766 



Gardening for Amateurs 



Sprengeri, with broader leaves than the 

 others, delightful for a hanging basket ; and 

 tenuissimus, a moderate climber with ex- 

 ceedingly delicate foliage. 



Aspidistra lurida. This, called by some 

 the Parlour Palm, is too well known to 

 need any description. It is a popular sub- 

 ject for growing in the dwelling-house, 

 for which purpose it has no superior. A 



Coleus, distinguished by richly coloured leaves. 



mixture of loam, peat, and sand suits it 

 well, and division or repotting should be 

 done in April. There is a variety with 

 variegated leaves. 



Garex japonica variegata. A pretty 

 little grass-like plant with narrow variegated 

 leaves. It is well adapted for edging the 

 greenhouse stage and similar purposes. Can 

 be readily increased by division in spring, 

 and needs a liberal amount of water during 

 the growing season. 



Coleus. The brightly coloured leaves of 



Coleus are very attractive in summer. The 

 plants are raised from seeds or cuttings in 

 warmth in spring, and the young plants so 

 obtained will grow quickly. Large specimens 

 can be obtained in one season. They are 

 very effective in summer, but soon lose their 

 beauty as the nights grow cold. To keep 

 them safely through the winter the ther- 

 mometer must not fall below 50. 



Cordyline australis. This 

 plant, a native of New Zea- 

 land, is often, though errone- 

 ously, referred to as a Dracaena. 

 Its popular name in its native 

 country is that of the " Cab- 

 bage Palm," though in reality 

 it is not a Palm at all, but a 

 member of the Lily family. 

 When mature it forms a tall, 

 erect stem crowned at the top 

 by a mass of gracefully dis- 

 posed strap-shaped leaves. It 

 is, however, in the small state 

 that its value in the green- 

 house lies, as it then forms 

 a specimen of symmetrical 

 growth, clothed to the ground 

 with foliage. It is usually 

 raised from seeds which are 

 sometimes imported into this 

 country. They should be sown 

 in spring in warmth. When 

 established plants need repot- 

 ting, this should be done in 

 April or May, using a compost 

 of two-thirds loam to one- 

 third leaf-mould, and a little 

 sand. 



Gyperus alternifolius. A 

 member of the Sedge family : 

 the bright green stems are 

 terminated by a quantity of long, narrow 

 leaves, arranged like the ribs of an umbrella. 

 There is also a variety with variegated 

 leaves. It is a plant easily grown, and may 

 be potted at any time in spring or summer. 

 During the growing period it needs copious 

 supplies of water. 



Eucalyptus. The different members of 

 the Eucalyptus family are among the tallest 

 trees of the Australian continent. Some, 

 however, when raised from seed, are very 

 attractive in a comparatively small state, 



