2 Commercial Gardening 



in most places, and are increased by seeds, division, and cuttings. The 

 best-known kinds are: adscendens, with silvery leaves; Buchanani, with 

 heads of reddish flowers; glauca, with blue-green foliage; inermis, with 

 bronzy stems and light-green leaves; microphyUa, one of the most popular 

 for covering rockwork, &c. 



Aeantholimon glumaceum (PRICKLY THRIFT). A charming rock plant, 



3 in. high, having dense masses of pointed leaves and rose-coloured flowers. 

 A. venusttim is similar, but is about 6 in. high and has more glaucous 

 foliage and larger flower spikes. A. acerosum and A. Kotschyi are other 

 rather rare species. All kinds like warm sunny positions in sandy peat and 

 loam, and may be increased from seeds, layers, and cuttings in cold frames. 



Acanthus (BEAR'S BREECH). A genus of ornamental Thistle-like plants 

 with large leaves more or less deeply divided and coarsely toothed, and 

 with dense erect spikes of flowers. They like deeply dug rich soil, warm 

 positions, and may be increased by seeds, division, and cuttings of the roots 

 in a close frame. The best kinds are: candelabrum, 3 ft., with huge 

 leaves, and purple and white flowers in August and September; longifolius, 



4 ft., purple and white; mollis, 3-4 ft., with large and glossy leaves, and 

 purple and white flowers, The variety latifolius (or lusitanicus) is larger 

 in every way, and is perhaps the finest of all; spinosissimus has deeply 

 divided leaves with sharp white spines; and spinosus is a somewhat 

 dwarfer plant also with spiny leaves and purple flowers. 



Achillea. This large genus, containing the Milfoils and Yarrows, has 

 only a few species of commercial value. The best known is A. Ptarmica, 

 a white-flowered British species about 2 ft. high, often grown for cut 

 flowers. The double form "flore pleno" and one known as "The Pearl" 

 are most popular. They can be grown almost anywhere, and will produce 

 quantities of cut flowers during the summer season. The best rose- 

 coloured Yarrow is A. Millefolium roseum, which grows from 1 to 3 ft. 

 high. It may be grown in fair quantity for cut flowers by the market 

 grower. Other species in which a fair trade is done by nurserymen are: 

 A. Ageratum, 6-9 in. high; A. Clavennce, 6-9 in.; A. Herba-Rota, 6 in.; 

 A. macrophylla, 2 ft.; A. mongolica, 1 ft.; A. rupestris, 3 in.; A. serrata, 

 1-2 ft.; A. alpina, 2 ft.; and A. umbellata, 6 in. all with white flowers. 

 The best yellow-flowered kinds are: A. cegyptiaca, 12-18 in.; A. Eupa- 

 torium, 4-5 ft.; A. filipendula, 4 ft.; A. tanacetifolia, 2J ft.; and A. 

 tomentosa, 1 ft. All species are easily increased by division in spring or 

 autumn. A. argentea, 6 in., white, forms dense rosettes of silvery leaves. 



Aconitum. The Aconites or Monkshoods are not popular plants with 

 market growers, probably owing to their poisonous properties. Many 

 species, however, are grown by nurserymen for hardy borders and rock 

 gardens, in which they are very ornamental when boldly massed. They 

 are easily raised from seeds or by division of the rootstocks, tuberous or 

 otherwise, in autumn. The following kinds may be noted: A. Anthora, 

 1-2 ft., pale yellow; A. autumnale, 3 ft., bluish purple; A. Napellus, the 

 common tuberous-rooted Monkshood, 3-4 ft, deep blue; A. Wilsoni, 6 ft., 



