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PB ACTIO AL GUIDE TO GABDEN PLANTS kniphofia 



or even the open border abotit April and 

 May, and in this way new varieties or 

 variations are likely to be obtained. For 

 the first year the young plants are pro- 

 bably best grown in pots, and sheltered in 

 a cold frame during the winter months. 

 They may then be ready for transplanting 

 in the open ground about the end of May. 



During the vnnter it is not only wise 

 but also beneficial to give the soil and the 

 plants a good dressing of weU-rotted 

 manure or decayed leaves. This will 

 guard the roots from frost, and the 

 manurial matters will be washed down to 

 the roots by the rain, thus fertilising 

 the soil. As the cold winter rains, how- 

 ever, are injurious to the fleshy roots, it 

 is essential that the soil should be well 

 drained. The manure or leaves can be 

 heaped up in such a way around the plants 

 as to throw off a good deal of the wet. 



Kniphofias are excellent plants for 

 naassing in groups on grass, near pieces of 

 water, or in the flower border, and in 

 warm sheltered nooks where they will 

 have a free circulation of air. When in 

 bloom they are strikingly handsome, their 

 erect spikes of bloom shooting straight up 

 Kke red-hot pokers from masses of deep- 

 green graceful foliage and seen at a 

 distance produce a grand effect ; unfor- 

 tunately they do not bloom until late 

 in the summer and autumn, and in cold 

 unfavoured districts their beauty is apt to 

 be spoiled by the frosts. Many of the 

 smaller species are merely of botanical 

 interest, but are pretty enough in their 

 own way. 



Except where otherwise mentioned all 

 the kinds described below are natives of 

 S. Africa, being found in Cape Colony, 

 Natal, Kaffraria, the Orange River Colony 



K. aloides (Tritoma TJvaria). — This 

 is the handsomest and most vigorous of 

 all the Flame Flowers. It grows 3-4 ft. 

 high, and has masses of very long and 

 narrow leaves, chamielled above, keeled 

 beneath, and toothed on the edges and 

 keel. The brilliant spikes of flower ap- 

 pear in late summer, and last often until 

 destroyed by frost. They are at first 

 bright coral-red, fading to orange, and 

 ultimately greenish-yellow. Many of the 

 hybrid forms, which are now becoming 

 popular, have been derived from this 

 species. Among its own distinct forms 

 may be mentioned glavcescens, with 



glaucous leaves and orange-red flowers; 

 grandiflora (or densa), very large bright 

 scarlet and yellow flowers, on tall spikes ; 

 grandis maxima and nohilis are very 

 similar, the flower stems often reaching a 

 height of 5-8 ft. ; longiscapa has very 

 long scapes ; maxima glohosa has rounded 

 spikes of flowers ; prcecox is remarkable 

 for producing its flowers in May, and its 

 leaves are also broader than in the type ; 

 Saundersi has rich orange-scarlet flowers ; 

 and serotina begins to bloom later than 

 aU the others. 



Culture dc. as above. 



K. Burchelli. — A distinct species 

 having bright green leaves 2-3 ft, long, 

 gradually tapering towards the tip, and a 

 purple or blackish spotted scape bearing 

 a spike of scarlet and yellow flowers, the 

 segments of which are tipped with green. 



Culture dc. as above. _ 



K. carnosa. — A handsome Abyssinian 

 species, not very often met with ia 

 gardens, having rosettes of leaves from 

 the centre of which spring scapes about 

 1 ft. high with cylindrical heads of rather 

 small apricot-yellow blossoms in Sept- 

 ember. The protruding bright yeUow 

 anthers are very conspicuous, and add to 

 the beauty of the blossoms. 



Culture dc. as above. 



K. caulescens. — A very thick-stemmed 

 species having leaves of a beautiful glau- 

 cous bluish-grey tint, and flower stems 

 4r-5 ft. high, ending in a dense head about 

 6 in. long of bright reddish-salmon flowers, 

 in June and July, changing to greenish- 

 yellow or white. 



Culture and Propagation. — This 

 species may be increased by separating 

 the suckers from the base of the stem, if 

 any are developed, and if planted in a cold 

 frame in autumn in sandy soil they will 

 be fit for the open ground the following 

 May. In the absence of suckers, this 

 species may also be increased by cutting 

 off the head of the stem, which may be 

 rooted in sandy soil. From the base of 

 the stem offsets will sprmg in a short 

 time, and as they get large enough may 

 be detached and grown like the suckers 

 referred to above. 



K. comosa. — A pretty Abyssinian spe- 

 cies 1-2 ft. high, with bright green erect 

 linear leaves, almost triquetrous. The 

 dense oblong heads of yellow flowers are 

 produced m Aug\ist, and are rendered re- 



