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Encyclopaedia of Gardening 



white annual, often grown under the name of Koniga maritima. 

 There is a variegated form which is in great favour as an edging 

 plant. Saxatile is a yellow-flowered perennial, and its variety com- 

 pactum is highly popular for spring bedding, also for rockeries; 

 there are other varieties, including a double and a variegated. 

 Propagated by seeds or cuttings, the perennials also by division, 

 but maritimum and saxatile cornpactum are generally propagated 

 by seeds, the former in March or April to flower the same year, the 

 latter in May or June to flower the following year. They are not 

 very particular as to soil, but do not care for a heavy, wet medium. 



Amaranthus (amaran-thus, from a, not, and maraino, waste, 

 alluding to the durability. Ord. Amaranthaceae). Caudatus, the 

 Love-lies-bleeding; and hypochondriacus, The Prince's Feather, 

 are summer-flowering hardy annuals, and may be sown out of 

 doors in spring. Melancholicus ruber, salicifolius, and tricolor are 

 handsome foliage plants. The first is not infrequently used as a 

 bedding plant where rich leaf-colour is wanted; the other two are 

 more often grown in pots. All are raised from seed, which should 

 be sown on a hotbed near a warm house, the seedlings pricked off 

 when they begin to crowd each other, subsequently hardened in a 

 cool house, and potted as needed. They will appreciate abundance 

 of root and atmospheric moisture. Soil: loam, with a third of 

 decayed manure and a sprinkling of sharp sand. 



Amaryllis. See Bulbs. 



American Blight. The Woolly Aphis, Schizoneura lanigera, 

 attacks various trees, but principally Apples, which it often damages 

 seriously, in part by its direct action, in part by preparing the 

 ground for that fell scourge, canker. It fastens itself on the roots 

 as well as on the branches, and young trees bought in should always 

 be examined to make sure that there are none of the woolly tufts 

 on them. The insect is really a brownish aphis, which has the 

 power of covering its colonies with fluff. It pierces the bark and 

 extracts the juice. Females bring forth living young in summer, 

 and lay eggs in autumn; the former are termed viviparous. In 

 case of a slight attack on a part of the tree easily accessible, paraffin 

 oil or methylated spirits may be applied with a small brush, exer- 

 cising care to bring the fluid to bear directly on the bodies of the 

 insects. In the case of bad attacks on large trees this method is 

 impracticable. The first step should be to apply water alone in a 

 powerful spray, preferably through a hose-pipe, in order to wash 

 away the fluff and expose the bodies of the aphides. Then a 

 paraffin emulsion may be applied, and this can be made by boiling 

 i pint of good soft soap in i quart of water, stirring in -J- pint of 

 paraffin oil directly it is taken off the fire, and' then churning up by 

 means of a syringe in 6 gallons of water. Apply through a knap- 

 sack sprayer or spraying syringe. This may be put on while the 

 trees are in leaf. If the trouble continues use the following as a 

 winter spray 



% Ib. soft soap, 5 pints paraffin oil, 10 gallons soft water (see 

 i, 2, 3 below) ; 2 Ib. caustic soda (see 4 below). 



i. Dissolve the soft soap in i gallon of water. 



