THE HOME FLORIST. 35 



ACHRYANTHES (Greenhouse Perennial, 35, 50, 90). 



A class of beautiful foliage plants most of which are excellent for planting in masses and 

 in the ribbon style, their distinct colors forming a striking contrast with Centaureas and 

 other M'hite foliaged plants. All are admirably adapted for planting in the center of hanging 

 baskets and vases, and are also suitable for house and window culture, as they develop their 

 best colors even in partial shade and prove to be somewhat hardier than Coleus for this purpose. 

 One to one and a half feet high. Any of the varieties strike root readily from cuttings, and all 

 that is necessary to have beautiful medium-sized plants for window culture in winter or to plant 

 in ferneries for which purpose they are admirably .adapted is to propagate in July or 

 August. 



A. Aureus reticulatus, leaves are light green, netted with golden yellow, occasionally splashed 

 with crimson; stalk and leaf-stems light crimson: altogether a beautiful and desirable plant. 

 A. Gilsonii, leaves striped with various shades of carmine ; stems of a deep shade of pink ; 

 in some respects an improvement on old Verschaffeltii, being of a more dense and compact 

 growth ; excellent in every way. A. Lindenii, an upright dwarf grower, about one foot high, 

 completely branched from the root ; leaves narrow lanceolate, of a deep, blood-red color, 

 reflecting varying tints of red and purple ; unsurpassed for bedding. A. Lindenii aureus varie- 

 gata, a new variety, in every respect similar to Aureus Reticulatus. except that it resembles 

 Lindenii in growth and form of leaf. 



ACROCLINIUM (Half-hardy Annual). 



This is one of the several useful everlasting flowers most readily grown from seed. The 

 flowers are of medium size, good form, and are not excelled by any other kind in points of 

 delicacy and beautiful tints. It is better to start the young plants in heat and transplant to eight 

 inches apart, then to sow directly where they are to bloom, although there is no great danger of 

 failure by doing so about June 1st, especially as the flowers should be cut for use in winter 

 before they are fully expanded. 



A. Album, pure white. A. Roseum, bright rose. 



AGAVE CENTURY PLANT (Greenhouse Perennial, 32, 45, 90). 



This remarkable and beautiful family of plants belongs to the class known as fleshy plants, 

 which consist of those growths that have thick leaves and that present but a small amount of 

 surface in proportion to their bulk. In the present instance the plant has no proper stem 

 previous to the time it sends up its flowering shoot, which, as is well known, takes place at an 

 advanced age, although the popular impression that they never flower until the age of one 

 hundred years has been attained is erroneous. In Central and South America, their native 

 habitats, they flower previous to their twentieth year, but in our greenhouses not usually until 

 they have reached three or four times this age. After flowering, the plant dies to the ground, 

 but the root continuing to live sends up new shoots. The leaves are long, thick and terminate 

 in a point ; they diverge upwards and outwards from the center and altogether contribute to 

 form one of the most effective single specimen pot plants for decorating the grounds in summer 

 and the conservatory or dwelling in winter that can be cultivated. The Agaves are easy to 

 grow, being not at all particular as regards light or heat, in this respect being similar to the 

 varieties of the Cactus family, and quite as desirable for house culture. Their growth can be 

 retarded or encouraged by more or less frequently shifting them into larger pots, which, at the 

 most, should not be done oftener than once a year. 



There are two varieties in ordinary cultivation A. Americana, with bluish-green leaves, 

 and A. Americana variegata, similar in appearance to the preceding, except that the foliage is 

 striped its entire length. 



AGERATUM (Greenhouse Perennial, 33, 45, 75). 



The Ageratums are rapid growing, profuse blooming, easily propagated plants, that will 

 thrive with the most ordinary treatment, either if bedded out or in pots, and are deserving of 

 a place in every collection. The flowers are produced in compact tuft-like heads, and although 

 no striking colors or any great variety of shades exist, in the different sorts, they appear 

 in large numbers continually throughout the summer; are of excellent form and have long 

 convenient stems for bouquet making, which render them important flowers for working into 

 summer bouquets. On account of their being continually in flower,' most of the varieties are 

 valuable for planting in ribbon lines or for massing, and as they are easily reared from cuttings 

 this fact should not be overlooked. One variety has handsome variegated foliage that creates 

 a very pretty effect when similarly employed. Ageratums can be forced into flower in winter, 

 either in the dwelling or conservatory, but are not prominently valuable for this purpose, 

 although young summer propagated plants can readily be kept in a growing condition from 

 which to take cuttings for spring stock. 



A. Imperial Dwarf, is of compact low growth, attaining the height of eight inches, and 

 spreading to the size of one foot across ; it is almost entirely covered with porcelain-blue flowers 

 during the greater part of summer. A. Mexicanum is one of the best for cut flowers; the 

 flowers are of a delicate lavender blue color, and very freely produced ; the plants grow to a 

 height of from eighteen to twenty-four inches. A. Mexicanum variegatum, a beautiful variety 

 of similar height to the preceding, the leaves of which are variegated with yellow, green and 



