AGATH^A. 



ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. AILANTHUS. 



and variegated - leaved kinds. A. 

 Saundersonianus is a distinct variety, 

 with deeper-coloured flowers than the 

 type. 



The largest is A. umbellatus gigan- 

 teus, with high flower-spikes 3 to 

 4 feet, with umbels bearing from 150 

 to 200 flowers. The colour is a gentian 

 blue ; the buds of a deeper hue. 

 Pallidus is a pale porcelain blue, a 

 short-leaved variety. A. u. minor is 

 a dwarf variety. Of A. umbellatus 

 there is a double-flowered variety, a 

 distinct plant. There is, moreover, A. 

 u. atrocceruleus, a dark violet variety. 

 A . u. maximus has flower-stalks 4 feet 

 long, and full heads of flowers, one set 

 opening while a second is rising to 

 fill up the truss as the first crop fades. 

 A. Mooreanus is hardy, from 12 inches 

 to 1 8 inches high, has narrow leaves, 

 and comes true from seed. Although 

 the African Lily exists in the south in 

 certain spots, in a large part of our 

 islands it is not hardy, and therefore 

 requires to winter in the greenhouse. 

 When out of doors it used to be much 

 grown in tubs, but this I found to be 

 laborious and unprofitable, in view of 

 the many hardy things we had, and so 

 gave it up. 



AGATH.3EA (Blue Daisy}. A. 

 ccelestis is a tender spreading Daisy- 

 like plant, with blue flowers useful for 

 the margins of beds. It is among the 

 prettiest of the half-hardy bedding 

 plants, but is not so good on cold 

 soils. Cuttings or seed. 



AGAVE. Tropical-looking succu- 

 lent plants of the Amaryllis order ; 

 of slight value for our country. The 

 common kind, A. americana, and its 

 variegated varieties, are useful for 

 placing out of doors in summer in vases 

 plunged in the ground. When the 

 plant flowers, which it does only once, 

 and after several years' growth, it 

 sends up a flowering stem from 26 to 

 nearly 40 feet high. The flowers are a 

 yellowish-green, and are numerous on 

 the ends of the branches. It may be 

 placed out of doors at the end of May, 

 and should be brought in in October. 

 Easily increased from suckers. A. 

 Deserti, utahensis, ccerulescens , and 

 Shawi have lately come into cultiva- 

 tion, and are supposed to be hardy 

 on the rock garden. N. America. A. 

 applanata var. Parry i is said also to 

 be hardy. 



AGERATUM (Floss Flower}. Ten- 

 der herbs, varying in height from 6 



inches to 24 inches, with pale-blue, 

 lavender, or white blossoms. The 

 dwarf Ageratums are among the best, 

 but all are over-valued, though they 

 are among the most lasting of summer 

 bedding plants. There are numerous 

 varieties of varying merit, some in good 

 soil 2 feet high, and others not more 

 than 6 inches. The dwarf kinds are 

 disappointing ; they flower so freely, 

 and the growth of the plants is so sparse 

 that they always appear stunted. For 

 back lines in borders, or for grouping 

 in mixed flower borders, there is no 

 variety better than the oldest kind, A . 

 mexicanum. They strike best when 

 placed on a gentle bottom-heat, and 

 will winter in any position where there 

 is plenty of light, and the temperature 

 does not go below 40. Cuttings. 



AGROSTEMMA (Rose Campion}. 

 A. coronaria is a beautiful old flower, 

 of the Pink family, hardy and free, 

 most at home in chalky and dry soils. 

 It is a woolly plant, 2 feet to 3 feet 

 high, bearing many rosy-crimson 

 flowers in summer and autumn ; easily 

 raised from seed, excellent for borders, 

 beds, and naturalisation on dry banks. 

 It is biennial and often perishes on 

 some soils. There is a white variety 

 and a double-red one. A. Githago is 

 a large annual, occasionally grown in 

 botanic gardens. A. Walker i is a 

 hybrid between A. coronaria and A. 

 Flos - Jovis, very compact, free flower- 

 ing, and rich in colour. 



AGROSTIS (Cloud Grass}. A family 

 of grasses, the annual kinds graceful 

 when dried. There are some half a 

 dozen kinds grown, the best A. nebu- 

 losa, forming delicate tufts about 15 

 inches high, and is useful for rooms. 

 If cut shortly before the seed ripens 

 and dried in the shade, it will keep for 

 a long time. The seed may be sown 

 either in September or in April or May, 

 and lightly covered. A . Steveni, multi- 

 flora, and plumosa require the same 

 treatment. A. Spicaventi is very 

 graceful, especially if grown from self- 

 sown seeds. A. pulchella is also useful 

 for the same purpose, dwarfer and 

 stiffer than A . nebulosa. 



AILANTHUS (Tree of Heaven}. A 

 Chinese hardy tree, thriving in the 

 southern parts of our country. Cut 

 down every year gives a good effect. 



