754 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



beds. Propagate by division in spring, give plenty of water 

 during summer, and sufficient to keep the soil just moist in 

 winter. Cut down, and start again in the warm pit in February. 

 This plant very much resembles fine bright green grass. 



Yuccas.— Many of these are useful ornaments in the green- 

 house. Propagate by suckers, removed when large enough in 



early summer. Grow in loam, 



sand, brick rubbish, and mortar 



mixed; in breaking the bricks, 



the size of the pieces should 



be varied according to the size 



of the plants. Give very little 



water except whilst growing in 



spring and summer. When 



water is given the plants should 



receive a thorough soaking, 



and then they should be allowed 



to go till nearly dry again. Do 



not repot very often. These 



plants throw up handsome 



spikes of flower; but they are 



such uncertain blos- 



somers that they are 



best grown solely as 



foliage plants. Sorts-: 



Y. aloifolia and var. 



variegata, Y. fila- 



mentosa (Fig. 500), 



Y.f. aureo-variegata, 



Y. f. variegata, Y. 



glauca, and Y. fili- 



fera. 



Zebrina pendula 

 (Tradescantia tri- 

 color) is an extremely pretty 

 creeping plant, most useful for 

 hanging-baskets and also for 

 covering the soil of large pots 

 and tubs containing specimen 

 plants. Propagate by cuttings 

 at any time in the warm pit, 

 and grow in any light soil. 



Fig. 499. — Phormium tenax. 



Climbing Plants. 



A judicious selection of climbing plants adds very much to 

 the beauty of the greenhouse when they are well looked after 

 and carefully trained, but a great deal depends on these two 



