62 



Commercial Gardening 



such popular names as "Torch Lily", "Red Hot Poker", and "Flame 

 Flower". The illustration (fig. 214) will give a good idea of the general 

 appearance of the plants when in blossom, the large conical heads of 

 flowers, often flaming red in colour, standing well' above the sword-like 

 leaves. Perhaps the kind most useful to the market grower is K. aloides 

 (still well known as Tritoma Uvaria). It is a magnificent South African 

 plant, 3-5 ft. high, with stout spikes of brilliant orange-red flowers in 

 August. There are several varieties, amongst the best being glaucescens, 



6 ft., vermilion; grandiftora (or 

 densa), 6 ft., coral red; nobilis, 8 ft., 

 still finer; Pfitzeri, 6 ft., crimson 

 scarlet; Saundersi, orange scarlet; 

 and others. These all flourish in 

 most parts of England and Ireland 

 and the south-west of Scotland, but 

 are scarcely suitable for the colder 

 parts of the kingdom. They may 

 be increased by division in spring, 

 and may also be raised from seeds, 

 which will produce flowering plants 

 in a couple of seasons. For cut- 

 flower purposes they are valuable in 

 late summer, and the plants may 

 also be sold with other " root " crops 

 in spring. Other kinds of Kniphofia 

 sold are: breviflora, 2 ft., bright 

 yellow; Burchelli, 2-3 ft., bright red 

 and yellow; caulescens, 2-3 ft., deep 

 red turning to yellow; comosa, 2-3 

 ft., canary yellow; citrina, 3 ft., 

 pale yellow; coraUina, 3 ft., coral 

 red; foliosa (or Quartiniana), 4 ft., 

 bright yellow; Leichtlini, 3-4 ft., 

 red; longicollis (or primulina), 3 

 ft., yellow; Macowani (fig. 215), 1-2 



ft., bright orange red and yellow; modesta, 2-3 ft., white; Nelsoni, 2 ft., 

 orange scarlet; Northice, 6 ft., deep red to yellow; pumila, orange red; 

 Rooperi, 2-4 ft., orange red to yellow, early; rufa, 3 ft., yellow with red 

 tips; sarmentosa, 2-4 ft., red and yellow; Tucki, 2-3 ft., pale yellow, tinted 

 red. Besides these species there are several fine hybrids and seedling forms 

 that have been raised of late years; some of them are particularly fine, 

 and ought to develop into good market plants. The flower spikes are 

 taller and bolder, and the colours of the flowers are much more brilliant. 

 Kochia scoparia. Under this name Chenopodium scoparium is now 

 largely grown from seeds every year, the plants being used for bedding out 

 in summer. They are popularly known under the names of "Belvedere" 



Fig. 215. Kniphojla Macowani 



