GEEEN- HOUSE PLANTS. 



67 



flowers bright pink, produced in terminal umbels 

 during- April and May, Cape of Good Hope, 1789. 



A. unljiora. — Similar in habit to speciosa ; the 

 flowers, however, are solitary upon the points of 

 the shoots, white inside, outside stained with pink. 

 April and May. Cape of Good Hope, 1775. 



Agapantlms. — These are old-fashioned flqwers, 

 and unfortunately 

 much neglected by 

 plant - growers. 

 They require so 

 little care that any 

 one can grow them. 

 Although con- 

 sidered green-house 

 plants, they are 

 really nearly hardy, 

 and can be grown 

 into good specimens 

 by those amateurs 

 who do not revel 

 in the luxui-y of a 

 glass-house. The 

 plants make very 

 stout roots, and 

 therefore require 

 plenty of pot-room. 

 Drain the pots well, 

 and pot into good 

 strong loam. Dur- 

 ing summer they 

 stand in the open 

 air, and in winter 

 any shed or out- 

 house will be suffi- 

 cient protection, 

 providing the frost 

 does not reach them. 

 They enjoy an 

 abundant supply of 

 water. Agapanthus 

 means lovely flower, 



and it is popularly known as the Blue African Lily. 

 The leaves are long and narrow, whilst the flowers are 

 borne in large umbels, supported on tall slender stems. 



A. Kmbellatus. — A very old inhabitant of our gar- 

 dens, and really a charming plant ; umbels of flowers 

 large, bright blue. July and August. Cape of Good 

 Hope, 1692. 



A. umbellatus albifloriis. — A smaller-growing form 

 of the species, which produces white flowers ; it is of 

 more recent introduction. 



A. umbellatus maximus. — A bold and robust grower, 

 producing larger leaves and flowers than the other 

 type, but scarcely so free-flowering. 



A. umbellatus variegatus. — A somewhat small- 

 growing kind, having the leaves all striped with 

 white, and although variegated leaves are extremely 

 popular, this is the least desirable form of the species. 



Agathaea. — The name comes from agathos, 

 "pleasant," and refers to the extreme beauty of the 

 flowers. It belongs to the natural order Composita;^ 



and is easily in- 

 creased by cuttings. 



A. ccelestis, popu- 

 larly known as the 

 blue Marguerite, is 

 a showy plant, one 

 that is almost 

 always in bloom. 

 Cape of Good Hope. 

 1753. 



Agave. — A 



family of j^lants 

 popularly, but er- 

 roneously, known 

 as "American 

 Aloes," the true 

 "Aloe" being'quite 

 distinct from these 

 in every respect. 

 The leaves are 

 thick and fleshy, 

 and armed at the 

 points and margins 

 with stout sharp 

 spines. Thej con- 

 tain a great quan- 

 tity of immensely 

 strong fibre. At 

 one time it was 

 hoped this might 

 become of com- 

 mercial import- 

 ance; but, although 

 the yield of fibre 

 was large, the plants were so slow in growth that 

 the supply was soon exhausted. The Mexicans 

 make, from very ancient days, an intoxicating drink 

 called "pulque " from the juice of A. Americana. 



It is, however, as ornaments to our garden we 

 have to treat of Agaves here, and certainly they are 

 unequalled as bold and massive plants for the deco- 

 ration of green-house or conservatory. They form 

 noble ornaments for surmounting flights of steps on 

 terraces during the summer months ; and, if space is 

 limited in the green-house during winter, these plants 

 may be kept with ease and safety in a shed or stable, 

 provided they are quite di-y and nearly all light is 



Agapanthus umbellatus. 



