Herbertia 



(414) 



Herminiera 



especially over the annuals. They live from year 

 to year, and their annual reappearance is looked 

 for with eager expectancy. The hardier plants 

 in particular are, in the case of the more robust 

 species, apart from the Alpines, of very easy 

 cultivation, and can be grown in almost any good 

 soil. Their uses, too, are manifold, and their char- 

 acters varied in the extreme. They lend them- 

 selves to formal gardening, to the requirements of 

 the wild garden, or to decorate the slopes and 

 stones of the rock garden. Some do well in pots 

 in the greenhouse and conservatory, and others 

 come in to grace the window of a room. Their 

 numbers are too great to particularise, and any list 

 of reasonable length of the best genera included 

 under the designation of " herbaceous plants " 

 would be far from complete. For species, and how 

 they are to be cultivated, the reader is referred to 

 their respective genera. 



HERBERTIA. 



Half-hardy bulbous plants (prd. Irideae) of con- 

 siderable beauty, but not at all common in gardens. 

 The genus is allied to Tigridia. Propagation, by 

 seeds and offsets. The latter should be carefully 

 removed after growth has been finished, and potted 

 singly in small pots in rather light soil. A cold 

 frame kept close is the best place for old and 

 young plants alike. If they are grown in the 

 greenhouse, it should be on a shelf near the glass. 

 Sandy loam and peat, or leaf soil, in equal parts, 

 with sand, make a good compost. 



Principal Species t 



drummondiana, <>", bl., sepals tipped wb. (iyn. 

 coerulea). 



Other Species : 



pulchella, 9", Jy., pur., bl. (tee figure). 



HERBS (POT). 



A collection of pot herbs is one of the most 

 useful things that a garden can contain. Of the 

 various subjects which are used by the cook for 

 flavouring and garnishing certain dishes, some are 

 silways in request, and it is necessary that a supply 

 should be kept up. Others which are not so 

 frequently asked for should be grown, but in 

 smaller quantity. Here is a list of the most im- 

 portant of pot herbs. 



Balm. Lavender. Rosemary. 



Borage. Marjorain(Sweet). Sage. 



Chervil. Mint. Tarragon. 



Fennel. Parsley. Thyme. 



Horehound. 



Others which are not so important, but which are 

 sometimes asked for, are : 



Angelica. Chives. 



Basil (Bush and Coriander. 



Sweet). Dill. 



Buruet, Hyssop. 



Caraway. Pennyroyal. 



Chiimoinile. Purslane. 



Rue. 



Savory (Winter 

 aiid Summer). 

 Southernwood. 

 Tansy. 

 Wormwood. 



With the exception of Parsley, which it is con- 

 venient to sow as an edging round the vegetable 

 quarters, and Chervil, which, when once established 

 in almost any odd corner, reproduces itself year 

 after year from self-sown seed, it is advisable to 

 locate all the herbs in a border by themselves. 

 The best aspect for the "herb border" is west! 

 South is too hot, and north and east are so cold 

 that the produce is too late in making its appear- 

 ance, that is, with the exception of Thyme and 

 Sage, which will do very well on a north or an 



east aspect. The ground should be well dug 

 and manured prior to planting, and each year, in 

 the autumn, a heavy mulching of short, half-rotted 

 manure should be given both to protect and 

 nourish the roots. Plant in rows about 1' apart ; 

 this leaves plenty of room to get about among the 

 plants to gather the produce. 



Basil, Marjoram, and Mint should be cut down 

 just before they come into (lower and dried for 

 winter use. Tarragon should also be cut down, 

 but in a dried state it is not much in request. 



HERITIERA (of Aiton, syn. BALAXOP- 



TERIs). 



A small genus of stove evergreen trees (prd. 

 Sterculiacese), with unisexual flowers, and leaves 

 with a silvery white under surface. To the last 

 named characteristic the popular name of Look- 



HEHHEIITIA I-VLCHELLA. 



ing Glass Tree is due. Cuttings of the ripened 

 shoots will root fairly quickly in bottom heat 

 towards the close of the summer. Soil, sandy 

 loam, with about a fifth part of leaf mould. 



Principal Species : 



littoralis, red. macrnjihylla, red. Look- 



ing Glass Tree. 



HERMANNIA. 



Greenhouse evergreen shrubs (prd. Sterouliacese) 

 of distinct appearance. There are many species, 

 but few of them are cultivated, and those only in 

 botanic gardens. 



HERMINIERA (////. (KDKMOXE). 

 A genus of one species only (prd. Leguminosic). 

 Elaphroxylon, the "Ambash" or "Pith Tree." so 



Herb f;f (,'rai'e {sec Jliita). 

 Herb Paris (gee Paris qiiadrifnlia"). 

 Herb Robert (see Gertinhtin rtibertiamtui'). 

 Hercules Club (sec Xanthoxylmn). 



