Urena 



( 418 ) 



Utricularia 



and of little value. They may be treated in the 

 same way as Dipladenias (which see). 



Principal Species : 



sub-erecta, My., st., yel. (syns. Dipladenia flava 

 and Echites sub-erecta). 



URENA. 



Stove annual herbs (ord. Malvacese), possessing 

 little horticultural value. Propagation, by seeds 

 sown in spring, in brisk heat. Any light, rich 

 compost suits. 



Principal Species : 



lobata, 3', Jy., pk. 



URGINEA. 



Greenhouse bulbous plants (ord. Liliacea;). Prop- 

 agation, by offsets. Soil, loam, leaf mould, and 

 sand. 



Principal Species : 

 altissima, 3', My., wh., filifolia, 9", Je., wh., 



grn. (KI/II. Drimia altiss- pur. (;/. Albuca flli- 



iuiii). ' folia). 



exuviate, 6", Je.,wh., pur. maritama, :!', aut., wh., 



(fijii. Albuca exiiviata). gru., pur. Sea Ouiou. 



URINE. 



The urine of most animals is of greater manorial 

 strength than their solid excrement, and unless 

 liisrlilv diluted it may do more harm than good to 

 any growing crop to which it may be applied. Urine 

 contains much ammonia, chiefly united with acids, 

 and consequently is a valuable nitrogenous fer- 

 tiliser, especially after being stored for some time. 

 It may be either used in liquid form, mixed with 

 six times its bulk of water, for fruit trees and the 

 stronger growing kitchen garden crops, or it may 

 be mixed with dry soil and gypsum, and applied in 

 a dry state as a top-dressing. Sulphuric acid 

 added to urine prevents loss of ammonia by evapor- 

 ation, by the formation of sulphate of ammonia. 

 I'rine should not be wasted, and if it is not 

 possible to store it for future use it should be 

 poured on to unoccupied land that is shortly to 

 be dug. 



UROCYSTIS. 



This genus of parasitic fungi (ord. Ustilaginacese) 

 is included in the group of Smuts, and they have 

 already been alluded to under the latter heading 

 (which sec). 



UROSKINNERA. 



Stove herbaceous plants (ord. Scrophularinese). 

 Propagation, by cuttings in sand, in a close case. 

 Soil, loam and sand. 



Principal Species : 



spectabilis, 1J', Jy., rosy pur. 



UROSPATHA. 



Moisture loving stove plants (ord. Aroidese) 

 Propagation, by division. Though seldom culti- 

 vated, all the species are easily grown in light, 

 rich soil, if given plenty of heat and moisture 

 when growing. Little water is needed when 

 growth is complete. 



f'redo (see Puccinia). 

 Urnpappvi (see Microseris). 

 T'rapediiim (net Sulempedium)'. 

 I'rripi'titliim (see Dipcadi}. 



Principal Species : 

 descisceus, 3', sum., 



spathe br. , dark pur. 

 sagittajfolia, 3', sum., 



spathe yel., gru., 



mottled red ; elegiuis, 

 graiidis, pieturatu,, 



spectaldlis, and spleu- 

 dens are vara. 



UROSPERMUM. 



Hardy herbs (ord. CompositKs). Propagation, l>3 

 seeds sown in spring. Any ordinary garden soil. 



Principal Species : 

 DalHchampii, 2', Jy., per., picroides, 1', Jy., aim., 



yc'l. (.(/. Arnopogon yel. (KIJH. Arnopogon 



Dalechampii). picroides) ; asperum 



aud capeiise are vars. 



URSINIA. 



(ireenhouse or half-hardy herbs or shrubs (ord. 

 C'omposita3). Propagation, by cuttings beneath a 

 srliiss, in or out of doors according to the species. 

 Soil, loam and peat. 



Principal Species : 

 authemoides, 9", Aug.. pilifera, 1^', win., yel., 



pur., yel. (tyns. Arc- pur. (-11/11. Sphenogyue 



totis anthemoides and pilifera). 



Spheuogyue anthem- pulchra, 9", Aug., or., 



oides). " yel. (tyn. Sphenogyiie 



crithmifolia, IV. Jy., yel. speciosa). Sulplnnva is 



(//. Spheuogyue critli- a fine var. 



inifolia). 



URTICA. 



Although of no horticultural value, this genus 

 (ord. Urticaceaj) is interesting in some degree. It 

 includes over thirty species of annual or perennial 

 herbs, all characterised by the more or less virulent 

 stinging hairs on leaves and stems. The tender 

 tops" of the common Stinging Nettle make a palat- 

 able vegetable when boiled, while country folk u>e 

 a decoction known as Nettle tea for a variety of 

 minor ailments. Nearly all the species produce 

 good fibre, but with rare exceptions this is seldom 

 used commercially. The tropical IT. spatulata is 

 so violent in its action that persons severely gtung 

 by it may lose their lives. U. ferox, a New Zea- 

 land species, is another notorious plant, as is al>o 

 the Japanese Laportea stimulans. 



URVILLEA. 



Stove climbing shrubs (ord. Sapindacea;), of little 

 garden value. Propagation, by cuttings in sandy 

 soil, in a close case. Soil, peat and loam. 



Principal Species : 



ferruginea, 12'. Je., wh. 



UTRICULARIA. (BLADDER WORT.) 

 Beautiful and interesting plants (ord. Lentibu- 

 larieae) that may be either aquatic, epiphytal, or 

 terrestrial. The aquatic species have tiny pitchers 

 on the leaf segments, and these have very small, 

 -valve-like lids that admit animalculse, but do not 

 permit their escape. The captives are retained 

 until the plant has absorbed all the nutritive 

 matter from their decomposed bodies. Several 

 species produce winter buds that fall to the bottom 

 of shallow water, and remain there until the warmth 

 of the succeeding spring excites them into growth. 

 Montana is the most commonly grown species. 

 Propagation, by division, or by winter buds, when 

 these are formed, or by separation of the tubercles 

 in some cases. Soil, sphagnum and a little fibrous 

 peat, in baskets suspended in a stove or greenhouse, 

 and provided with abundance of moisture. 



Uroitigma (see Fi<-m}. 



