21 6 Encyclopaedia of Gardening 



Peas are cleared. The following are good varieties: Long White 

 (running), Pen-y-Byd (running), Tender and True (bush). 



Kniphofia, Flame Flower, Red-hot Poker, Torch Lily (knipho-fia, 

 after Professor Kniphof. Ord. Liliaceae). One of our noblest 

 hardy herbaceous plants, splendid for making bold groups. The 

 leaves are long and arching, and the flowers are borne in the form 

 of a cone on a long, stiff stem. The prevailing colours are yellow, 

 orange, and red. They form thickened rootstocks, and need careful 

 division in spring if propagation is required. Plants may be raised 

 from seed in spring. In rich, loamy soil magnificent plants are 

 produced, but they will thrive on well-drained clay, and even on 

 chalk if well watered in dry spells until established. Special sites 

 should be chosen for them, in order to get fine colour effects. The 

 leaves may be tied over the crowns in autumn to throw off rain. 

 The following are the principal sorts: aloides (syn. uvaria), the 

 common Flame Flower (see the Botanical Magazine, t. 758) ; there 

 are several good named varieties or hybrids, such as Franz Buchner, 

 nobilis, Obelisque, Pfitzeri, Saundersii, and Star of Baden-Baden. 

 Corallina and its variety superba are dwarf growers. Leichtlini 

 has red and yellow flowers (see Bot. Mag., t. 6716). Longicollis 

 (syn. primulina) is a greenhouse species with pale yellow flowers. 

 Macowani is a dwarf species with coral flowers. Rooperi, orange 

 and yellow, and Tuckii, red and yellow, are good. Kniphofia is 

 synonymous with Tritoma. 



Kochia (ko-chia, after Herr Koch. Ord. Chenopodiaceae). K. 

 tricopilia (scoparia) is an uncommon hardy annual, forming a sym- 

 metrical bush of soft green fern-like foliage in summer, which turns 

 red in autumn. This is used in flower-beds and borders. It is not 

 particular as to soil, but does not care for dry chalk. Grow as a 

 half-hardy annual. See Annuals. 



Kohl-rabi. Generally regarded as a farm crop, the Kohl-rabi is 

 well worth growing in gardens, and needs the same treatment as 

 Cabbages (see Kitchen Garden) . Earliest Purple and Earliest White 

 are good varieties. 



Labels. These are a necessary evil in gardens, and should be as 

 inconspicuous as possible. Plain wooden labels, the upper part 

 touched with white paint to take the impress of the pencil, are 

 cheap and handy. They do not last long unless the lower part is 

 soaked in creosote, Stockholm tar, or some other preservative. Zinc 

 labels, with indelible ink, are suitable for many purposes. For 

 large permanent labels metal tallies with the name stamped in bold 

 raised letters should be used. Celluloid labels are good and cheap. 

 Labels wired on to young trees should be examined to see that the 

 shoot is not growing round the wire. 



Laburnum (labur-num, the Latin name. Ord. Leguminosae). 

 Useful deciduous trees, generally grown as standards, and bearing 

 abundance of long, drooping racemes of yellow flowers in spring. 

 The Scotch, alpinum, is liked better than the common. The 

 Laburnums thrive in almost any kind of soil, from chalk to clay, and 

 do not object to banks. They will do in towns. They should be 



