Lankesteria 



( 474 ) 



Lapageria 



graceful Italian Willow, reflected in the water on a 

 peaceful summer's evening ; and in winter the red 

 stems are almost equally beautiful. Fountains ami 

 stone-lined ba.sins are only possible in the geomet- 

 rical garden, near the house. 



Where ornamental buildings, such as summer- 

 houses and temples, are included, they should not 

 stand out aggressively. Rustic woodwork is the 

 best material for summerhouses, and the more 

 (jiiickly it can be covered with climbers the better. 

 Glaring stone temples, be they never so finely carved, 

 are an abomination. If they are present, the stone 

 > hould be painted over with some preparation to 

 give the appearance of age. Part may be covered 

 with climbing plants. 



An exceedingly gratifying method is to prepare a 

 series of surprises. Shady nooks or dells may well 

 be introduced here and there, hidden by tall trees, 

 and only revealed at the last curve of the path or 

 glade that leads to them. These dells may be 

 planted with collections of special subjects. Thus 

 a Berberis dell, a Bamboo garden, a collection of 

 hardy Azaleas, are all features that demand 

 attention. This system has been well carried out 

 at Kew, and is deserving of extensive imitation. 

 A mixed shrubbery is good, but it is often overdone. 

 The group system is, as a rule, far more effective. 



It is impossible, in a work of this scope, to do 

 more than touch the fringe of the subject of land- 

 scape gardening, but enough has been said to show 

 how complicated an art it is. In addition to the 

 artistic features that have to be decided upon and 

 introduced, there is often much heavy wcrk to be 

 performed. Low-lying, swampy ground may have to 

 be drained, lakes made, artificial mounds created, 

 large trees moved, levels obtained for lawns and 

 d dves, and there will be much anxious and tedious 

 work with theodolite and horning rods ere this is all 

 done. In every case a careful survey of the ground 

 must be made before a plan of action is decided 

 upon, for a comparatively slight error often means 

 the removing of a good many unnecessary 

 thousands of cubic yards of matter, and the 

 result is vexatious. 



LANKESTERIA. 



A small genus of stove evergreen herbs (ord. 

 Acnnthaceaj). There are only three species, and 

 these are of little garden value. Cuttings of the 

 young shoots may be rooted in spring if given 

 sandy peat soil and placed in brisk bottom heat. 

 Soil, loam and peat in equal parts, with sand. 



Principal Species : 



Barter!, st., yel. longiflora, parviflora, 



elejjans, 3', Je.. so. and Eranthemum hia- 



parviflora, 1', Sep., Nov., piclum of Jiotanical 



st., yel. (*//. hispida, lieyister 1846, 12). 



LANTANA. 



Stove and greenhouse shrubs (ord. Verbenacea?), 

 with showy heads of flowers. 



Propagation. By cuttings of tips of the side 

 shoots, taken in August and September, rooted in 

 gentle heat, and wintered in a greenhouse. 



Soil. Two parts of fibrous loam and one part of 

 old Mushroom bed manure, with sand. 



Other Cultural Points. I.antanas are of very j 

 easy culture in pots in the greenhouse, and 

 they flower profusely if planted out in beds for 

 Hie summer months. The autumn-struck cuttings 



Ltinciiia, (see Lasiospermiim). 



should be potted into 3" pots at the begin- 

 ning of March, pinched when the shoots are a 

 few inches long, and another shift, into (>" pots, 

 given. Old plants may be lifted from the beds in 

 autumn, the shoots shortened, and potted into as 

 small pots as possible. In spring they may be 

 pruned closely, put into a warm house, syringed 

 freely, and potted on as required. Old plants 

 flower more freely, but the blossoms are smaller. 

 Mealy bug is the chief insect pest. 



Principal Species and Varieties : 

 Camara, b" to 10', Je., St., mutabilis, yel 



vio., stem prickly (*yn. gramliHora, larger 



aculeata) . flowers, 



nivea, Jy., Oct., st., wh., trit'oliii, 3', Aug., st. shr.. 



odorous. red or pur. ; a good 



bedder (^t/t/. aimua). 



Other Species : --- 

 crocea, 3', Je., st., red, sclloviana, Dec., Jim., 



yel. grli., pur., rod. 



A Selection of Hybrids and Varieties : 

 Drap d'Or, dwarf, yel.; La Xeigc, wh. 



good for bedding. Magenta King, pur., FC. 



Fabiola, ro. Ne Plus Ultra, ro. \:k,, 



hybrida, erim., yel., red. lavender. 



Victoire, wh., lemon eye. 



LAPAGERIA O#*. C'APIA and PH^ENO 



CUDOX). 



A genus of one species (iird. Liliaceaj) of climbing 

 shrubs with dark green, leathery leaves and wiry, 

 twining stems. There are many garden varieties, 

 and these constitute the Lapagerias which are in 

 such favour as cool house climbers. 



Propagation. By layers. The parent plants are 

 planted in prepared beds, and the firm shoots are 

 layered in the usual way and pegged down. 



Soil. Sandy peat, with a few pieces of charcoal 

 mixed, gives excellent results. Some growers 

 include a little loam, but it is not necessary. 



Other Cultural Points. Although Lapagerias are- 

 easy to grow, some difficulty is often experienced 

 with them in the early stages, when they are being 

 coaxed to take to the wires. Copper wire they will 

 tolerate, but galvanised wire they detest ; string is 

 the best for the purpose. As pot plants Lapageria ~ 

 are always more or less of a failure. They like a 

 cool, moist root run, and this they cannot get in 

 pots. Pot plants are usually a prey to all the insect 

 pests that love the Lapageria, and they are many. 

 The border should not be less .than 18" deep, and 

 it must have free drainage. Plenty of water is 

 needed all the year round, and through the spring 

 and summer months weak liquid manure once a 

 week will, be appreciated. The house should 

 be freely ventilated at all times, save when 

 frosts hold, as Lapagerias are nearly hardy. As. 

 soon as the flower buds begin to expand the 

 shoots should be loosed from the strings and 

 allowed to hang down. Then it is that the beauty of 

 the Lapageria can be fully seen and appreciated. 

 Pruning is of the simplest character ; the shoots 

 that have flowered should be cut out, except in 

 cases where they are needed to extend the spread 

 of the plants. With them, too, may come out 

 most of the weak growths. An annual pruning 

 such as this is very necessary if the plants are lo 

 be kept in condition. Bug, thrips, spider, and green 

 fly all attack Lapagerias badly, more particularly 

 where the houses are hot and dry. Regular syring- 

 ings are excellent preventives, and an occasional 

 dewing over with a weak mixture of Fir Tree 



