THE TORCH LILIES. 



149 



known kinds are Amazonum, blanda, and 

 Rudgeana, but of these perhaps only the first 

 is in cultivation. The flowers of Amazonum are 

 not large and are never completely open, open- 

 ing a little way for a few hours on the first 

 night and partially re-opening on the evening 

 of the second day, and attaining their widest 

 expansion by degrees for about half-an-hour 

 during the early morning, after which they 

 close and sink below the water. The flowers 

 of Rudgeana, a Brazilian species, never get be- 

 yond the bud stage. B. 



THE TORCH LILIES {Kniphofias). 



The value of the Torch Lilies in our 

 gardens centres in the fact that they 

 produce an abundance of the brightest 

 flame-coloured, orange, and yellow 

 flowers in the autumn months. On a 

 bright day in October or late September, 

 when there is so much more yellow in 

 the daylight than in the early summer 

 months, the orange hues of the Knipho- 

 na flowers derive an additional glow 

 from the reflections of the autumn sky, 

 and they are then seen at their best, just 

 as the deep orange and yellow of the 

 Montbretias never appears so bright as 

 when touched by the rays of the setting 

 sun. The habit of the plants when in 

 beauty is stately in the highest degree, 

 and the many kinds now grown pro- 

 long their period of flower over several 

 months. 



Their Uses. — In many ways the 

 Kniphofias may be finely used in the 

 garden picture. With the best effect 

 they may be grouped in the borders, 

 large kinds in wide and spacious borders 

 and the smaller and more compact 

 species and varieties in those of smaller 

 extent such as are found in villa and cot- 

 tage gardens. Grouped near the water- 

 side in bold masses they produce a 



splendid effect, but must not be brought 

 too near the water as the roots fear 

 nothing so much as stagnant moisture. 

 They may also be placed in bold groups 

 upon the lawn, looking best in this way 

 when only one kind is used in a group ; 

 they are also useful in the margins of 

 shrubberies or mingled with Bamboos, 

 ornamental grasses, and other plants 

 of light and graceful habit. Michael- 

 mas Daisies, especially the tall white- 

 flowered varieties such as White Qitee?i 



KNIPHOFI A ALOIDES GRANDIS. 



and polyphyllus, are never more charm- 

 ing than when seen in contrast with the 

 orange tints of the Torch Lily. Dwarf 

 kinds such as Co?~alli?ia^ the charming 

 K. Nelsoni, and Mac ] wan /, can also be 

 flowered with great freedom in roomy 

 pots and are then useful in the conser- 

 vatory. As cut flowers the Kniphofias 

 are also of value, not so much where 

 choice arrangements are desired, but 

 grouped in large vases of bold effect. 

 The light elegant spikes of such kinds 

 as rufa , lVe/so?zi, and paucifiora,zreespe- 



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