244 PLANT CULTURE 



Propagation. Rhizome cuttings placed in moist, warm house 

 in Summer will root readily. 



AGAPANTHUS. The African Blue Lily, or the Lily of the NUe. 

 is a desirable plant for cool greenhouses, and ornamental either in 

 or out of bloom. In general appearance Agapanthus umbellatus re- 

 sembles the Imantophyllum but the flowers are bright blue, a great 

 number of them being produced in an umbel supported by a long, 

 stout stalk. The Agapanthus is one of those plants which have the 

 appearance of doing well with cramped root room, so there is a 

 temptation when potting other things to leave the plants for an- 

 other year; but this practice is carried on at the expense of the 

 magnificent heads of flowers, which get smaller and smaller until a 

 season goes by without any being produced. This species stands 

 the Winters south of Washington, D. C, in sheltered positions, 

 and sometimes even in Washington when protected with leaves held 

 down by evergreen boughs. There are several varieties — the white 

 double-flowered and the variety with variegated leaves being the 

 most conspicuous. 



Culture. They flower in Summer, being kept dormant during 

 Winter. Give plenty of water when blooming. They force well. 



Propagation. Old plants are capable of being divided either 

 when in leaf or in the dormant stage. When growing plants are 

 pulled apart to be propagated the smaller pieces should get a 

 chance to produce a few roots by placing in sand previous to re- 

 potting. 



AMARYLLIS. The Amaryllises vary somewhat in their proper 

 methods of culture so that it is necessary to know that some are 

 rightly called Amaryllis while others should be known under the 

 names of Hippeastrum (see p. 263,) Crinum (see p. 253,) Nerine, 

 Sprekelia, and Zephyranthes (see p. 277.) Amaryllis Belladonna 

 is the true Belladonna Lily. The commonest form is pink, 

 but there are purplish and white varieties. The Lily flowers are 

 borne in clusters of eight or ten upon long stems and appear before 

 the leaves. It really grows wild in the Cape of Good Hope and in 

 some parts of Italy. It is nearly hardy in the northern Luiited 

 States and planted outdoors succeeds best only where it may re- 

 main in the open ground throughout the year. 



Culture in Coldframes. They ma\' be grown ver>- nicelx- in 

 frames. The bulbs should be planted when at rest, which is in Spring 

 and early Summer, and the flowers will appear in August or early 

 in September, the flower-spike preceding the leaves. After flower- 



