ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GARDENING. 
drained pots close to glass in plant stove while growing; greenhouse 
or conservatory when in flower. Pot, Jan., Feb., or March. Place 
tubers singly, & just below surface, in 3 or 4-in. pots, shifting into 
5 or 6-in. pots when tubers have started growth. ater moderately 
till growth is well advanced, then freely. Apply weak liquid manure 
when flowers show. After flowering, gradually withhold water till 
foliage dies down, then keep quite dry till potting time. _ Temp., 
Jan. to Oct. 65° to 75°; Oct. to Jan. 50° to 55°. Propagate by seeds 
sown on surface of fine sandy peat & leaf-mould, in well-drained pots 
or pans in temp. 65° to 75° in March; ee of shoots 1 to 2 in. long 
inserted in small pots of sandy peat under bell-glass in temp. of 65° 
to 75°; young leaves with stalk inserted in small pots of sandy soil 
treated as cuttings; matured leaves with mid-ribs cut & laid on sur- 
face of sandy peat in temp. 55° to 75°. 
SPECIES CULTIVATED: S. speciosa (Gloxinia), violet, autumn, 6 to 12 in., 
Brazil. Latter species parent of the lovely strain of Gloxinias grown in gardens of 
present day. 
Sisyrinchium (Satin-flower; Rush til Spring Bell).—Ord. 
Iridacew. Hardy & half-hardy perennials. First introduced 1693. 
CULTURE OF HARDY SPECIES: Soil, two parts sandy loam, one 
part peat. Position, sunny rockery. Plant, Oct. or May. 
CULTURE OF HALF-HARDY SPECIES: Compost, equal parts 
sandy loam, leaf-mould, & sand. Position, sunny cold frame or green- 
house all the year round. Pot, Oct. to March. Water freely, March 
to Sept.; keep nearly dry afterwards. Repot annually. Propagate by 
offsets, removed & potted in March. 
SPECIES OULTIVATED: S&S. angustifolium, blue, summer, 6 to 8 in., N. America; 
see aa (Spring Bell), purple, spring, 1 ft., N.W. America; grandiflorum 
Sitcha Water-leaf (Romanzoffia sitchensis)—See Romanzoffia. 
Sium (Skirret).—Ord. Umbellifere. Hardy esculent-rooted peren- 
nial. First introduced 1548. Roots, cylindrical, clustered, white, 
sweet-flavoured. 
CULTURE: Soil, ordinary fine, rich, deeply trenched, free from 
stones. Position, sunny, open. Sow seeds in groups of three or four, 
12 in. apart, in drills } in. deep & 18 in. apart in April. Thin seed- 
lings when 3 in. high to one in each group. Remove flower heads 
as soon as seen. Lift the roots in Oct., twist off their leaves, & store 
in layers with sand or soil ‘between in cellar or outhouse until required 
for cooking. Artificial manures: 241b. kainit, 11b. sulphate of am- 
monia, 24lb. of guano mixed per square rod (304 sq. yards), applied 
before sowing in spring. Requires to be raised from seed annually 
for rodueing roots for culinary purposes. 
SPECIES CULTIVATED: 8. Sisarum, white, Aug., 1 ft., E. Asia. 
Skimmia.—Ord. Rutacew. Hardy evergreen berry-bearing & 
orn. foliage shrubs. First introduced 1845. Flowers fragrant. Male 
& female fowers form on separate plants. Berries scarlet; autumn. 
CULTURE: Soil, stiff loam or loam & peat. Position, partially 
shady or open sheltered borderg. Plant, Sept., Oct., March, or April. 
Propagate by seeds sown when ripe in sandy loam & peat in cold 
frame; by cuttings of firm shoots inserted under bell-glass in temp. 
55° to 65° in spring or summer; laycring shoots in autumn. 
SPECIES CULTIVATED: S. Fortunci, white, spring, 3 ft., China; japonica, 
white, spring, 4 ft., Japan; japonica, variegata, variegated. 
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