Allionia 



( 28) 



Allotments 



ALLIONIA. 



A genus of hardy annuals (ord. Nyctagine:c) 

 that thrive in light, sandy soil, and may be raised 

 from seeds. 



Only Species : 



involucrata, ann., pur., close to Marvel of 

 Peru. 

 Allionia of Loefler (see Oxybaphus). 



ALLIUM. 



Description. A large genus of bulbous plants 

 (ord. Liliaceas), comprising the Garlic, Onion, etc. 

 The flowers are in heads or umbels, and many are 

 of much value in the garden, though the odour of 

 the majority makes them undesirable as cut flowers. 

 The Onion is treated on under its own name. 



Propagation. By offsets removed when the 

 plants are at rest; by seeds; and by the bulbils 

 which many produce in the flower heads. The 

 fault of a number is that they increase too rapidly. 

 Sow seeds in spring. 



Soil. Any garden soil, not too heavy, is suitable 

 for the Alliums. Neapolitanum, which is largely 

 grown for forcing in pots, ought to have a compost 

 of loam, sand, and leaf mould. 



Other Cultural Points. The greater number of 

 the Alliums are perfectly hardy, but some of the 

 species from California, the Mediterranean region, 

 and Central Asia, should have a covering of 2" of 

 dry litter in winter. Some make good pot plants 

 for cool houses. Neapolitanum should be potted 

 as soon as it can be procured, its treatment being 

 the same as that for forced Tulips or Narcissi. 

 Plant the other Alliums in early autumn. 



Principal Species: 



acuminatum, 9", Jy., ro., in umbels. A desirable 

 hdy. species. 



coerulenm, 2', Je., sky bl., in globular umbels. A very 

 beautiful species, but a little tender in cold districts 

 where there is much rain in winter (syn. azureum). 



Cepa (see Onion). 



aggregatum (see Onion). 



Moly, 1', My., yel., in showy heads. An old 

 garden plant, indispensable in its season. 



neapolitanum, 1J', My., wh. This beautiful 

 Allium can be had early by forcing in the same 

 way as Narcissi. 



ostrowskianum, 1', Jy., ro. A very neat species 

 for the border or rockery. 



rosenm, 1', Je., pale ro. A good border flower. 



triquetrum, 1J', Je., wh. A very graceful plant 

 with heads of drooping flowers on triangular stems 



Other Species: 



Bidwellio-, 9", Jy., ro. uigrum, 3', Je., bl. orwh. 



falcifolium, 9", Aug., ro. (sy. magicum). 



flavum, 10", Je., yel. oreophilum, 1', Jy., ro. 



gigiinteum 4', Jo., lil. , pur. pur. 



- 3- "I tf 



kansuense, 6 , Jy., bl. 

 karataviense, 1', My., wh. 

 macnabiauum, 1 J , Jy., 



magenta, 

 narcissiflorum, 1', Je., ro. 



(sf/n. pedemontanum). 



. 



pedemontanum (see nar- 

 cissiflorum) . 



Schubertii, 1', sum., ro. 



sphrerocephalum, 2', Jy. 

 pur. 



Many species of no garden value are omitted. 



ALLOMORPHIA. 



Dwarf stove plants (ord. MelastomaceaV). Fen 

 are in cultivation, and not many were known tc 

 science until M. Cogniaux described seventeen new 



pecies in 1892. The only species here mentioned 

 s a slow-growing but handsome plant, the green 

 eaves being purple beneath. Peaty, sandy soil. 

 >eeds or cuttings. 



Principal Species : 



Griffith!!, 2', Je., grn., wh. 



ALLOPLECTUS. 



These are mainly South American and Columbian 

 evergreen shrubs (ord. Gesneraceic) requiring the 

 .ernperatnre of a stove ; they are very attractive, 

 'ropagation by cuttings in very sandy soil. Com- 

 iost. any light but fertile mixture, "in this genus 

 lie calyx of each flower is strongly developed and 

 >f a brilliant hue. 



Principal Species : 

 capitatus, 2V, Mch., red, 



yel. 

 concolor, 2', Mch., sc. 



Other Species : 



ricolor, 1', Je. 

 chrysanthus, 1', Je., red, 



yel. 

 dichrous, 2', Mch., yel, 



pur. 



glaber, 1', Je., sc. 

 peltatus, 1', Aug., yel. 



Lynchii, 2', Je., yel. 

 vittatus, U', Je., red. yel. 



repens, Feb., yel., br. 



(climber). 



Schlimii, U', Je., red, vio. 

 splendens, 1', Je., pur., 



yel. 

 zamoreusis, 1 , Ap., yel., 



or., red. 



ALLOTMENTS. 



A term applied to patches of garden ground 

 hired and cultivated by artisans and labourers, 

 but distinct from gardens attached to cottages. 

 With the growing populations of large villages and 

 small towns, particularly where labour is concen- 

 trated in manufacture, there is a steady demand 

 for allotments, which are beneficial to working- 

 men in many ways. They afford a means of 

 pleasant and profitable recreation for spare time, 

 they supply the household with wholesome veget- 

 ables, and give opportunities of displaying 

 horticultural skill that might otherwise remain 

 dormant. In many instances ground is let for 

 allotments by private landlords at rentals varying 

 according to the situation and nature of the land ; 

 but since parish councils were given the power of 

 acquiring land for the purpose, the area under 

 allotment culture has increased considerably. JI uch 

 encouragement is given to allotment holders by 

 the technical education committees of county 

 councils in providing instruction and prizes, and 

 by local gardening societies. 



"When cutting up a field for allotments it is usual 

 to lay out the plots parallel to each other, rectan- 

 gular in shape, with pathways between, and one or 

 more roadways through the field. The size of the 

 individual plots varies from 10 to 2(1 square 

 rods, each one being stumped off and numbered. 

 Twenty rods is generally a suitable size. In 

 some instances the plots are confined solely to the 

 cultivation of vegetables, on others fruit and flowers 

 are grown as well, and on others again the tenants 

 erect pigsty es in one corner, and in some cases 

 summerhouses and small glass structures. 



The shape of the average rectangular plot of 

 allotment ground is favourable to rotation of crop- 

 ping, and the aim of the cultivator should be to 

 obtain a large quantity of useful produce in 

 succession. A glance at the plot shown in the 

 illustration on page 29 will indicate how such a 

 piece of ground may be profitably ; cropped, and it is 

 so arranged that vegetables differing in character of 

 growth can have a fresh position each year. An 



