Stove and Greenhouse Plants and Flowers 175 



field, mauve purple, &c. Standard and half-standard plants are popular 

 in public gardens as " dot " plants over Begonias, Fuchsias, and other plants 

 of a dwarfer nature. 



Helxine Soleirolia. A curious Urticaceous plant, with slender stems 

 and small roundish bright-green leaves produced in such density as to 

 make a pretty evergreen carpet in the greenhouse border, or when grown 

 in pots. It grows rapidly, and soon spreads itself everywhere under glass. 

 It is a native of Corsica and Sardinia, and is almost hardy in places. 



Hippeastrum (fig. 282). The garden varieties, still known under the 

 name of Amaryllis, have been evolved from the South American species 

 H. vitattum, H. Regince, H. par- 

 dinum, and H. Leopoldi, by cross- 

 ing and intercrossing during the 

 past eighty years. Some magnifi- 

 cent varieties are now in cultivation, 

 but the trade is confined almost 

 exclusively to a few nurserymen. 

 Attempts have been made to popu- 

 larize Hippeastrums as market 

 plants, but without much success. 

 The plants are easily raised from 

 seeds, and the bulbs attain flower- 

 ing size in from two to three years. 

 Established plants may be kept 

 green throughout the year, but it 

 is usual to give them a rest. When 

 growth commences, the bulbs are 

 repotted into pots not too large, 

 and a rich compost of fibrous loam, 

 leaf mould, and old cow manure, 

 with a dash of silver sand, is used. 

 The atmosphere is kept warm, and also moist by frequent syringings. 

 Water is supplied abundantly during growth, but is gradually lessened 

 as the plants go to rest. Fine specimens have leaves 3 to 5 ft. long 

 and 3 to 4 in. broad, while the flowers are from 6 to 10 in. across. (See 

 The Bulb Book, p. 275.) 



Humea elegans. An Australian biennial with large leaves and erect 

 graceful plumes of drooping small pinkish flowers, which emit a peculiar 

 odour. Increased from seeds, and sold in a small state in boxes or pots 

 in spring. 



Hydrang'ea. Of the thirty odd species known, only two have found 

 favour with market growers, viz. H. Hortensia, from China, and H. pani- 

 culata, from Japan. H. Hortensia is perfectly hardy in the mildest parts 

 of the kingdom, and makes splendid flowering bushes. For market work, 

 however, plants are usually grown in 5-in. and 6-in. pots, and are raised 

 annually from cuttings of the half-ripened shoots. These are obtained 



Fig. 282. Hippeastrum (Amaryllis) 



