Sophronitis 



I 348 ) 



Spade 



SOPHRONITIS. 



A small genus of cool house, epiphytic Orchids 

 (ord. Orchidaceje). Propagation, by division. Soil, 

 peat, sphagnum, and charcoal, with good drainage. 

 Blocks, rafts, or shallow pans may be used, but no 

 drying-off may be attempted, 



Principal Species and Varieties : 

 cernua, 3", win., rosy red, rossiteriaua, yel. , rare, 

 yellowish centre (syii. militaris, 6", Dec., deep 

 pterocarpa). crim., yel. lip., streaked 



graudiflora, win., bright bright red (syn. graudi- 

 sc. (sym. coccinea and flora of Botanical Mag- 



Cattleya cocciuea). aziiie 3709). 



purpurea, pur. violacea, 3", win., vio. 



rosea, rosy car. ; rare. 



SOPUBIA (nyns. GERABDIA and RAPHIDO- 

 PHYLLUM). 



A small genus of erect-growing stove herbs (ord. 

 Scrophularinese), usually annuals. Propagation, 

 by cuttings and seeds. Soil, peat two parts, loam 

 one part, with sand. 



Principal Species : 



delphiniifolia, 3' to 4', Jy., ro. (syn. Gerardia 

 delpliinifolia). 



SORBUS (see PYRUS). 



SORGHUM. (MILLET.) 



Twelve species of half-hardy or greenhouse 

 annual or perennial Grasses (ord. Gramineae), few 

 of which are of importance in British gardens. 

 Vulgare is the Indian Millet, so valuable in hotter 

 climates for its uses as a food, but not suitable for 

 cultivation in the open in Great Britain and Ireland. 

 Halepense is, however, an ornamental, hardy 

 species, and is increased by division or seeds, which 

 grow in common soil. 



Principal Species : 



halepense, 2' to 10'. sum., pur., Ivs. broad, wh. 

 midrib. Aleppan Millet Grass. 



SORINDEIA. 



Stove trees (ord. Anacardiaceas) of no great value. 

 Madagascariensis, 10', May, purple, probably the 

 only species introduced, is an interesting tree 

 which carries its edible, acid fruits in huge bunches 

 upon the main stem as well as upon the branches. 

 Propagation, by cuttings of the ripened shoots, 

 with all the leaves intact, in sandy soil, in heat. 

 Soil, loam two parts, leaf soil one part, and sand. 



SOROCEPHALUS. 



About ten species of greenhouse, leafy shrubs 

 (ord. Froteacese). The flowers are in dense heads. 

 Few of the species are grown, but they answer to 

 the same treatment as the Proteas, which see. 



Principal Species : 

 diversifolius, 2' to 6', Je., lanatus, 2', Aug., pur. 



pur* setaceus, 2', Je., pur. 



imbricatus, 3', Je., lil. 



(syn. Proteaimbricata). 



SORREL. (RuMEX.) 



For the use of their leaves as a substitute for 

 Spinach, and in salads and other kitchen purposes, 

 some of the species of Rumex (which see) are 

 grown in gardens under the name of Sorrel. That 

 usually grown is R. Acetosa, a native hardy per- 

 ennial plant. The French Sorrel, R. scutatiis, has 



SopTironia (of Lindley, see Sophronitis). 

 Soromanes (see Acrostic/mm). 

 Sorrel Tree ( Oxydendron arboreum). 



more acid leaves. Propagation, by seeds, sown in 

 spring or autumn, in drills, or by division of the 

 roots in spring. Thin out the seedlings to about 1' 

 apart. Soil, deep, rather moist loam. 



SOVVERB^EA. 



Three species of greenhouse perennials (ord. 

 Liliacese), of tufted habit. Propagation, by divi- 

 sion. Soil, sandy loam and peat in equal parts. 



Principal Species : 



laxiflora, 1' to 2', Je., pic., 

 umbels loose. 



juncea, 1' to 2', My., pk., 

 umbels many flowered. 



SOWING. 



Though one of the most important of gardening 

 operations, sowing is often performed in a very 

 careless and haphazard fashion, with the conse- 

 quence that failures to germinate frequently occur, 

 for which the innocent seedsman is blamed. In 

 outdoor sowing, in particular, much depends on 

 its being done at the proper time, and in this there 

 is a surprising difference in localities, some requir- 

 ing much later sowing than others. The condition 

 of the soil is another most important factor. It 

 should neither be dust dry nor, on the other hand, 

 so wet as to form a sticky mass when pressed. It 

 ought to be well prepared, with a fine tilth on the 

 surface and within reach of the rootlets. With 

 this object leaf mould and sand are largely used in 

 preparing seed beds for small seeds. 



The depth at which to sow seeds depends upon 

 their size, but small seeds ought to be only slightly 

 covered with fine soil. Peas and Beans will do 

 with 3" or 4" over them, but seeds about the 

 size of the Turnip should have \". It is often 

 necessary to shade the seed beds from strong 

 sun when in the open, and all seeds sown under 

 glass ought to have shade. Some cover the pots 

 with glass or brown paper until the seedlings 

 appear. 



Sowing in drills possesses many advantages over 

 broadcast sowing, and it is in most cases to be 

 recommended. For the greater number of things 

 thin sowing is also necessary, and carelessness 

 with this is the cause of many failures. 



Many seeds sown under glass germinate better if 

 plunged in a little bottom heat, some, of course, 

 requiring more than others. 



For seeds in pots, finely pulverised leaf mould or 

 peat, with about a third of sand or very sandy 

 loam, will answer well. A little thoroughly well- 

 decayed manure is beneficial, though not necessary. 

 After sowing, the surface soil ought to be pressed 

 down slightly. 



SPADE. 



There is little variation in the make of spades, 

 and what there is chiefly centres in the attach- 

 ment of the handle to the blade. The " socket" 



Sorrowful Tree (Nyctantties Arbor-tristis). 



Souari Nut Tree (Caryocar mtciferum). 



floulanyia (see Phylica). 



Sour Gourd (Adansonia digitata). 



Smir Sop (see Anona). 



South African Yellow Wood (Podocarpus elon- 



gata). 



Southern \Vnod (Artemisia Abrotanurri). 

 South Sea, Tea (Ilex Cassine). 

 Southmcllia (see Stereulia). 

 Sowbread (see Cyclamen). 

 Soy (see Olyeine). 



