720 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



also furnish flowers in early spring.. Grow in the cool pit or 

 frame in rich fibrous loam and sand. Those that are to be 

 grown through the winter should be kept in small pots and have 

 a place near the glass, potting them before coming into blossom 

 in spring. The blossoms, which are purple and white, having 

 fringed petals, make a most pleasing effect resembling a purple 

 ground covered with white muslin. Height 2ft. 



Sparmannia africana (Fig. 467) makes a fine specimen plant, 

 suitable either for large pots or for planting out. Propagate by 

 cuttings of young shoots in spring, and grow on, stopping 



several times to form good 

 plants. Use rich loam and 

 sand, and feed in summer 

 with liquid or artificial 

 manure. Blossoms white, with 

 yellow centre, small, borne 

 in clusters. The foliage is 

 also very elegant. Height 

 varies, according to condi- 

 tions, from 4ft. to 1 oft. 



Statice. — There are sev- 

 eral species of this genus 

 suitable for the greenhouse, 

 having either white or purple 

 flowers. Propagate by divi- 

 sion or seeds in early spring, 

 and grow in the cool pit. 

 For soil use loam, peat, and 

 sand. Sorts : S. Halfordii, 

 S. imbricata, and .S. profusa. 



Strobilanthes are peren- 

 nials useful for summer 

 flowering. Propagate by cut- 

 tings in summer in bottom, 

 heat, and grow in the warm 

 pit in loam, peat, and sand. 



Sorts: £. anisophyllus, S. isophyllus, and S. Wallichii. Blossoms 



blue. Height 2 ft. 



Trachelium cceruleum makes a handsome pot-plant for 

 autumn flowering, having loose feathery panicles of blue flowers. 

 Propagate by seeds sown in warmth in March, and by cuttings 

 in autumn, and grow in loam, leaf-soil, and sand in a cool frame. 



Hard-wooded Flowering Plants. 



Under this heading are included those plants which have hard 

 woody stems, and do not die down after having completed a 

 season's growth, but form shrubs. Many are most useful and 



Fig. 467. — Sparmannia africana. 



