AITONIA. 



6 



ALLAMANDA. 



large leaves of the Agave render it by 

 no means adapted for a small green- 

 house ; but as it only requires to be 

 protected from frost, it may be kept 

 during the winter in a shed where 

 there is very little light, and very sel- 

 dom watered till summer, when it may 

 be set out on a lawn or terrace ; and 

 this mode of treatment may be applied 

 to all succulent plants that are dor- 

 mant during our winters. The Ame- 

 rican Aloe requires a rich loamy soil, 

 and is increased by suckers. It was 

 formerly supposed that it produced its 

 candelabra like blossoms only once 

 in a hundred years ; but this is a vul- 

 gar error, as it sometimes produces 

 its flowers, in hot countries, in ten 

 years, the period varying to twenty, 

 fifty, or even seventy years, according 

 to the climate, and the care bestowed 

 on the plant by the gardener. The 

 flower stem is frequently forty feet 

 high, and the plant dies as soon as it 

 has done flowering. The aloe is a 

 native of Mexico, and the other tropi- 

 cal parts of America ; but it has been 

 almost naturalised in the south of 

 Europe. In its native countries, a 

 strong spirit is distilled from its sap, 

 the fibres of its leaves are used for 

 thread, and the feculent matter con- 

 tained in its stem for soap. 



Ageratum. — Composite?. — Mexi - 

 can annuals, with curious heads of 

 small pale blue flowers. The seeds 

 should be sown in a warm border in a 

 light soil in April or May. 



Agrostemma. — The Rose Campion. 

 See Lychnis. 



Air plants. — See Epiphytes. 



Aitonia. — Meliacece. — A Cape 

 shrub, growing about three feet high, 

 in a mixture of sandy loam and peat. 

 The flowers are pink, and something 

 like those of a campanula in shape ; 

 but the plant is most ornamental in its 

 capsules, which are of a fine pink co- 

 lour, and of a very curious shape. It 

 is propagated by cuttings struck in 



sand ; but if they are covered with a 

 bell-glass, it should be taken off veiy 

 frequently and wiped, as they are very 

 apt to damp off. 



Ajax. — One of the genera formed 

 by Mr. Ha worth, out of Narcissus, but 

 not generally adopted by botanists. 



Ajuga. — Labiates. — The Bugle. 

 "Well known plants generally with 

 dark blue flowers, always growing in 

 dry soil, and increased by division of 

 the roots. A.chamcepitys, theground- 

 pine, has yellow flowers. 



Alaternus. See Rhamnus. 



Albuca. — Asphodrfece. — Pretty 

 Cape bulbs, with white flowers resem- 

 bling the star of Bethlehem. For 

 culture, see Ornithagalum. 



Alchemilla. — Rosacea. — Lady's 

 Mantle. Hardy herbaceous plants, 

 chiefly natives of the middle of En- 

 rope, of the easiest culture. The 

 most ornamental species is A. alpina, 

 which seldom exceeds half a foot in 

 height, with leaves of a deep green 

 above, of a silky whiteness under- 

 neath, and with greenish yellow 

 flowers. It is admirably adapted for 

 rock work, or growing in pots. 



Aletris. — Hemerocallidacece. — 

 Colic root. A little queer-looking 

 perennial, with white flowers, from 

 North America, about half a foot 

 high, and requiring peat soil, and a 

 shady situation. It is propagated by 

 offsets or seeds. 



AlexanorianLaurel. See Ruscus. 



Alkekengi. See Nicandra. 



Alisma. See Limnocharis. 



Alkanet. See Nonea. 



A llamanda. — Apocynacece. — 

 Climbing stove shrubs, with splendid 

 yellow convolvulus-shaped flowers. 

 A. cathartica, a native of Guiana, is 

 the most common species. They re- 

 quire a light rich soil, kept frequently 

 watered ; and they are increased by 

 cuttings. Where a conservatory ad- 

 joins an orchideous house, or stove, 

 the Allamanda and other splendid 



