 

 stand the plants where they will get plenty 

 of light. As the flowers' open keep the 

 sun from them or their duration will be 

 shorter ; after blooming treat as advised 

 the previous summers. All that is subse- 

 quently needful is to give more pot-room 

 as the bulbs increase in size and numbers. 

 A large example, consisting of eight or ten 

 full-sized bulbs, each bearing a strong 

 head of flowers, has a most distinct and 

 effective appearance. When the specimens 

 get too large the bulbs may be separated 

 before starting them into growth ^\•ithout 



affecting their flowering for the 



The following are sufficiently distinct to 

 deserve a place : — 



H. albiflos. Flowers white. 



H. carinatus. Pink. 



H. coccineus. Red. 



H. Pumilio. Pink. 



H. sanguineus. Crimson. 



All the above are from the Cape of Good 

 Hope. 



H. insignis. Crimson. From Xatal. 



H. magnificus. Scarlet. Africa. 



H. multiflorus. Scarlet. Sierra Leone, 



The three last-named require stove heat, 

 but in other respects the treatment given 

 for the cooler kinds will answer for them. 



Insects. — Red spider sometimes attacks 

 the leaves, to remove which sponge and 

 syringe. For aphides fumigate. 



HARDENBERGIA. 



These are free-gro^^"ing, free-flowering 

 climbers, suitable for covering the roof or 

 the supporting pillars in a greenhouse or 

 conservatory. 



Their habit of growth is very like that 

 of the Kennedyas, and the mode of pro- 

 pagation, and the general treatment after- 

 wards required, are like those which answer 

 for Kennedyas, which see. 



The following are desirable kinds : — 



H. andomariensis. 



H. digitata. 



H. Lindleyana. 



HARDY HERBACEOUS PLANTS 



That can be Groicn in Pots for Greenhouse 

 Decoration and Forcing. 



There are several hardy plants that form 

 an important feature in the greenhouse in 

 the winter and spring months, either forced 

 or allowed to come on in a greenhouse 

 temperature. The principal things to be 

 observed with them is not to attempt to 

 hurry them on too fast, and to let them 

 have plenty of light, with a sufficiency of 

 air during the time they are being forced, 

 for on these conditions depend the appear- 

 ance of the plants when in bloom. If too 

 much hurried they are sure to be drawn 

 up and look weak. A night temperature 

 of 45° to 55' ■w'ill in most cases be sufficient, 

 ■ndth 8" or 10° more in the day for such as 

 are forced ; for those that are brought on 

 without forcing an ordinary greenhouse 

 temperatiu-e will suffice. In selecting 

 plants for this purpose, those should be 

 chosen that have been well growTi in an 

 open situation so that their growth has got 

 weU matured ; take them up with as little 



