216 



CASSELL'S POPULAR GAKDENING. 



Stove Species (Natives 



H. cumabarinus — a bril- 

 liantly - flowered species^ 

 producing large spreading 

 heads of glowing scarlet- 

 red flowers about August. 

 The flowers are produced 

 with the leaves, which are 

 large, sheathing at the 

 base ; the bulb has a long 

 neck. Western Africa. 



H. Ealbreyeri — this new 

 species from the coast of 

 Gruinea is unsurpassed in 

 the genus. It belongs to 

 the large and thin-leaved 

 group, and its flower clus- 

 ters are often produced a 

 foot across, and of a 

 splendid scarlet-crimson. 

 It lasts in flower a long 

 time, and as it flowers in 

 winter and spring as well 



OF TltOPICAL AfKICA). 



as in summer, it is most 

 valuable. 



H.Katharinte — a new species 

 similar to the last, and 

 likewise extremely attrac- 

 tive. H. Manui, another 

 new species, is a near ally 

 of KatharinsB, but is rare. 



H. multiflorus — a tropical 

 species from Sierra Leone. 

 The flower -heads, pro- 

 duced about midsummer, 

 are large, spreading, and 

 of a deep red; the leaves 

 axe large and pale green. 

 Among other species be- 

 longing to the stove group 

 is Abyssinicus {also ]mown 

 as tenuifolius), and this 

 and the rest of the group 

 are invaluable ornamental 

 plants. 



Other species belonging to the green-house section 

 include quadrivalvis, insignis, sanguineus, lancifolius 

 (alho-maculatus, having the leaves spotted with white), 

 virescens, Rouperi, and magnifies, all of which are 

 showy plants, but more or less rare. 



Culture. — The South African species may all be 

 considered green-house plants, while those from 

 tropical Africa require stove treatment. All are of 

 simple culture. Being very strong growers they 

 require generous treatment, such as a good sandy 

 loamy soil affords, with the addition of a little manure 

 for the most vigorous. When in active growth the 

 plants cannot suffer from an over-abundance of 

 water, and all are benefited in the growing season 

 by an occasional dose of weak liquid manure. FuU 

 exposure to sunlight is necessary, and when the foli- 

 age shows signs of decay, water should be gradually 

 withheld until the soil is perfectly dry at the resting 

 period. The Cape species will be benefited by a 

 protracted season of dryness when the bulbs are 

 leafless, but the tropical kinds do not require such a 

 long dry rest as those from the Cape. Hsemanthuses 

 succeed best when pot-bound with roots, and these 

 often grow so strong as to break the pots. 



Hesperoscordum lacteuin is an elegant 

 Califomian Lilywort, very hardy, and of simple 

 culture. It bears clusters of starry, milk-white 

 flowers. In the variety lilaeinum the colour is lilac. 

 It thrives in any light, warm soil. Called also H, 

 iyacmthinum, Milla lactea, and Brodicea lactea. 



Hippeastrum. (See AmarylUs.) 



Homeria. — A small genus of the Iris family, 

 native of the Cape of Good Hope. The species are 

 similar to Izias, their flowers varying from yellow to 

 orange-red, but being very fugitive are not of much 

 value as garden plants. Of the few species known, 

 the best known in gardens are S. eUgans, S. collina 



(with its varieties ochroleuca and miniata), and S. 

 aurantiaca, the latter having bright orange-red 

 flowers. They require the same treatment as Ixias 

 and other Cape bulbs. 



Hyaointhus. — Though the Hyacinth is an 

 Eastern plant, originally brought from a much 

 warmer climate than ours, it has, after having been 

 in cultivation for centuries, quite adapted itself to our 

 climate, and thrives perfectly in the open air. But 

 it is chiefly as a forced pot-plant that it is so popular, 

 and so long has it been thus treated that forcing has 

 become to it a second nature, as it were. 



The culture of Hyacinths may be divided into two 

 heads, indoor and outdoor treatment, and both are 

 simple, provided a few conditions are observed. 

 First of all, the bulbs should be procured early in 

 September. In choosing Hyacinths see that they 

 are sound and heavy, as the weightiest bulbs in- 

 variably produce the best spikes. There should 

 be no delay in potting the bulbs, as nothing so 

 much weakens bulbs as keeping them in bags for 

 any great length of time. It is best to pot 

 the whole of the bulbs at one time, and place 

 the pots in the open air, or under a frame, which, 

 however, should not be heated. A layer of about 

 six inches in depth of coal-ashes, cocoa-nut fibre 

 refuse, or similar material, should be placed on 

 and around the pots so as to retard leaf-growth 

 until the roots have got a fair start. The bulbs 

 should be left covered with the ashes for a period 

 ranging from four to ten weeks, during which time 

 roots will be formed, and then the bulbs are safe to 

 introduce into a warm house, so as to induce the 

 flower-spikes to develop. The bulbs should be 

 taken first to a green-house intermediate in tem- 

 perature between the outside and forcing-house 

 temperature, and after remaining there a week or 

 so, may safely be taken to the warmer house. The 

 first batch of bulbs should be introduced into heat 

 about the latter part of 'October if early bloom 

 is desired, and if a large number of bulbs are 

 grown the last batch would not be put into the 

 forcing-house before February, at which period the 

 spikes would develop more quickly, and be much 

 better; in fact, the later the Hyacinth flowers the 

 better will be the spike. From the time of potting 

 until the crowns of the bulbs commence to push up 

 no water should be given, but when they are in 

 active growth they must be watered freely, as the 

 Hyacinth loves water. During the whole process of 

 forcing attention must be paid to ventilation, other- 

 wise drawn foliage and weakly spikes will be the 

 result of an ill- ventilated house. 



The best soil for Hyacinths is one composed of 

 two parts of good turfy loam, one of well-decayed 



