HNCYCLOPEDIA OF GARDENING. 
Soap-wort (Saponaria officinalis).—See Saponaria. 
Sobralia.—Ord. Orchidacee. Stove terrestrial orchids. First 
introduced 1836, 
CULTURE: Compost, two parts strong turfy loam; one part of 
&qual proportions of coarse sand & broken charcoal. Position, light 
part of house at all seasons. Pot, Feb. or March, filling pot } of its 
depth with coarse crocks, then add a layer of sphagnum moss & suffi- 
cient compost to fill pot to within 1 in of its rim. Press soil mode- 
rately firm. Water copiously, April to Sept.; moderately other times. 
Apply weak stimulants to established plants in summer. Shade from 
sun unnecessary. Repot only when soil is overcrowded with roots. 
Temp., Oct. to April 55° to 65°; April to Oct. 65° to 75°. Growing 
period all the year round. Flowers appear at apex of new growths. 
Propagate by division at potting time. 
SPRCIES CULTIVATED : S. leucocantha, white and golden yellow, summer, 1} to 
2 ft., Costa Rica; Lowii, purple, summer, 12 to 18 in., Colombia; macrantha, 
purple and yellow, May to July, 4 to 7 ft., Mexico; sessilis, yellow and rose pink, 
Oct. to Jan., 1 to 2 ft., British Guiana. 
4 ee ayee Azalea (Rhododendron sinensis).—See Rhodo- 
endron. 
Soft Prickly Shield Fern (Aspidium aculeatum angulare). 
—See Aspidium. 
Solandra.—Ord. Solanacew. Stove climbing flowering shrubs. 
First introduced 1781. 
CULTURE: Compost, two parts sandy loam, one part equal propor- 
tions fibrous peat & dry cow manure, & little sand. Position, pots or 
beds with shoots trained up rafters or round trellises. Pot or plant, 
Feb. or March. Water freely, April to Oct. Keep almost dry re- 
mainder of time. Syringe daily, April to Sept. Prune weak shoots 
in moderately close & remove tips of stronger ones in Feb. Temp., 
Oct. to March 50° to 55°; March to Oct. 65° to 85°. Propagate by 
cuttings inserted in light soil or cocoanut-fibre refuse in temp. of 
65° to 75° in spring. 
SPECIES CULTIVATED: S. grandiflora (Peach Trumpet Flower), cream and 
purple, spring, 10 to 15 ft., Trop. America; longiflora, white and purple, autumn, 
4 to 6 ft., W. Indies. 
Solanum (Potato; Egg Plant, etc.).—Ord. Solanacew. Green- 
house & half-hardy flowering, berry-bearing, and ornamental-leaved 
plants or shrubs, including the Potato. Potato first introduced in 
1597; Egg Plant in 1597. 
CULTURE OF THE POTATO: Classification: Kidney—oblong, 
white or coloured; round—roundish, white or coloured ; pebble-shaped 
—flattish oblong, white or coloured. TVirst carlies: varieties maturing 
in June; second earlies: varieties maturing in July & August; late or 
main-crop; varieties maturing in Sept. & Oct. Soil, deep, rich loam 
or any kind except very heavy clay or bog land. Light soils best for 
very early crops. Position, sloping borders facing south for earlies, & 
open garden for second early & main crops. Manures: (1) 14 ewt. 
farmyard dung & 1 lb. of muriate of potash per square rod (303 sq. 
yards) applied in autumn ; 3 lb. of superphosphate per sq. rod applied 
at planting time; & 1 lb. of nitrate of soda Epnhel. er sq. rod when 
shoots are 6 in. high. (2) No farmyard manure. 1 lb. of kainit per 
sq. rod applied in autumn; 14 1b. of superphosphate per sq. rod at 
planting time; & 1 1b. of nitrate of soda & 6 oz. of sulphate of iron 
per sq. rod applied when shoots are Gin. high. (3) 31b. of superphos- 
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