Encyclopaedia of Gardening 5 



Aesculus, Chestnut (aes-culus, having edible fruit, from the Greek. 

 Ord. Sapindaceae). The Chestnut, Aesculus Hippocastanum, is a 

 well-known British tree, handsome in form and foliage, and very 

 beautiful when in bloom. There are several varieties, including a 

 double with pink and white flowers, and one with variegated leaves. 

 Parviflora (small-flowered) is a handsome dwarf species which pro- 

 duces white flowers in spring. Propagated by seeds for the 

 common, and by grafting for the choicer varieties, but the small 

 planter should buy small transplanted trees in autumn, winter, or 

 spring, and plant and stake firmly. Soil : rich, moist loam, but the 

 tree will attain to fair dimensions in most kinds of soil. 



Aethionema. See Flower Garden Rockery. 



Agapanthus, African Lily (agapan-thus, from agape, love, and 

 anthos, flower. Ord. Liliaceae). A beautiful Cape plant with long, 

 sword-shaped, light green leaves, and blue flowers borne in an 

 umbel on a stout stem about 3 ft. high. It is not perfectly hardy, 

 but is found to pass the winter in mild districts when planted out 

 near water. More often, when used for outdoor effect, it is grown 

 in a large tub or pot, so that it can be stood in appropriate positions, 

 such as at the top of flights of steps, and moved indoors for the 

 winter. It is often grown in tubs for the adornment of large con- 

 servatories. The only species is umbellatus, but there are several 

 varieties of it. Most of them are blue, but there are also whites, and 

 a double. Propagated by division in spring. Soil: 3 parts loam, 

 i decayed manure, i leaf mould, and -J- sand, well mixed and made 

 firm. 



Agaricus campestris. See Kitchen Garden Mushroom. 



Agathaea coelestis. See Chrysanthemum Marguerite. 



Agave, Aloe (aga-ve, from agavos, admirable form of flower. Ord. 

 Amaryllideae) . Handsome greenhouse plants, with fleshy, spiny 

 leaves, and greenish-yellow, funnel-shaped flowers. They are slow 

 growers, and bloom rarely. A tradition has grown up out of the 

 latter fact that they flower every 100 years, but it is an error. The 

 principal species is americana, and it is so nearly hardy that it is 

 made use of for the garden, often being grown in large tubs and 

 stood in prominent positions, but it will not pass the winter in cold 

 districts. There are several varieties of it, notably picta and varie- 

 gata, which have variegated leaves. Filamentosa has leaves the 

 margins of which are furnished with long threads. Sartori is a 

 dwarf grower and a comparatively free bloomer. Propagated by 

 suckers, which form at the base of the plant, and may be pulled off 

 and potted. Soil: 3 parts loam, i dried cow manure, i leaf mould, 

 J part sand, pressed quite firmly. They will take a good deal of 

 water in summer, but the supply must be reduced in autumn, and 

 very little given in the winter. 



Ageratum (agera-tum, from a, without, and geras, old = always 

 bright. Ord. Compositae) . Pretty dwarf plants, generally treated as 

 annuals, being raised from seed in spring, and thrown away after 

 seeding in autumn. If desired the fading flowers can be pinched 

 off to prevent seed formation, and the plants preserved through the 



