8 5 8 



Gardening for Amateurs 



need a large and sunny house for their 

 development. The flowers of P. edulis are 

 white, tinged with purple, while those of 

 P. quadrangularis are red, white and purple. 



Stephanotis in flower and fruit. 



The showiest of all the tropical Passion 

 Flowers from a floral point of view is P. race- 

 mosa, also known as P. princeps ; its scarlet 

 blossoms are freely borne throughout the 



summer months. They are all free-growing 

 climbers that succeed better when planted 

 out in a prepared border than if confined 

 in pots. 



Stephanotis floribunda. This is one 

 of the most popular of hothouse climbing 

 plants, and when in good condition it flowers 

 profusely. The clusters of ivory-white 

 fragrant flowers of thick, w r ax-like texture 

 are well known to everyone. Until the 

 advent of other kinds these flowers were 

 worn in the buttonhole to a much greater 

 extent than they are now. Still, even now, 

 for this purpose and for wreaths and sprays 

 they are much used. The Stephanotis 

 will soon cover a considerable area of trellis, 

 and the dark green, leathery leaves are very 

 ornamental. If planted out in a border it 

 must not have unlimited root room, other- 

 wise it will not bloom as freely as if the 

 roots are somewhat restricted. This can be 

 done by dividing up the border with a few 

 pieces of slate, or by growing the plant in a 

 pot or tub. Its usual season of blooming is 

 in the summer and early autumn months, 

 but by varying the treatment blossoms may 

 be had at other seasons. In order to alter 

 the season of blooming the plants may, 

 after they have flowered, be kept somewhat 

 drier, and, if possible, cooler, for about a 

 month ; then, under normal treatment again, 

 another crop of blossoms will soon be pro- 

 duced. The Stephanotis can be increased 

 by cuttings taken in spring and placed in a 

 warm propagating case. A suitable com- 

 post for established plants may be made of 

 equal parts of peat and loam, with a good 

 sprinkling of silver sand. Free drainage 

 is essential. 



Storing Agaves. Agave americana, or 

 the American Aloe, as it is often erroneously 

 called, together with its variegated-leaved 

 varieties, are popular plants for standing out 

 of doors in conspicuous positions for the 

 summer months, but the question of provid- 

 ing accommodation for their storage through- 

 out winter and spring is often a serious matter, 

 for the long, rigid leaves, tipped and margined 

 with ferocious spines, take up a considerable 

 amount of room. It is not, however, neces- 



sary to provide a greenhouse for the pur- 

 pose, as they winter very well in a frost-proof 

 shed or outhouse, providing it is moderately 

 well lighted and ventilated. The great points 

 in wintering are to keep the plants dry and 

 just to exclude frost from the place in which 

 they are stored. Plants of a succulent nature 

 like Agaves and Cacti need very little water 

 during the winter months, and losses through 

 decay at the base of the leaves may often 

 be traced to excessive moisture 



