USEFUL GREENHOUSE PLANTS 147 



which about March should be shaken away from the old soil, and re- 

 potted in a mixture of equal parts of loam and leaf-mould with a little 

 sand. Half-a-dozen tubers may be put in pots five inches in diameter, 

 and these are sufficiently large for the Achimenes. When larger masses 

 are desired deep pans may be used. They are also suitable for hanging 

 baskets. In a warm house Achimenes will flower by the end of spring, 

 but in a greenhouse they are at their best during the latter half of the 

 summer. The flowers of all consist of a narrow tube, and a widely 

 expanded mouth. The varieties are numerous with white, pink, mauve, 

 scarlet, and purple blossoms. 



African Lily. See Agapanthus. 



Agapanthus. Plants of bold growth with long, strap-shaped 

 leaves, from among which are pushed up during the summer heads of 

 pretty blue flowers, borne on stems three feet or four feet high. The 

 commonest is A. umbellatus, to which the white albus (white flowers) 

 affords a pleasing variety. There is also a double-flowered kind (flore 

 pleno), while the miniature form known as minor is worth growing 

 for the sake of variety. The Agapanthuses are useful for large pots or 

 tubs for standing out of doors on steps, terraces, or similar positions 

 during the summer months, and the flowers appear at that time. These 

 tub specimens will keep in health for years without repotting, indeed, 

 they do much better when the roots are closely confined. Agapanthuses 

 are dormant during the winter, when they can be successfully wintered 

 under the stage of a greenhouse, in a shed, coach-house, or similar 

 position. 



Agave. The best known of the Agaves (a numerous class) is the 

 American Aloe (Agave americana\ a plant of symmetrical growth, and 

 with huge fleshy leaves, furnished with large spines, disposed naturally 

 in the shape of an immense rosette. It is sometimes called the Century 

 Plant, from its reputed habit of never flowering until a hundred years 

 have elapsed. This is quite a mistake, as the most casual observer 

 knows. The leaves contain a strong fibre which is very valuable for 

 rope-making. There is a variegated variety in which the leaves are 

 striped with pale yellow. The American Aloe is just the thing for 

 standing on steps, balconies, &c., as recommended for the Agapanthus. 



Aloysia citriodora. The Lemon Verbena, or Sweet Verbena, as 

 this is often called, is popular, and no wonder, for its leaves are delight 

 fully fragrant. In the milder districts of England it may be trained to 

 a wall outside, but in most parts it needs the protection of a greenhouse, 

 where, with the same treatment as a Fuchsia, it succeeds perfectly. 

 Cuttings of the young shoots should be taken in the spring. The leaves 

 when bruised give off an odour of fresh ripe lemons. 



American Aloe. See Agave americana. 



Aralia Sieboldi. This is a stout growing plant, with large deep 

 green leathery leaves. It is easily grown, is hardy in many districts, and 

 most useful for sitting-rooms, draughty corridors, and similar places. It is 

 often confounded with the Castor Oil Plant (JRicinus), a quite different 

 thing. There is a variegated form of this Aralia in which the leaves are 

 marked with white. 



