THE DRACAENA. 127 



The Statice {Plumbar/inacciv). 



This is sometimes called Armeria, Thrift, &c, neither 

 of which, however, comes under this head. The tender 

 and half-hardy species are pretty, and useful subjects of 

 the greenhouse, and none more so than Sinuata. This 

 variety is well worthy of cultivation, if only as cut 

 flowers. It is very free in flowering, and is seldom or 

 never out of flower. A large pot or two of this may be 

 turned to good account for cut blooms, with other 

 things, for vases. The flowers are pale blue with 

 white, and last a long time. Their propagation con- 

 sists in sowing seed in pans in the spring, and setting 

 them in a mild heat ; also by division of the root. 



The Piiomiioi (Liliacere). 



This is a small genus, which, however, has of late 

 had some splendid additions. The old tcnax is a 

 beautiful thing of itself, but P. Colensoi, P. Cookii, 

 and P. tenax zariegatum surpass it, inasmuch as these 

 possess a lovely striped foliage. Large plants of these 

 Phormiums, when well grown, are grand objects for 

 the conservatory. They may be multiplied by seed, 

 and by division of the root. Sow the seed in deep 

 seed-pans, filled with fine peat and maiden soil of 

 equal parts, and subject the seed-pans to a good heat. 

 Offsets may be taken as soon as the plants have done 

 flowering, and potted singly in 4 or 5-inch pots, 

 using the same compost, and plunging the pots in ;i 

 mild heat. 



The Draoena (Liliacece). 



These are a grand tribe of foliage plants, some at- 

 taining to the stature of trees. Some of them are hardy 

 enough to stand our climate in the western counties 

 unprotected. D. Australia, Indivisa, &c, will do well 

 in a sheltered place out of doors in Torquay- The 

 propagation of the Dracamas consists in raising them 



