Sparaxis 



( 349 ) 



Spathelia 



handle costs a little more than the plain "splice " 

 form, in which the wood runs right down to the 

 "tread" of the blade, but in durability there is 

 little to choose between the two. A good spade 

 must be stout at the "collar," for it is here that 

 the greatest strain is felt, and any weakness will 

 soon make itself manifest in a "sprung" blade, 

 especially when heavy soil is being manipulated. 

 For ordinary purposes, a medium size No. 3 is 

 to be preferred to either a large or small one, and 

 such a tool may be made to do duty upon heavy 

 and light ground alike. For draining purposes 

 spades with thick, long, and narrow blades are 

 made, and, like the ordinary digging spades, they 

 can be had in several sizes. The D shaped handle 

 is the one generally favoured. 



When not in use the steel parts should be wiped 

 with an oily rag, for a rusty spade is not only 

 untidy in appearance, but it does not work nearly 

 so well as one with a bright blade. 



SPARAXIS. 



An ornamental genus of hardy or half-hardy, 

 bulbous plants (ord. Iridea;), resembling the Ixia in 

 general appearance. They make charming beds in 

 the open, and are most attractive pot plants. Prop- 

 agation, by offsets, removed when the bulbs are at 

 rest, or by seeds sown in a frame in spring. Soil, in 

 the open, rich, light loam, slightly above the general 

 level ; in pots, loam and leaf mould, with plenty of 

 silver sand. For outdoor culture, plant from 

 October to January, though some prefer February, 

 3" to 4" deep and 3 apart. Cover with some dry 

 litter, and add a mat if the foliage appears before 

 frost has passed away. For pots, plant from Sep- 

 tember to December, five or six in a 5" pot, plunge 

 the pots in a cold frame, giving air in good weather 

 until leaves appear, when the pots can be removed, 

 as wanted, to the greenhouse. 



Only Species and Varieties : 

 . [NOTE. The nomenclature is that of Mr. J. G. 

 Baker.] 

 bulbifera, I'to 2', My., yel. pulcherrima (see Dierama 



(syrt. Ixia bulbifera). pulcherrima). 



graudiflora, 1' to 2', Ap., tricolor, 1' to 2', My., or. 



pur. , wh., or variegated vol., blk. (.'//'. Ixia tri- 



(stf>is. Ixia aristata and color). 



I. grandiflora). hlauda, wh., ro. (.;/. 



Liliago, wh. S. t. subroseo-albida). 



lineata, yel., red, pk. - Griffinii, pur., blk., 



(*yn. lineata). yel. (*//. tricolor 



stellaris, pur. (syn. violaceo-purpurea). 

 stellaris). versicolor, pur., blk., 



pendula (see Dierama pen- yel. (syn. versicolor). 

 dula). 



Selection of Garden Varieties : 



[NOTE. "Mixed" varieties can be had of capital 

 quality.] 



Angelique, wh. maeulata, wh., pur., yel. 



Fire King, so., blk. Queen Victoria, wh., yel., 



Garibaldi, crim. blk. 



Lady Carey, whitish pur. 



S/iadostyles (see Pulteneta). 



Speendo-ncea (see Cadia). 



Spanish Bluebell (see Hcilln hispanica). 



Spanish Jiroom (see tf/inrtiuni juneeum). 



Spanish Client nut (sec Castanet:). 



Spanish Iris (sir Iris -\ijiJiiiim). 



Spanish Jiiire 1'fi/nt (HIiji'i/rrlii:a (jlabra). 



tanish Mnss (Tillanasia iitneo'tles). 

 anish (h/sler u-r >'///;* liinpanient). 

 . a/nish tiquill (see Boitta hisjianii-a). 



SPARGANIUM. (BUR REED.) 

 A few species of aquatic and sub-aquatic herbs 

 (ord. Typhaceae), several being natives of Britain, 

 but none of any horticultural merit. The stems of 

 the Bede Sedge, ramosum, have been used for 

 making a sort of pepper. 



SPARMANNIA. 



Greenhouse shrubs or trees (ord. Tiliacese), of 

 which only one or two are in cultivation, the under- 

 named being of considerable beauty with their 

 conspicuous flowers. Propagation, by cuttings 

 in April, in sand, in heat, under a bell-glass. Soil, 

 loam with a little peat. 



Principal Spjcies and Variety : 

 africana, 10' to 20', My., - flore pleno, double 

 wh. (xyn. acerifolia). flowers. 



palmata, 4', win., wh. 



SPARTIUM. (SPANISH or RUSH BROOM.) 

 Hardy, half-hardy, or greenhouse shrubs (ord. 

 Leguminosffi), with Rush-like branches, frequently 

 without leaves. Junceum, the only one introduced, 

 is a pretty, hardy shrub, suitable for the shrubbery 

 or rock garden. Propagation, by seeds, or by cut- 

 tings of young growths under a hand-light. Seeds 

 are recommended. Common soil, not too wet. 



Principal Species and Variety : 

 junceum, 6' to 10', Jy., flore pleno, double 



yel. (many //., acuti- flowers. 



folium being the most 

 common). 



SPARTOTHAMNUS. 



Cool greenhouse shrubs (ord. Vei benaceae), with 

 pretty, small flowers, and slender branches resem- 

 bling those of the Broom. Propagation, by cuttings, 

 under a glass, in sand. Soil, loam and sandy peat 



Only Species : 



junceus, 2', Aug., wh. 



SPATALLA. 



Heath-like shrubs (ord Proteaceae) of little 

 decorative value. (For cultural details, see 

 PROTEA.) The flowers are very small. 



Principal Species : 



curvifolia, 2 , Ap., grh. parilis, 3', Je., yel., grh. 



mollis, 2', Je., grh. procera, 2', My., grh. 



nivea, 2', Je., grh. jirolifera, 2', Jy., grh. 



SPATHANTHEUM. 



The principal species, orbignyanum (syns. heter- 

 andrum and Oamochlamys heterandrum), green 

 (ord. Aroidese) is a tuberous-rooted perennial from 

 Africa. Propagation, by division, just before fresh 

 growth starts. Soil, loam two parts, peat one part. 

 Free drainage, and liberal supplies of water. 



SPATHELIA. 



A small genus of stove evergreen trees (ord. 

 Simarubeas), of stately presence, and with huge, 

 showy heads of flowers Propagation, by cuttings 

 of the ripened shoots, in sand, in a close, warm 

 frame. Soil, loam and peat, both fibrous, in equal 

 parts, with sand. 



Principal Species : 



simplex, 20' to 50', Ap., St., red, Ivs. pinnate. 

 Maypole, Mountain Green and Mountain Pride of 

 the West Indies. 



Spllll if /I \i/Hf's lil-rlts (HI > 



Spatalaiithus (see Jinmii/ea). 



/', IV/C/Yl). 



