98 Commercial Gardening 



contains several species of hardy or half-hardy annuals, which may be 

 raised like China Asters every year. The best-known kinds are Grahami, 

 2 ft, with lilac, rose, and yellow flowers; pinnatus, 2 ft., blue, lilac, or 

 purple, with many varieties, including a dwarf "Tom Thumb" strain; 

 retusus, 2 ft, deep rose blotched with yellow (fig. 243). Wisetonensis is a 

 line bushy free-flowering plant, useful for pot work or for planting out. 

 All kinds are remarkable for having the leaves finely divided and cut. 



Schizocodon soldanelloides. A pretty little Japanese rock plant, 2-4 in. 

 high, with roundish leaves which turn to a dark purple in winter, and 

 pairs of drooping bell-shaped flowers from March to June, the petals being 

 cut into thread-like fringes. It likes a peaty soil and sheltered spots, and 

 is increased from seeds and by careful division. 



Schizopetalon Walkeri. A curious Cruciferous Chilian annual, 1-2 ft. 

 high, with divided leaves, and sweet-scented white flowers having fringed 

 petals. Seeds may be sown in the open air in March and April, or in heat. 



Scilla (SQUILL). The Scillas are a numerous family, and include the 

 British and Spanish Bluebells (see article on "Bluebells"). The best-known 

 and most- remunerative species from the bulb merchant's point of view 

 is S. sibirica, a native of Siberia, with rather small bulbs, and loose, 

 drooping, bell-shaped, starry flowers produced early in the year. There 

 are several varieties, including a charming pure white one. As a market 

 plant the Siberian Squill has practically no value as a cut flower, being too 

 short-stemmed and few-flowered. Its chief value is for planting exten- 

 sively beneath early-flowering deciduous trees and shrubs in large parks 

 and gardens for effect in spring. 



Sedum (STONECROP). The best-known member of this genus is the 

 Common Stonecrop (S. acre), with small fat leaves and masses of golden- 

 yellow starry flowers. The plant flourishes in any dryish soil, and is 

 largely sold in boxes in spring, being a remunerative crop when large quan- 

 tities are disposed of. Other similar species are anglicum, rupestre, Aizoon, 

 album, altissimum, dasyphyllum, and a peculiar fasciated one called mon- 

 strosum all useful for rock gardens, and easily propagated by division. 

 S. roseum is a British plant, 6-18 in. high, with yellow or purplish flowers; 

 S. Sieboldi and its variegated form is frequently grown in pots or hanging 

 baskets, and has pinkish flowers; and S. spectabile (or Fabaria) is a fine 

 perennial, 1-2 ft high, with grey-green fleshy leaves and large flat-headed 

 trusses of pinkish-purple flowers in late summer. S. Maximowiczi is 

 similar in appearance, but has yellow flowers in July. 



Sempervivum (HOUSELEEK). The Houseleeks are an easily grown group 

 of plants with fleshy leaves in dense rosettes, and are valuable for old walls, 

 roofs, rockeries, &c., in dry soil or old mortar rubble. The Common House- 

 leek (S. tectorum) is sold freely, and so is the Spider-web Houseleek (S. 

 arachnoideum), a Pyrenean species with cobwebby hairs over the leaves. 

 S. calcareum (erroneously called californicu^n) and S. montanum are also 

 excellent. There are many others not so well known (see Practical Guide 

 to Garden Plants, pp. 441-3) that are as easily grown, and might be more 



