POPULAR GARDEN PLANTS. 



457 



their bright colours enlivening the houses at 

 a season when flowers are not over-plentiful; 

 they also may be had in bloom during the 

 summer. They are propagated from the scaly 

 rhizomes, from cuttings, and also from seeds. 



The established plants should be started into 

 growth early in spring, along with the Achimenes, 

 potting them in 8- or 10-inch pots, in sandy 



Fig. 563.— Nsegelia amabilis. 



loam, to which has been added some sifted leaf- 

 mould and a little sand, and grown in a tem- 

 perature of 60° in the night, with a rise of 10° 

 by day, in a light position. As the season 

 advances give more heat; and when they come 

 into bloom, those that flower in the summer 

 may be removed to the conservatory, where 

 they will continue in flower for some time. 

 Such as are wanted for autumn and winter 

 flowering should be started in May, and grown 

 on slowly in gentle heat. Towards the close 

 of the summer when showing flower they must 

 be kept in a temperature of from 60° to 70°, 

 with all the light possible, and then they will 

 go on blooming for a considerable time; manure- 

 water should be given once a week. When at 

 rest they may be stored with the Achimenes, 

 The following is a list of the best varieties : — 



(Isoloma). — Amabile, digitaliflorum, ellipticum, gigan- 

 teum, hybridum, Lindeni. 



{Tydcm). — Belzebuth, Gigantea, Jeanne Hachette, Mde. 

 de Sevigne.. Mde. Heine, Mde. Lavallee, Mde. Monte - 



fiore, Moliere, Robert the Devil, Socrates, Tananarive, 

 Tricolor. 



(Ncegelia). — Amabilis (fig, 563), fulgida, Massinet, 

 Pegase, Kosine, Saint-Saens, Sophia, zebrina. 



Kniphofia (Tritonm). — A genus of highly 

 ornamental plants, numbering about forty 

 species, chiefly natives of South Africa, and a 

 large number of garden hybrids. They are not 

 exacting in their cultural requirements, a light 

 sandy soil, plenty of water when growing, with 

 an annual mulching of well-rotted manure, and 

 a sunny position, affording all they need to 

 keep them in permanent health. Coming, as 

 they do, from a warmer country than this, 

 they naturally require a little protection in the 

 winter, which is easily afforded by covering 

 the crowns with a cone of cinder ashes or dry 

 leaves. 



For large groups on lawns, or by the side 

 of pond or lake, they are most effective, pro- 

 ducing their tall spikes of yellow and orange- 

 scarlet flowers in profusion in autumn. They 

 are also excellent plants for the mixed border. 

 The smaller species and varieties are suitable 

 for the rock garden. 



Those which have no stem above-ground are 

 propagated by . division in spring when new 

 leaves are being pushed up. Those that have 

 an arborescent stem may be made to yield 

 stock by cutting off the head of leaves, when 

 a large number of shoots will be produced from 

 the base of the plant. These can be taken off 

 as cuttings, potted in a sandy compost, and 

 kept in a close frame for a time, when they 

 readily take root. 



K. aloides. — One of the first to be introduced into this 

 country, and one of the parents of many fine hybrids. 

 The best of the varieties are maxima {grandis) (fig. 564), 

 taller than the type, with longer heads and larger flowers 

 Introduced from the Orange Free State in 1862. Var. 

 nobilis often attains a height of 7 feet, and has orange -red 

 flowers. Var. prcecox, intermediate between K. aloides 

 and K. Rooperi ; often in flower in May. Var. serotina, a 

 late form with yellowish flowers. Var. longiscapa, a fine 

 variety with long flower-heads. 



K. breviflora. — A small plant allied to K. modesta. 

 Introduced from Natal in 1895. Leaves 1 to 2 feet long, 

 dull -green and keeled. Flower-spike 2 feet, bearing a 

 dense raceme 3 to 4 inches long of bright-yellow flowers. 



K. Burchclli. — A Cape species, with bright-green leaves 

 2 to 3 feet long, tapering to a point. Flower-spikes as 

 long as the leaves, with dense heads 3 to 4 inches long, 

 the upper portion bright-red, the lower yellow. 



K. caulescens. — Stem stout, a foot or more long. Leaves 

 rather broad, 2 to 3 feet long, glaucous, keeled. Spike 

 stout, branched ; heads 4 to 8 inches long ; flowers 

 curved, an inch long, deep-red, afterwards j-ellow. Less 

 hardy than some, but will stand in a well-drained sunny 

 position in the rock garden. 



