4 Encyclopaedia of Gardening 



ought not to be necessary. It grows about 4 ft. high, and bears 

 blue, helmet-shaped flowers in summer; there is a white variety. 

 Other handsome species are Anthora, 2 ft. high, yellow; Fischeri, 

 4 ft., blue; Wilsoni, 4 ft., pale blue; and Lycoctonum, 4 ft., 

 yellow. Propagation is by division in spring; in view of the 

 poisonous nature of the roots it should be done by some responsible 

 person, who may be trusted to avoid the dangerous practice of care- 

 lessly leaving portions of root about. A cool, substantial soil such 

 as suits Dahlias, Sweet Peas, and Roses, will grow Monkshoods to 

 perfection. They enjoy a shaded position. 



Acroclinium (acroclln-ium). See Annuals Half-hardy. 

 Adam's Needle. See Yucca. 



Adiantum, Maidenhair (adian-tum, from adiantos, dry. Ord. 

 Filices). Beautiful and popular ferns, nearly all requiring green- 

 house or stove treatment. There is an immense number of species, 

 and a still larger number of varieties. The following are the prin- 

 cipal: Capillus-Veneris, the British Maidenhair, which, although 

 not generally hardy, grows wild in Cornwall, imbricatum is a beauti- 

 ful variety of it; caudatum, stove; concinnum, good for baskets, 

 a stove species which has a charming variety called latum; cunea- 

 tum, the popular Maidenhair, so greatly esteemed as a table plant, 

 and for association with cut flowers, gracillimum, grandiceps, and 

 Pacotti are pretty varieties of it, it likes a warm greenhouse; Far- 

 leyense, beautiful, broad, tinted fronds, stove; macrophyllum, a 

 large stove species; and pedatum, hardy. Propagation is by spores 

 and division. Sow in a propagating case, or in heat, and cover 

 with a bell-glass. But cuneatum is easily propagated by splitting 

 it up, and Farleyense, which does not produce spores, is exclusively 

 increased in this way. Soil : 2 parts of loam, i each of peat and leaf 

 mould, and -J part of sand. In the main the plants must have shade, 

 but it should not be dense; a soft, diffused light is best. When 

 cuneatum has become rusty through being used in rooms it should 

 be cut right down, in fact many growers make autumn pruning an 

 annual function. It may be kept fresh in a living-room for several 

 months if great care is taken in watering, and, while giving it air, 

 preserving it from cold draughts. All ferns like moisture, but the 

 soil should not be kept sodden. When fronds of Maidenhairs are 

 to be associated with flowers, they should be cut and laid in water 

 for a few hours be|ore being used, then they last better. 



Adonis. See Flower Garden Rockery. 



Aerides (aerides, from aer, air. Ord. Orchidaceae) . Evergreen 

 Orchids, with flowers in racemes. Fieldingii, which bears white, 

 rose, and brown flowers in late spring, and grows about 3 ft. high, is 

 the principal species. The Aerides require a warm, moist house. 

 They may be planted in pans or baskets in crocks and sphagnum 

 moss. The spring and summer temperature, when the plants are 

 growing, may range from 75 to 85, but in autumn and winter 10 

 less will suffice. Abundance of water will be required throughout 

 the growing period, both at the roots and in the air, but the supply 

 must be reduced in winter. 



