294 HARDY PERENNIALS AND 



flower, to my thinking, is its rich new-mown hay scent ; in this 

 it differs much from the parent form. 

 Flowering period, March to May. 



Tritoma Uvaria. 



GREAT TRITOMA ; Common Names, FLAME-FLOWER, BED-HOT 

 POKER; Nat. Ord. LILIACE^-HEMERO-CALLIDE^;. 



THIS is one of our finest late-flowering plants; it has, moreover, 

 a tropical appearance, which renders it very attractive. It is fast 

 becoming popular, though as yet it is not very often seen in 

 private gardens ; it comes from the Cape of Good Hope, its year 

 of introduction being 1707. In this climate, when planted in 

 well-exposed situations and in sandy loam, it proves ~hardy but 

 herbaceous ; if protected it is evergreen ; and I ought to add 

 that if it is planted in clay soil, or where the drainage is de- 

 fective, it will be killed by a severe winter; but when such 

 simple precautions as are here indicated will conduce ta 

 the salvation of a somewhat doubtful plant, it may be fairly 

 termed hardy. According to my experience during severe 

 winters, plants in wet stiff loam were all killed, but others 

 of the same stock, in light sandy earth, did not suffer in 

 the least. I have also made similar observations outside my 

 own garden. 



The stout scapes or stems sometimes reach a height of 4ft., and 

 are topped with long or cocoon-shaped spikes of orange and red 

 flowers ; the flowers are tubular and small, closely arranged, and 

 drooping ; each will be about an inch long, and the spikes 6in. to 

 Sin. long. The leaves are narrow, 2ft. to 3ft. long, keeled, chan- 

 nelled, and rough on the edges, of a dark green colour and pros- 

 trate- habit. Either amongst trees or in more conspicuous 

 positions this flower proves very effective, whilst in lines it is 

 simply dazzling ; when grown in quantity it may be cut for 

 indoor decoration, than which few large flowers are more 

 telling. 



Cultural hints have already been given in speaking of its 

 hardiness, but I may add that where the soil is naturally 

 light and dry a liberal dressing of well-rotted manure may 

 be dug in with great benefit to the flowers. It is readily pro- 

 pagated by division of the roots every third year; the young 

 stock should be put in rows, the earth having been deeply 

 stirred and well broken; this may be done in late autumn or 

 spring if the former, a top dressing of leaves will assist root 

 action. 



This bold and brilliant flower appears in September, and is 

 produced in numbers more or less to the end of the year, pro- 

 vided the season does not set in very severe. 



