A YEAR'S GARDENING 



tying, as the stems are naturally quite sturdy. As soon as the seed- 

 heads appear they should be removed, or me plants may become 

 exhausted, but the stems and leaves should be allowed to remain 

 to assist the tubers in forming fresh crowns for the following season. 

 A rich, light, well-drained soil and a wind-sheltered position are the 

 chief requisites for their cultivation, They may be raised from seed, 

 but it is generally wiser to obtain plants already established in 

 pots. 



ALTHiEA {Hollyhock). A hardy perennial of the Mallow family, 

 but more wisely treated as a biennial. Its bold and stately growth 

 renders it suitable for backgrounds, where large effects are required 

 and where its somewhat coarse habit is not objectionable. Its main 

 requirements in cultivation are deeply trenched soil, abundant 

 manure and frequent watering. 



ALYSSUM. Of the many varieties of this plant A. saxatile 

 (Rock Madwort or Gold Dust) is one of the most valuable. Its 

 hardiness and its glorious masses of yellow blossom coming early 

 in the year have made it a well-known favourite. A. maritimum 

 (Sweet Alyssum) is an annual which becomes a perennial by self- 

 sowing. It bears a white flower and thrives on walls and rockeries. 



AMARANTHUS (Love-lies-bleeding, Prince's Feather). These 

 are half-hardy annuals, easily raised from seed by sowing in March 

 in gentle heat. There are many varieties, and all owe tiieir beauty 

 to their richly-hued foUage or their strikingly-colomred pendant 

 racemes. A. caudatus (Love-lies-bleeding) is a fine example when 

 well grown, and some others are still finer, attaining a height of from 

 2 to 4 feet wltien cultivated in rich soU, and producing a fine effect if 

 judiciously used in borders. Where the brightly-coloured pendants 

 are a characteristic the plants should be placed in large pots or vases, 

 in which their peculiar habit may be shown to advantage. 



AMARYLLIS. Most of the varieties of this plant, being of semi- 

 tropical, bulbous growth, are suited only for the greenhouse, where 

 they become very showy and effective, producing, with a httle care 

 and management, a succession of bloom throughout the year. A 

 congenial soU is turfy loam mixed with well-rotted manure and sand. 

 When first potted the bulbs need only a little water and gentle 

 bottom heat, but as soon as the leaves appear an abundance of water 

 should be given and a vigorous growth encouraged. They are 

 sensitive to any disturbance of their roots, and therefore should be 

 allowed to remain in the same pots two or three years, nourishment 



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