AN ENCYCLOPEDIA OF HORTICULTURE. 



157 



Humble , See continued. 



Bees become really injurious, their numbers are most easily 

 lessened by the destruction of their nests, which will be 

 found under moss or stones, or in holes in the ground. 



HUMBLE PLANT. See Mimosa puclica. 



FIG. 246. HUMEA ELEGANS. 



HUMEA (named after Lady Hume, once of Worme- 

 leybury, Herts). STNS. Agathomeria, Calomeria. ORD. 

 Compositce. A genus comprising four species of herbs or 

 shrubs, limited to Australia. Flower-heads small and 

 numerous, in a loose terminal panicle, or in compact 

 corymbs. Leaves alternate, quite entire. The best- 

 known and most frequently cultivated species is H. 

 elegans, a very ornamental plant, when well grown, for 

 greenhouse decoration or sub-tropical gardening. It is 

 a biennial. The seed should be sown in July, in light, 

 finely-sifted soil, and placed in any cool frame. When the 

 plants appear, they should be potted, taking care not to 

 injure the roots. Grow on in a frame or cool house, where 

 plenty of light and air are available, and keep the roots 

 nearly dry throughout the winter. In spring, gradually 

 encourage growth, and pot on, placing into about 9in. 

 pots as a final shift. The plants seldom succeed, unless 

 very carefully treated in potting and watering. They 

 do not like syringing, unless when growing strongly in 

 warm weather. Being tender, they must not be planted 

 outside before June, and must then be staked and pro- 

 tected from rough winds. A rich soil, composed of loam 

 and decayed manure, with a little charcoal added, should 

 be used, when potting, after the young plants are once 

 established. 



H. elegans (elegant).* fl.-heads brownish-red, pink, or crimson, 

 minute, disposed in a large, loosely-branched, terminal, drooping 

 panicle. July to October. I. large, oblong or lanceolate, clasping 

 ordecurrentatthebase. h. 5ft. to 6ft See Fig. 246. 



HUMIFUSE. Spread over the surface of the 

 ground. 



HUMILIS. Low ; when the stature of a plant is 

 not particularly small, but much less than that of a 

 kindred species. 



HTTMIKIACE2E. A small natural order of balsam- 

 bearing trees or shrubs, natives of tropical America. 

 Flowers white, disposed in corymbose cymes, axillary, 

 terminal or lateral. Leaves alternate, simple, entire or 

 crennlate, coriaceous, exstipulate. There are three genera, 

 and about twenty species. The genera are : Humiria. 

 Sacoglottis, and Vantanea. 



HTJMULUS (from humus, the ground ; plant prostrate 

 if not supported). Hop. ORD. Urticacece. A genus con- 

 taining a couple of species of ornamental hardy peren- 

 nial twiners, of easy culture in ordinary garden soil, but 

 thriving best in a deep loam. H. Lupulus is a vigorous 

 and quick-growing plant; the second species is a native 

 of China, Japan, &c. Propagated by seeds, or by divi- 

 sions, in spring. 



Pio. 247. PORTION OF FEMALE INFLORESCENCE OF HUMULUS 

 LUPULUS. 



H. Lupulus.* Common Hop. fl. greenish-yellow ; males in loose 

 axillary panicles ; females in shortly-stalked, axillary, roundish 

 spikes or heads. Summer. I. opposite, stalked, cordate, serrate, 

 veined, rough. Stem branched, angular, rough. Temperate 

 Europe (Britain), Asia, North America. There are several 

 varieties, the best of which are the White Bines, the Goldings, 

 and the Grapes. Hops are extensively grown both here and on 

 the Continent, and in England alone some 50,000 acres of land 

 are devoted to their culture. The heads of fruit are used in 

 brewing, and the young blanched foliage is a good potherb. See 

 Fig. 247. (Sy. En. B. 1284.) 



