Gardening for Amateurs 



501 



liquid manure. In autumn gradually lessen 

 the supply of water, and during winter only 

 give sufficient to prevent the soil becoming 

 dust dry, say a good soaking about once in 

 six weeks or two months. Should accom- 

 modation permit, lay the plants on their sides 

 under the stage in a cool greenhouse as far 

 from the hot-water pipes as possible. Failing 

 this, place them in a frost-proof shed or 

 cellar. Bring them out from their winter 

 quarters in March, and give water to en- 

 courage new growth. 



When no greenhouse is available choose 

 a warm, sheltered corner outside, where it 

 is easy to protect the plants with mats or 

 sacks for a few weeks until danger of frost 

 is over. The favourite summer position for 

 African Lilies is at intervals along the 

 terrace walk or on either side of the steps 

 leading to the garden gate or even house door. 

 Sometimes they are used as bedding plants, 

 the pots being plunged in the soil to facilitate 

 lifting and storing. The flowering season is 

 during summer and autumn, the blooms 

 under favourable conditions lasting for a 

 considerable period in good condition. 



There are at least six or eight distinct 

 varieties of Agapanthus umbellatus, varying 

 in foliage, growth and flowers. The typical 

 kind has bright blue flowers borne in a many 

 flowered umbel on a long stalk, 2 feet to 3 feet 

 in length. The leaves are strap-shaped, 

 arching, dark green, and of almost leathery 

 texture. The variety alba is similar in habit 

 but has lovely pure white flowers ; maximus 

 is more vigorous and rather larger in all 

 respects ; mooreanus has shorter, more up- 

 right leaves and smaller flowers ; minor is 

 a miniature African Lily needing only a 

 5-inch or 6-inch pot this is a lovely plant 

 for the cold greenhouse, and does well in a 

 window, being under 1 foot in height and very 

 free flowering ; variegatus is a pretty sort 

 with white, green-striped leaves; and flore 

 pleno has double blue flowers. 



Gaura Lindheimeri. Few flowering 

 plants are more attractive in beds and borders 

 during summer and autumn than t. is North 

 American herbaceous perennial. It grows 

 from 3 feet to 4 feet high, and the tall slender 

 growths terminate in elegant spikes of pink- 

 ish-white flowers ; smaller flower-spikes also 

 develop in the axils of the leaves. Groups 



in the mixed border are effective, but most 

 people look on the Gaura as a valuable 

 summer bedding plant. Its best use is in 

 beds of Geranium, Coleus, Verbena, Begonia, 

 and others of somewhat low growth. If 

 arranged singly or in groups of three plants, 

 at intervals of 2 feet to 4 feet throughout 

 the beds, the light and graceful shoots of the 

 Gaura add considerably to the charm of 

 the summer bedding display. Gaura Lind- 

 heimeri, though a perennial, is not perfectly 

 hardy in this country ; its home is in Texas. 

 Plenty of seeds, however, being available, 

 there is no difficulty in raising plants. Sow 

 the seeds annually in a heated greenhouse 

 during February or early March. Pot off 

 the seedlings singly in small pots when large 

 enough, moving them later into 5 - inch 

 pots to secure good plants for bedding out 

 towards the end of May. Seeds may also 

 be sown in a cold frame, though these will 

 flower late in the season. The Gaura thrives 

 best in a light rather sandy soil. It belongs 

 to the Evening Primrose family (Ona- 

 grarieae), and was first introduced to this 

 country in 1850. 



Leucophyta Brownii. This is a small 

 Australian shrub sometimes seen growing in 

 flower beds during the summer. Anyone 

 visiting Hampton Court cannot fail to 

 have been impressed with its value in 

 association with, among other tilings, the 

 scarlet Geranium Paul Crampel, the small 

 double pink-flowered Begonia Major Hope, 

 and in beds of plants with richly coloured 

 foliage. Brown's Leucophyta is propagated 

 by cuttings, August being the best time to 

 insert them. I'se very sandy soil and make 

 the pots half full of drainage, as few plants 

 suffer so much from excessive moisture in 

 winter. Keep the pots of cuttings in a propa- 

 gating frame or under a handlight, or cover 

 with a bell-glass until they are rooted. As 

 they are not of quick growth, the old plants 

 an often kept for several years when speci- 

 men^ IS inches to 2 feet or more in height are 

 required. They may l* wintered in a cool, 

 airy greenhouse, on a light dry shelf or stage 

 where sufficient heat is maintained to keep 

 out frost. I-rfMieophyta Brownii (or Caloce- 

 phalus Brownii as it is sometimes called) 

 l.elnujrs to the Daisy family (Compositae). 



The I M -a Illy "f the Jtl.iUt- lie- ||..t 111 the tl.'Uers 



