284 Encyclopaedia ot Gardening 



Handsome palms. S. elegans (syn. Archontophoenix Cunning- 

 hamii) is a graceful species. For culture, see Palms. 



Sea Holly, Eryngium maritimum. 



Seakale (Crambe maritima). See Kitchen Garden. 



Sea Lavender, Statice Limonium. 



Seaweed. This substance is good as manure, and may be used 

 with advantage for Asparagus, Potatoes, and Turnips. It should 

 be used while fresh. 



Secateur. Small hand-pruning shears, which, if kept well oiled 

 and sharpened, are preferable to a pruning knife in many cases. 



Sedum, Stonecrop (se-dum, from sedere, to sit, in allusion to their 

 habit of growth. Ord. Crassulaceae). A large genus of succulent 

 plants, useful because they will thrive in dry places and in poor 

 soil; they may be put on dry rockeries and on walls; they like 

 limestone. Propagation is by seeds, cuttings (dried before inser- 

 tion), and division. The following are a few of the best: Acre, 

 yellow, summer, 2 or 3 ins. high, has several varieties, such as 

 elegans and aureum; Album, white, summer, grows about 6 ins. 

 high; Caeruleum, blue, summer, 4 to 6 ins.; Lydium, pale pink or 

 white, summer, about 3 ins. high; Sieboldi, pink, summer, about 

 a foot; Spectabile, pink, late summer, about 18 ins. Others are 

 acre and its varieties, glaucum, kamschaticum, Turkestanicum, 

 virens and Rhodiola. 



Selaginella (selagin el-la, a diminutive of Selago, which comes 

 from sel (Celtic), sight, and jack, beneficial literally, good for the 

 eyes. Ord. Selagineae). A large genus of elegant plants, some of 

 which are of trailing habit. They love moisture in summer, but 

 not overhead, so that syringing should not be practised. The 

 creeping sorts should be grown in pans, the upright ones in pans or 

 pots. Loam and leaf mould in equal parts, with a good deal of 

 sand, suit. Propagation is by cuttings of the main stems in spring 

 and summer, or by layering. The following are a few of the best: 

 Braunii, erect, i ft. to 18 ins.; Galeottei, i ft., good for a hanging 

 basket; grandis, branching, should have a close case; Kraussiana 

 (syns. denticulata and Lycopodium denticulatum) , creeping; Mar- 

 tensii, branching; and uncinata, trailing. 



Selenipedium. A section of Cypripedium, only recognised by 

 botanists. 



Self. A flower with only one colour. See Carnations, etc.. 



Sempervivum, Houseleek (sempervi-vum, from sempervivo, ever- 

 living. Ord. Crassulaceae). A large genus of succulents which, 

 like the Sedums, will thrive in poor, dry soil. The hardy kinds will 

 grow on walls, roofs, and dry rockeries. They like lime. Propa- 

 gation is by seeds in spring, or offsets. The following are a few of 

 the principal kinds: arachnoideum, red, early summer, 4 ins. high, 

 the Cobweb Houseleek (see the Botanical Magazine, t. 68) ; there 

 are many varieties. Arenarium, yellow, summer, 6 ins. Glaucum, 

 red, summer, 9 ins. Tabulaeformae and variegatum are grown for 

 their foliage and used in carpet bedding. Tectorum, red, summer, 

 I ft., is the common Houseleek; there are several varieties. 



