146 



THE FLOWER GROWER'S GUIDE. 



set out in the open with other hard-wooded plants, housing in October. They must 

 never become dust-dry at the roots, and will lose their leaves if thrips are allowed to 

 gain an ascendency. Syringing, and occasional fumigations or vapourising with nicotine 

 preparations, will keep them clean. 



adenandra.— Of this small family of South African shrubs only two species are 

 recommended for general culture. These are A. fragrans, height 1 to 2 feet, flowers 

 rose-colour and fragrant, produced on long peduncles (May); and A. umbellata speciosa, 

 height 1 to 2 feet, flowers pink, in terminal umbels (June). Both are attractive and 

 beautiful, though far from being common. Cuttings made of the young tops just 

 before these begin to develop their buds, and treated as advised for acrophyllum, 

 will root freely. They require a mixture of equal parts of light fibrous loam and peat, 

 with silver sand freely added, to grow in, and must have this made firm about the roots ; 

 large shifts are unwise. If grown in the open during the summer, see that no worms 

 find their way into the pots. Winter in a warm greenhouse. 



agapanthus. — Agapanthus umbellatus, or African Lily, is quite an old favourite 

 for flowering in greenhouses, and also for arranging in entrance porches, on 

 terraces, alongside ponds, water-courses, or carriage drives, and may often be seen on 

 balconies. It is a native of the Cape of Good Hope, and nearly hardy. There are eight 

 or more varieties in cultivation, most of which produce bold umbels of flowers, supported 

 by long and stiff scapes, in June or later, according to circumstances. Height 1^ to 3 

 feet. The flowers of the original species, A. umbellatus, are bright blue, the 

 variety known as A. u. flore pleno differing only in the doubling of the flowers. 

 A. u. maximus is an improvement on the original type, both as regards vigour of plant 

 and size of flowers, but A. u. albidus, an attractive white form, is not so robust and is 

 also somewhat shy flowering. A. u. variegatus has white and green striped narrow 

 leaves, and, though neither strong-growing nor free-flowering, is yet attractive. 



Agapanthuses are increased by offsets, and these should not be over-potted at first 

 nor subjected to strong heat. A rich compost, or a mixture of two parts good strong 

 loam to one part each of leaf soil and decayed manure, with sharp sand added, is suitable. 

 After strong plants have been gradually shifted into large pots, or, better still, strong 

 circular oak tubs, they need not be turned out of them again for several years, but those 

 plants which are strongly rooted should have weak liquid manure supplied to them 

 during the flowering and growing period, with abundance of water, gradually with- 

 holding this in the autumn with a view to partially drying and resting the plants. It 



