>36 



THE GAKDENEK'S ASSISTANT. 



white flowers in November. There is a form of it with 

 variegated leaves. F. papyri/era, the " Rice-paper Tree ", 

 is very handsome when planted in a border ; it has large 

 gray, lobed leaves nearly 2 feet across. China. Loam. 



Ficus. — In addition to F. elastica, a general favourite 3 

 the following may be grown in the greenhouse : — F. mae- 

 rophylla, with longer and thinner leaves than the former. 

 Australia. F. stipulata (repens), suitable for covering 

 damp walls. Japan and China. 



Freesia. — Iridaceous plants with Grass-like leaves and 

 fragrant tubular flowers; useful in the greenhouse, or as 

 cut flowers in winter and spring. From six to nine bulbs 

 should be planted in 5- or 6 -inch pots in a compost of 

 loam, leaf-mould, and rotten manure, and placed in a cold 

 frame, no water being given until growth commences. 

 When the flower-spikes show, a little extra warmth may 

 be given. Keep them growing until the leaves show 

 signs of decay, when water must be withheld. They may 

 be flowered two successive years in the same pots. F. 

 refracta. — Flower-stems 1^ foot high, branched, and bear- 

 ing white fragrant flowers with yellow blotches on the 

 lower segments. There are several varieties, alba being 

 the best. 



Goodia lotifolia is a small Australian loose - habited 

 plant, 3 feet high, with light-yellow flowers in winter. 

 Loam and peat. 



Grevillea. — A large Australian genus of Proteaceous 

 trees or shrubs which often have highly ornamental 

 flowers. All are hard-wooded, and require sandy peat. 



G. alpina. Small bush, red and white flowers in terminal 

 racemes. 



0. Banksii. Small tree, large pinnatiftd leaves, dense terminal 

 racemes of bright-red flowers. 



G. ericifolia. Heath-like habit, red and yellow flowers. 



G. fasciculata. Stiff, upright plant, scarlet and yellow flowers. 



G. ilicifolia. Holly-leaved, red flowers. 



G. robusta makes a pretty pot plant, with large tripinnate 

 leaves; largely used for table decoration. 



Haemanthus. — Bulbous Amaryllids. Chiefly South 

 African. In many of the species the flowers are produced 

 in advance of the leaves. When growing, plenty of water 

 must be given, reducing the supply as the leaves begin to 

 decay. A decided period of rest is required. At all 

 times they like as much sun as possible. There are a 

 large number of species, of which the following are very 

 showy: — 



H. albifios. Large wide leaves, white flowers with golden 

 stamens. Summer. 



H. cinnabarinus. Leaves long, few in number; flowers red, 

 in large dense umbels. Spring. 



H. coccineus. Large spreading leaves, red flowers in dense 

 heads. October. 



H. Kathan'nce. Stem IS inches, head of leaves; flowers rich- 

 crimson, lateral. 



H. multtjlorus. Leaves forming a stem a foot long; flowers 

 scarlet with yellow anthers, in large heads. 



Hakea. — Hard- wooded Proteaceous shrubs from Aus- 

 tralia. About one hundred species are known. 



H. dactyloides. Large bush, oblong leaves, small white flowers. 

 H. pugionifunnis. Long needle-like leaves, white flowers. 

 H. suaveolens. Large bush, pinnatifld leaves, white fragrant 

 flowers. 



Hardenbergia. — Climbing plants from Australia 

 with Pea-shaped flowers. H. Comptoniana has ternate or 

 five-lobed leaves, and numerous racemes, 3 inches long, 

 of purple flowers in spring ; H. monophylla has smaller 

 leaves and flowers. Of the latter there are varieties with 

 red and white flowers. Peat and loam. Seeds or cuttings. 



Hedychium. — Ornamental plants of the Ginger 



family, with rhizomatous root-stock and long narrow 

 leaves on erect stems ; flowers in terminal racemes, 

 showy, fragrant. H. Gardnerianum, a Himalayan plant, 

 is the most suitable for the greenhouse. It grows from 

 5 feet high, and bears yellow flowers in wide racemes a 

 foot long. Loam. Division. 



Helichrysum {Aphelexis). — Popularly called "Ever- 

 lasting Flowers ". The indoor sorts are known as Aphe- 

 lexis. They are loose-habited shrubs with silvery, scale-like 

 leaves and pink or red-purple flowers. Spring. Sandy 

 peat. Cuttings. The best known are : H. grandiflorum, 

 H. humile, and H. sesamoides. 



Heliotropium Peruvianum is the common Helio- 

 trope, of which many varieties are grown. In addition 

 to their usefulness for bedding out-of-doors, they are also 

 useful when grown into pot-shrubs for the greenhouse. 

 Loam. 



Hibbertia. — Australian climbing or bushy shrubs with 

 yellow or white flowers, very showy, and of easy culture. 



H. dentata has thin twining stems, coppery-red leaves, and 

 yellow flowers l£ inch across. A perpetual flowerer. 



H. Reedii is a Heath-like plant with small yellow flowers. 



H. volvbilis has green leaves and large yellow flowers. Loam 

 and peat. 



Hidalgoa Werchlei (fig. 653). — A herbaceous climber 

 best described as a climbing Dahlia. It grows quickly > 



Fig. 653.— Hidalgoa Wercklei. 



20 feet or more, and has much-divided, elegant leaves 

 and scarlet flowers 3 inches across. Loam. Cuttings. 



Hovea. — Australian shrubs with blue, purple, or violet 

 Pea-shaped flowers. H. Celsi (elliptica), with oval leaves 

 an inch long and numerous deep -blue flowers, and H. 

 longifolia, with longer leaves and larger flowers, are worth 

 a place in the greenhouse. 



Hoya carnosa is suitable for the greenhouse, and 

 is useful for covering damp walls, the stems being held 

 firmly by aerial roots, as in Ivy. 



