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PBAGTICAL GUIDE TO GARDEN PLANTS 



YUCCA 



which is reputed to have the same 

 parentage. The flowers are like those of 

 K. Macoivani, but the leaves are longer 

 and broader, and more in the way of 

 K. aloides. 



Others species of Kniphofia not so well 

 linown, but seen at Kew, and other 

 botanic gardens probably, are modesta, 

 white ; natalensis, coral-red in long 

 spikes ; pauciflora, bright yellow, eaxly- 

 flowermg, and dwarf in habit ; Nelsoni, 

 jpallidiflora, white, from Central Mada- 

 gascar, and too tender for most parts 

 of the country ; a.xidL KirTii, from Zanzibar, 

 with reddish-orange flowers, likewise 

 rather tender. 



Culture dc. as above. 



Hybrid Kniphofias. — Of late years the 

 attention of hybridists has been turned 

 to raising from seeds new forms of 

 Kniphofias, and the yellow-flowered kinds 

 have been used in conjunction with the 

 scarlet ones — chiefly K. aloides. Many 

 fine forms have resulted, and are as 

 healthy and hardy as their parents. 

 Among the best, mention may be made 

 of Atropos, deep scarlet, early ; Else Hans, 

 orange and golden - yellow ; Francis 

 Buchner, orange and yellow; V. Le- 

 moine, bright coral-red, changing to 

 hrilliant cinnabar-red ; H. Cannell, orange- 

 scarlet ; John Benary, deep orange ; 

 Ohelish, citron-yellow ; Otto Mann, 

 nankeen-yellow ; Pfitzeri, bright crimson, 

 without a trace of orange or yellow ; 

 Star of Baden-Baden, beautiful bronzy- 

 yellow, and several others. 



YUCCA (Adam'sNeedlb ; Palm Lily). 

 A genua of distinct and stately perennials 

 with a low or tall woody stem often 

 branching and tree-like, and bearing at 

 the top clusters of stififish sharply pointed 

 sword-like leaves, with margins entire or 

 fraying into slender threads. The large 

 drooping white or greenish-white flowers 

 are borne in dense terminal clusters or 

 panicles. The bell-shaped perianths con- 

 sist of 6 distinct or slightly united lance- 

 shaped ovate segments, and individually 

 do not last very long. Stamens 6, hypo- 

 gynous, with filaments becoming broader 

 upwards. Ovary 3-celled with 3 sessile 

 stigmas. Capsule 6-sided, fleshy, pulpy, 

 or spongy, sometimes dry. 



There can scarcely be two opinions as 

 to the decorative character of Yuccas in 

 the outdoor garden. Apart from their 

 immense trusses of flowers, which cannot 



fail to call forth admiration, the plants 

 are beautiful simply owing to the grace- 

 fulness of their foliage, the outer leaves 

 usually recurving in an elegant manner, 

 whUe the central tufts are more or less 

 erect, all retaining a deep fresh green 

 colour throughout the year. There is 

 scarcely a place in the garden where 

 Yuccas may not be used vidth advantage, 

 either as single specimens on lavms, or in 

 groups on grass, on the top of rockeries, 

 terraces, banks, the sides of carriage 

 drives &c. 



Culture and Propagation. — Yuccas 

 flourish in almost any ordinary well- 

 drained garden soU, but do not like much 

 lime. A rich loamy soil seems to suit 

 them best, and they grow freely and 

 luxuriantly in it. They may be increased 

 by dividing the basal tufts in autimin or 

 spring, or by means of the underground 

 thick, fleshy ' eyes ' or buds which some 

 kinds produce freely on the rootstocks. 

 The best time for taking the ' eyes ' is 

 in spring — about April and May, or at 

 any time during the summer. A small 

 portion of the rootstock should be left 

 attached to each bud, which may be 

 placed in pots or cold fi-ames in rich, 

 light soU. Slight waterings from time 

 to time wiU stimulate growth and the 

 formation of roots, and when they have 

 become sufficiently vigorous the young 

 plants may be planted in the open air, or 

 grown in pots or tubs &c., according to 

 the object in view. 



In cases where buds are not fi-eely 

 produced on the rootstocks, a little arti- 

 ficial manipulation will cavise them to 

 form. Pieces of the rootstock may be 

 cut lengthways or crossways, without, 

 however, detaching the rind. They may 

 be allowed to dry in the air for a few 

 hours so as to form a film over the cut 

 surface. Having been cut into short 

 lengths, they may then be placed in light 

 sandy soil in a hotbed or plunged in 

 heat in a greenhouse, and well watered. 

 Under the influence of heat and moisture 

 the buds soon develop and form roots, 

 and when large enough may be potted up 

 and grown on under glass until well 

 established. Seeds are very rarely pro- 

 duced, but when obtainable should be 

 sown as soon as ripe in gentle heat. 

 The seedlings are pricked out and grown 

 on in the usual way under glass until 

 large enough for the outdoor garden. 



Although the kinds described below 



