Encyclopaedia of Gardening 28 i 



Saponaria, Soapwort, Fuller's Herb (sapona-ria, from sapo, soap; 

 the leaves of officinalis lather when rubbed. Ord. Caryophylleae). 

 A large genus of annuals and perennials, mostly hardy. A few 

 are good garden plants, notably calabrica, a dwarf hardy annual 

 with pink flowers, and its white variety alba; ocymoides, a hardy 

 perennial trailer with purplish-rose flowers, the Rock Soapwort (see 

 Botanical Magazine, t. 154); and officinalis, a hardy perennial 

 growing about 3 ft. high, pink; the double variety flore pleno is good. 

 They all bloom in summer. Calabrica may be sown outdoors in 

 September to bloom in spring. Vaccaria, red, 18 ins., is a good 

 annual (Bot. Mag., t. 2290). Ordinary soil. Propagation is by seed 

 (see Annuals) and division. 



Saprophyte. A plant that grows on decaying matter, animal or 

 vegetable, like many fungi (cf. parasite, a plant that grows on living 

 matter) . 



Sarracenia, Side-saddle Flower (sarrace-nia, after Dr. Sarrasin. 

 Ord. Sarraceniaceae) . Singular plants, forming clusters of small 

 pitchers. They are perennials, from North America, half hardy. 

 Purpurea (Botanical Magazine, t. 849) is the nearest to complete 

 hardiness, and is sometimes grown on the rockery, with a covering 

 of Bracken in winter. It likes a cool, moist spot. Those who have 

 a liking for the genus sometimes devote a small greenhouse to them 

 in preference to mixing them with other plants, as they like a moist 

 atmosphere. Fibrous peat, with charcoal and a fourth of chopped 

 Sphagnum moss, suits. Propagation is by division in early spring 

 in a close, moist, warm case. The plants must have abundance of 

 water during the growing season. A temperature of 45 to 55 will 

 suffice in winter. The following are a few of the best species: 

 Drummondi (alba and rubra are good varieties), flava (atro- 

 sanguinea, Catesbaei, and maxima are good varieties), purpurea, 

 and rubra. Good hybrids are Chelsoni, Courtii, Stevensii, and 

 Williamsii. 



Sarsaparilla. The root of Smilax species, used medicinally. 

 Satin Flower, Sisyrinchium. 



Savory, Satureia (sature-ia, from the Arabic sattar. Ord. Labia- 

 tae). See Kitchen Garden Herbs. 



Savoy. See Kitchen Garden. 



Saxifraga, Rockfoil (saxif-raga, but commonly saxifra-ga, from 

 saxum, stone, andfrango, to break supposed use in bladder troubles. 

 Ord. Saxifrageae) . A large and important genus of hardy alpine 

 plants, the adequate description of which would require a volume 

 in itself. The genus varies greatly, some species being moss-like in 

 growth, others large, loose, and spreading. They are charming for 

 the rock garden, and some may be used for edgings. S. Umbrosa, 

 the well-known London Pride, is a case in point. No general hint 

 as to soil may be given, as the species vary in their requirements. 

 The mossy Saxifrages will thrive in ordinary garden soil provided it 

 is not dry. The encrusted species like a limestone soil. The large- 

 leaved Megasea section love a moist soil. Propagation is by seed, 



