ENOYCLOPHDIA OF GARDENING. 
yellowish green or red, borne on spikes 1 to 40 ft. high when plants 
attain 10 to 60 years of age; plant dies after flowering. 
CULTURE: Compost, two parts loam, one part old mortar & river 
sand. Position, pots or tubs in greenhouses; may be stood outside June 
to Sept. Water moderately April to Aug., little afterwards. Pot, 
every. five or six years; good drainage essential. Temp., winter 50° 
to 55°; summer 55° to 65°. Propagate by offsets inserted in small pots 
at any time. 
SPECIES CULTIVATED: A. americana, 20 to 30 ft., and its varieties picta, 
leaves yellow, edged with green; also variegata, leaves edged with yellow; albi- 
cans, 5 ft.; atrovirens, 30 ft.; attenuata, 12 ft., dasyliroides, 10 ft.; filifera, 4 ft.; 
filifera filamentosa, 4 ft.; Kerchovei, 1 ft.; horrida, 8 ft.; maculata; polycantha, 
12 ft.; Scolymus, 14 ft.; Shawii, 12 {t.; Sartorii, 8 ft.; striata, 8 ft.; utahensis, 
5 ft., Utah; vivipara, 20 ft.; Victorie-Regins, 10 ft.; yucceefolia, 20 ft. There are 
many more species. We only give the most attractive ones. j 
Ageratum (Bastard Agrimony; Floss-flower).—Ord. Composite. 
Halt-hardy annuals. First introduced 1822. 
CULTURE: Soil, ordinary. Position, sunny beds or borders. Plant 
G to 8in. apart in June. Propagate by seeds sown in light soil in temp. 
65° to 70° in March, or by cuttings of young shoots from plants stored 
in temp. 55° during winter. Plants to produce cuttings keep in pots all 
the year, and do not allow them to flower. 
SPECIES CULTIVATED: Mexicanum, blue, summer, 18 in, to 2 ft., Tropics. 
Numerous dwarf forms of this species will be found in seed lists. 
Agiaonema (Poison-dart).—Ord. Aroidee. Stove perennials. 
First introduced 1863. Flowers, arum-shaped. Leaves, variegated, 
green, blotched with grey. 
CULTURE: Compost, two-thirds loam, one-third leaf-mould, river 
sand. Position, well-drained pots, shady. Water freely when growing, 
little afterwards. Syringe foliaus daily. Pot, March. Temp., Sept. 
to March 60° to 70°; March to Sept. 70° to 80°. Propagate by division 
of roots in March. 
SPECIES CULTIVATED: A. angustifolium, greenish white, July, 18 in., Straits 
Settlements; commutatum, white, Suly, 1 ft., Manila; costatum, white, July, 6 in., 
Perak; Mannii, greenish white, July, 18 ins., Tropical Africa; oblongifolium, 
crimson, July, 4 ft., and its variety Curtisii, greenish white, Malaya; pictum, 
white, Aug., 18 in., Malaya; pumilum, greenish white, Aug., 6 in., Malaya; simplex, 
white, July, 18 in., Java. 
Agrostemma,.—See Lychnis. 
Agrostis (Cloud-grass ; pbeet gteng) Ores Graminee. Hardy 
annual-flowering grasses. Inflorescence light and graceful and valu- 
able for cutting for mixing with flowers in summer; or drying for 
winter decoration. 
CULTURE: Soil, ordinary. Position, sunny border. Propagate by 
seed sown 1-16 in. ee ag in open borders where plants are to grow. 
SPECIES CULTIVATED: A. alba (Fine-top Grass), July, 2 ft., Europe; 
nebulosa (Cloud Grass), July, 18-in., Spain; pulchella, July, 1 ft., Sicily. 
Ailanthus (Tree of Heaven; Tree of the Gods).—Ord. Simaru- 
bacezw. A handsome hardy deciduous tree. Ornamental foliage. First 
introduced 1751. 
CULTURE: Soil, light, rich. Position, sheltered, moist. Plant, 
Nov. Propagate by inserting portions of roots in pots of light soil 
in warm greenhouse or window in March, planting them out following 
ov, 
SPECIES CULTIVATED: A. glandulosa, flowers white, leaves pinnate, 30 to 
60 ft., China. Pendula is a variety with weeping branches. A grand tree for 
town gardens. ‘ . 
Air-plant (rides odorata).—See Mrides, 
Ajuga (Bugle; Gout Ivy)—Ord. Labiatw. Hardy perennials, 
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