HELIO TR OPIUM S — LA NT A NA S — L OB EL I A S. 



soil is advisable, or few flowers will be produced. 

 Cuttings may bo either rooted in pits and frames, 

 and treated similarly to antirrhimims, or tops may 

 be taken off stock plants in the spring, and rooted 

 in heat. The young plants move well out of either 

 pots or boxes. 



Heliotropiitms. — These are deservedly popular 

 bedding plants, and valuable alike for their colour 

 and fragrance. They look well in masses, also in 

 mixed borders. Some of the best varieties are 

 Fleur d'Ete, dark purple ; Jeanne d'Amour, dark 

 lilac ; Mina, light purple, very free ; President 

 Garfield, bright mauve purple; Eoi des Noirs, 

 deep maroon purple, white eye, distinct and 

 good ; Swanley Giant, bright blue, large trusses ; 

 and White Lady, nearly white, free. Heights 

 12 to Id inches. Cuttings of young shoots in- 

 serted not later than August, and given the 

 benefit of gentle bottom heat, emit roots freely, 

 and may be wintered in a warm greenhouse. 

 The common practice is to lightly prune old 

 pot plants in January, and to start them into 

 active growth in a forcing house, abundance of 

 soft young shoots resulting. These made into 

 short cuttings root quickly in brisk heat. If a 

 large number of plants are wanted, do not pinch 

 off the points of the young plants till the tops 

 are long enough to be made into cuttings ; and, 

 soon after topping, place the plants singly in 

 2^-inch pots, as they move out of these better 

 than they do from boxes. Heliotropes are 

 decidedly tender, and must be carefully hardened 

 prior to planting out during the first or second 

 week in June in warm positions and good soil. 

 Pyramids and standards, either planted thinly 

 among dwarf bedding plants, or plunged in the 

 turf, add considerably to the attractiveness of a 

 flower garden. These, in common with fuchsias, 

 are apt to die when lifted out of the beds, and 

 fresh plants should be prepared during one year, 

 and used for conservatory decoration, planting 

 them out the following season. 



Lantanas. — These verbena-like plants from Jamaica 

 and other tropical countries succeed well in the 

 flower garden during the summer. The following 

 varieties are good : — Diademe, rose, yellow centre ; 

 Distinction, bright orange scarlet ; Eclat, reddish 

 crimson and orange ; Eavourita, yellow, changing 

 to dull scarlet; La Neige, pure white; Majenta 

 King, bright purplish scarlet; Eayon de Soleil, 

 deep yellow, changing to rose violet ; and 

 Eutilant, deep yellow. Plants may bo propa- 

 gated for stock purposes in August. Take off 



young shoots and shorten to the third joint. 

 Insert four or five of these in well-drained 4-inch 

 pots firmly filled with a mixture of two parts 

 of light loam to one part of leaf soil, with sharp 

 sand added. Give a gentle watering, and place 

 the pots in a frame over a mild hot-bed, keeping 

 the frame closed and shaded from sunshine till 

 the cuttings are rooted, then admit air. Winter 

 the plants on a warm greenhouse shelf. In 

 February give these stock plants a shift into 

 6-inch pots and transfer to a warmer house, 

 where they will produce young shoots in abun- 

 dance. Take these off 2 inches long and insert 

 in boxes, pans, or pots filled with light soil surfaced 

 with sharp sand, and place in a briskly heated close 

 frame to root. When rooted afford the plants 

 more light and air, and soon after place them 

 singly in 2i-mch pots. Strong bushy plants 

 should be ready for hardening by the middle of 

 May to be planted in the beds early in June. 

 Plant firmly in light free-working soil. 

 Lobelias. — The dwarf section so largely used for 

 edging flower beds comprises several excellent 

 strains, among which may be noted Brighton 

 Blue, light blue ; pumila magnifica (synonym 

 Emperor William), deep blue ; Swanley Blue, 

 speciosa, blue ; King of the Blues, dark blue, white 

 eye, effective ; and The Bride, white. All come 

 true from carefully-saved seed, but are more 

 reliable when the stock is propagated by division 

 or cuttings. A few plants grown in the reserve 

 garden and not allowed to flower may be lifted in 

 the autumn, placed in 5 -inch or slightly larger 

 pots, and kept on a greenhouse shelf through the 

 winter. They must not be subjected to much 

 fire-heat — only enough being given to ward off 

 damp and frosts — nor be kept dry at the roots, as 

 this induces the young shoots to flower prema- 

 turely, and they are then worthless foi propa- 

 gating purposes. In the spring or directly 

 the stems emit roots, divide into as many pieces 

 as there are shoots (Eig. 102, next page), and 

 insert 2 or 3 inches apart in boxes of rich loamy 

 soil in preference to placing them singly in thumb 

 pots. If kept growing in gentle heat the tops 

 will soon be long enough to make into cuttings, 

 and two or three later supplies of shoots may 

 be had for a similar purpose if required. Only 

 sappy growths will strike root, those running 

 to flower failing. Treat rooted cuttings similarly 

 to the divisions. Harden off early and plant out 

 at the end of May or early in June. Lobelias 

 move well out of rough pits and frames where 



VOL. I. 



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