Alternanthera 



( 35 ) 



Alyssum 



Ligtu, 2', Aug., HI., pale reel, or creamy. A 

 beautiful but rather tender species 



pelegrina, 1J', .Iy., yel., striped ro. A Very beauti- 

 ful but tender plant. Should have protection, or 

 be grown in pots under glass. The var. alba, in- 

 troduced in 1877, is exquisite (syn. peregrina). 



pulchella, (>'. Aug., criin., pur., grn. A distinct 

 plant, not so bright as some of the genus. Hdy. 



Other Species : - 

 brasilionais, ;!!', Jy., red- ha-mantha, 3', Je., hdy. 



dish yel., bfowii. with covering, yel. 



Dia/ii, 2. 1 ,', Jy., or. red. (//. Simsii). 



Errembaultii, 2', Jy., wh., spathulata, 2' Aug., red. 



crim., yel. (a hybrid). 



ALTERNANTHERA. 



Description. Effectively coloured foliage plants 

 (tin/. Amarantaceaj) of great beauty for carpet and 

 other bedding. They are called half-hardy, but 

 are too tender even for summer use in cold districts. 



Propagation. By cuttings in heat, a hotbed 

 being the most convenient, with a bottom beat of 

 75" to 85. Place -4" of sandy soil on the surface, 

 in which insert the cuttings 1" apart. Water well, 

 ami keep close and shaded for a week, afterwards 

 giving full sun, with air to harden them off. Plant 

 out when the weather is warm enough. A few 

 plants can be kept in pots during winter for stock 

 in spring. A warm house is needed. 



Soil. A rich, light soil which will not induce 

 gross growth is the best. 



Other Cultural Points. Plant in a warm sunny 

 place, and keep pinched as may be needed to suit 

 the purpose required. 



Principal Species : 



amabilis (now referred by botanists to Telan- 

 thera ficoidea), leaves or., sc. Var. amcena is or. 

 red, pur., bronze, grn. Tricolor is dark grn., ro., 

 pur., yel. 



paronychioides (now referred by botanists to 

 Tetontbera bettzichiana), 4", dark br., tipped 

 sc. Var. major is even brighter, and m. aurea has 

 tine yel. and red foliage. 



the native Marsh Mal- 

 low. 

 striata, V, Jy., bien.. wh. 



ALTHAEA. (MAI. 



Inscription. Biennial <H^rje<nennial plants (art/. 

 Malvaoea 1 ), mostly of coarse-growing habit, the 

 most valuable for the garden being roscn. the Holly- 

 hock. which is dealt with under that name. 



During the last few years a new race has been 

 r.iiscd from h'cifolia, the Fig Leaved or Antwerp 

 Hollyhock. These plants have the handsome! 

 foliage of the parent, and prettily fringed flowers. 

 So far only shades of yellow and a white have 

 been obtained, but other colours will almost cer- 

 tainly be forthcoming soon. As is usual with 

 plant's raised from seed, the vigour of growth is 

 very marked, and there is little danger of disease. 



Piopagation is bv seeds, sown in spring or sum- 

 mer, varieties by cuttings or eyes and division of 

 the roots. A good, well-manured loam suits. The 

 greater number of the Althieas are most suitable 

 for the back of the border, the shrubbery, or tin- 

 wild garden. Water well in dry weather, and 

 stake as soon as necessary. 



Principal Species : 



cannabina, ti', Je., deep ro. A good plant for 

 the shrubbery or wild garden ; per. 



lieifolia, 6', Je., yel. One of the most u-el'ul. 

 There is also a wh. var. Bien. (sijn. sulphurea of 

 gardens). 



narbonensis, 0', Jy., red. A per. species of some 

 value. 



Other Species : 



acaulis, 2', Jy., ami., pur. officinalis, 3', Jy., flesh, 

 caribaea, 3', spr., St., pk. 

 flezuosa, 3', Jy., per., pk. 

 frutex (see Hibiscus Syria - 



cus). 



ALTINGIA. 



Tall growing trees (ord. Hamamelidea-) from the 

 Far East ; closely allied to the Liquidambar. Green- 

 house protection is necessary in this country. The 

 only species in cultivation is chinensis, and it is of 

 no horticultural value. 



ALTITUDE. 



The elevation above sea level at which plants 

 grow has a great deal to do with their habit, con- 

 sequently if it is known at what altitude a certain 

 plant is found growing in a particular part of the 

 globe, an idea, though, be it said, not a strictly 

 reliable one, can be formed of its require- 

 ments iri this country. The greater the altitude 

 the cooler and drier the atmosphere becomes. As 

 a general principle it may be laid down that species 

 growing at an altitude of over 7,000' at the equator 

 should not need protection in the south of England 

 and Ireland. Some Oncidiums in America, and 

 some Pleiones (Ccalogynes) in Northern India, grow 

 at such an elevation that they are not infrequently 

 under the influence of frost during the cool season. 

 These naturally require little artificial heat in this 

 countrv, save when growing freely. Altitude pro- 

 duces pretty much the same climatic conditions as 

 latitude i.e. roughly speaking, 000' rise at the 

 equator ensures a climate somewhat similar to 

 that found 1 of latitude from the equator. A 

 further rise of GOO' would be equal to 2 of 

 latitude from the equator, and so on. 



In this country the question of altitude is of 

 considerable importance to the fruit grower, 

 especially where Plums and Other stone fruits are 

 concerned. In low-lying valleys frosts are usually 

 more severe, and, with the greater moisture prevail- 

 ing in the atmosphere, more destructive than they 

 are upon the uplands. Generally speaking, a height 

 of about 500' above sea-level is the best for hardy 

 fruit, as it is high i-ncmgh to escape the effect of 

 the frosts, and not high enough to be too much 

 exposed. Timber grown at a moderate elevation, 

 such as that mentioned, is more durable than that 

 grown in the valleys. 

 ALYSSUM. (MADWORT.) 

 Pretty perennial or annual plants (t>rd. Crucif- 

 era), principally of a shrubby nature, and 

 suited for beds] borders, and rockeries. Propa- 

 gated by cuttings, seeds, and division Of roots. 

 Cut tings' 'ef-ypung shoots, with or without a heel 

 of old wood. 'strike undfr glass in a shady border. 

 | Sow seeds in spring or early summr r. A light dry 

 I soil is best. Most of the species require full ex- 

 posure to the sun. The Alpine species do best in a 

 sunny chink of the rockery. 



Although the plants are usually only to be found 

 in rock gardens, they do very well in an ordinary 

 herbaceous border, provided they are not overhung 

 by other and coarser growing plants, and that \\w 

 border is well drained. They should IK; given a 

 place in the front rank, and look best when planted 

 in bold clumps. As an edgine to beds filled with 

 other spring-flowering subjects AKssums have also 

 a claim. 



