240 



THE CENTURY BOOK OF GARDENING. 



garden forms are in cultivation. Fuchsias are extremely 

 useful in many ways, for they may be grown in the shape 

 of little bushes i8in. high, or as huge plants either in 

 bush or pyramid shape. The pendulous nature of the 

 blossoms adapts them for the roof of a greenhouse or 

 conservatory, while if bedded out during the summer 

 they form an object of beauty till autumn is well 

 advanced. A few kinds are sufficiently hardy to stand 

 the winter without protection, as if cut to the ground 

 they quickly recover. The original species include 

 F. bacillaris, boliviensis, corymbiflora, dependens, 

 fulgens, globosa, gracilis, macrostemma, microphylla, 

 procumbens, spectabilis, splendens, thymifolia, and 

 triphylla. A selection of the garden forms comprises — 

 Single dark : Elegance, President, General Roberts, 

 Royal Purple, Resplendent, Lord Lyons, Wave of Life, 

 Lord Byron, Lord Elcho. Double dark : A. de Neu- 

 ville, De Cherville, Comte Leon Tolstoi, Champion of 

 the World, Avalanche, Marvellous, Phenomenal. With 

 white tube and sepals : Beauty of Trowbridge, Lustre, 

 Lady Heytesbury, Guiding Star, Rose of Castile, Mrs. 

 Marshall, Princess May. White corolla : Delight, 

 Carmell's Gem, De Goncourt, Flocon de Neige. Double 

 white corolla : Ballet Girl, Berliner Kind, Molesworth, 

 Miss Lucy Finnis, Madame Jules Chretien. It is a very 

 easy matter to strike cuttings of moderately ripe shoots in 

 spring, and grow the plants on, using loam, leaf mould, 

 and silver sand for soil. The cuttings will root quickly 

 and readily in a brisk heat, bottom or otherwise. 

 Gloxinia. — A very pretty group ol tuberous-rooted plants 

 that pass the winter in a slate of rest (when the)' must be 

 kept quite dry), recommence growth in the spring, and 

 flower throughout the summer months. They do well in 

 a mixture of loam, well-decayed leaf mould, and manure, 

 and can be easily propagated by taking the leaves and 

 inserting them as cuttings. At one time this method 

 was generally 

 followed, but 

 now seedlings 

 are usually pre- 

 ferred. The 

 seed must be 

 sown in heat in 

 F ebruary, 

 choosing a light 

 sand)' soil tor 

 the purpose, 

 and as soon as 

 t li e y o u n g 

 plants are large 

 enough to 

 handle they 

 should be 

 pricked off. If 

 potted on as 

 required, and 

 grown without 

 any check, they 

 v, ill Ik ivver well 

 a s s u m met 

 advances. A 

 pinch of seed 

 from a good 

 source will give 

 a great variety 

 of charming 

 blossoms. 



Habrotham- 



nus.— This is 

 a vigorous, 

 loose - growing 

 class of shrubs 

 par t ic n la rly 

 suitable for fur- 

 n i s h i n g the 

 pillars or walls 

 of a conserva- 

 tory, and in 



GLOXINIA. 



similar positions. Where space is allowed for their 



development they will flower nearly throughout the year, 

 even during the winter months. H. elegans, purplish 



red, H. fasiculatus, red, H. Newelli, crimson, and H. 

 aurantiacus, orange, are the best. They are all some- 

 times included in the genus Cestrum. 



Hedyehilim (Gartand-flowers). — Many of the Hedychiums 

 require more heat thaii a greenhouse, but one species, 

 II. Gardnerianum, is essentially a plant for that structure. 

 It forms a mass of stout underground stems, from whence 

 are pushed up sturdy Bamboo-like shoots, that reach a 

 height of from 4ft. to 5ft., and are terminated by erect 

 spikes of yellow sweet-scented blossoms. This is more 

 satisfactory when planted out than in pots. 



Heliotropes (Cherry Pie). — The fragrance of its flowers 

 renders PL peruvianum, known as the Cherry Pie, a general 

 favourite either for bedding out or for the greenhouse, 

 in which structure il is very useful for clothing walls and 

 pillars. There are several varieties, a good light kind 

 being White Lady, and a companion dark form President 

 Garfield. All easily raised by cuttings in spring, which 

 strike readily in a propagating frame, much in the same 

 way as one \\ ould strike the Fuchsia. 



Himantophyllum. — The showiest kind is H. miniatum, 

 and at the same time many of the later varieties are 

 vastly superior to the tvpe. Tliev all produce a number 

 of oppositely arranged strap-shaped leaves, of a deep green 

 hue, and the flower spike, which is pushed up from the 

 centre of the plant, is terminated by a large globular head 

 of blossoms. They are all more or less of a buff or orange 

 tint, some being much brighter than others. Two other 

 species, H. cyrtanthiflorum and II. Gardeni, are in the 

 same way, but less ornamental than the preceding. The 

 Himantophyllums are also known under the name of 

 Clivia. 



Hlimea elegans. — A very striking biennial plant, native 



of Australia. 

 The large 

 rough leaves 

 are peculiarly 

 scented, and 

 the small red 

 flowers, which 

 are disposed in 

 loose plume- 

 like masses, 

 occupy the 

 upper part of 

 the plant. It 

 will reach a 

 height of 6ft. 

 to 8ft., more 

 than half of 

 which is occu- 

 pied by the 

 flowers. It is 

 easily raised 

 from seed. 



Hydrangea. — 



In the milder 

 districts, espe- 

 cially along the 

 sea coast, the 

 c o m m o n 

 Hydrangea is 

 quite hardy, 

 but in any case 

 it is a valuable 

 greenhouse 

 plant. It will 

 attain the di- 

 mensions of a 

 large bush, but 

 a favourite way 

 of growing it 

 in pots is with 

 one short stem 

 carrying a huge 



