ENCYCLOPHADIA OF GARDENING. 
Alsophila (Grove Fern; Norfolk Island Fern).—Ord. Filices. 
Stove and greenhouse tree ferns. First introduced 1833. 
CULTURE: Compost, two parts peat, one part loam, silver sand & 
charcoal, Pot, March. Water freely March to Sept., moderately after- 
wards. Position, pots or tubs, shady. Temp., stove 60° to 70° Sept to 
March, 70° to 80° March to Sept.; greenhouse 50° to 55° Sept. to March, 
55° to 60° March to Sept. Propagate by spores, similar to Adiantum. 
STOVE SPECIES: A, aspera, 6 to 8 in., W. Indies; atrovirens, Brazil; infesta 
Van Gheortii, 3 to 4 ft., Trop. America. 
GREENHOUSE SPECIES: A. australis, 15 to 20 ft., Tasmania; Colensoi, 
4 to 5 ft., New Zealand; Cooperi, 3 to 5 ft., Queensland; excelsa, 6 to 8 ft., Norfolk 
Island; pruinata, 3 to 6 ft., W. Indies; Rebecce, 8 ft., Queensland. 
Alstromeria (Herb Lily).—Ord. Amaryllidaceew. Hardy & half- 
hardy tuberous--rooted perennials. First introduced 1754. 
CULTURE: Compost, sandy loam, peat, leaf-mould, equal parts. 
Plant, Oct. Position, sunny, well-drained border; or pots in cool 
greenhouse. Water freely. in summer, moderately in winter. Propa- 
gate by seeds sown in. deep, in sandy soil, in pans in cold frame, 
March ; divigion of roots, April or Oct. 
SPECIES CULTIVATED: A. aurantiaca, orange, red, and carmine, summer, 
2 to 3 ft., Ohili; brazilionsis, red, yellow, and brown, summer, 3 to 4 ft., 
Brazil; chilensis, orange red, summer, 2 to 3 ft., Chili; Errembaulti, white and 
crimson, 2°ft., Hybrid; hemanthi, red, green, and purple, summer, 2 to 3 ft., 
Chili; pelegrina (Lily of the Incas), lilac, red and purple, summer, 1 ft., Chili, and 
its variety alba, pure white; pulchella, red, green and brown, summer, 2 to 3 ft., 
Brazil; pulchra, purple, white, yellow and pink, summer, 2 ft., Chili; versicolor, 
purple, maroon and green, summer, 2 to 3 ft., Peru. 
Altaian Primrose (Primula altaica).—See Primula. 
Altaian Viclet (Viola altaica).—See Viola. 
Alternanthera.—See Telanthera. 
Aithzea (Hollyhock).—Ord. Malvacex. Hardy perennials. Holly- 
hock first introduced 1573. 
CULTURE OF HOLLYHOCK: Soil, rich loam, or good ordinary 
mould, not too light. Trench the soil three spits deep in Oct, & work 
in plenty of decayed manure between second & third spits. Plant 
singly 3 ft. apart each way, or in proups of three, 12in. from plant to 
plant, 4ft. apart, in April. Mulch surface of soil to width of 18 in. 
from stem to stem. Support the stems with stakes standing 6 ft. out 
of ground. Water copiously in dry weather. Apply liquid manure 
once a week from May until blooms expand. Remove flowers directly 
they fade. Cut off tops of spikes where fine blooms are required for 
exhibition as soon as lower blooms show signs of expanding. Offshoots 
should be removed from base of plants in June if fine spikes are desired. 
Young plants yield finest plants for exhibition. Cut flower stems down 
to within 6 in: of soil after flowering. Manures, }0z. nitrate of soda, 
402. each of superphosphate, kainit, & sulphate of ammonia to 2 
allons of water, applied to the roots at intervals of a month from 
ay to Sept.; or iquid drainings or solutions of animal manures, 
applied in a diluted state occasionally during summer. Propagate by 
seeds sown in drills lin, deep & 12in. apart on a south border in June, 
Thin seedlings to 6in. apart in July. Lift in Sept., and place in pots 
in a compost of two parts loam & one part peat & leaf-mould; put in 
cold frame for the winter, or plant in similar soil in frame. On warm 
soils seedlings may be transplanted direct into flowering positions in 
Sept. Sow seeds in good soil in temp. 55° to 65° in Jan. or Feb., 
grow in pots, harden off in April, and plant out in May. Increased also 
by cuttings of young shoots growing out of base of flower stems inserted 
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