THE SOUTH AFRICAN GERBERAS. 



261 



heads are ready for cutting. The first are not very large, but the 

 subsequent ones increase in size and approach appreciable dimensions. 

 After forcing if frost is not expected, they are planted outside in 

 the open ground, and in autumn the crowns are divided. 



Where rather arid atmospheric conditions obtain, as in the Succulent 

 House at Kew, where the plants are excellently adapted for bordering 

 purposes, mites are prone to attack the young leaves, and only persistent 

 spraying with soft soap and sulphur serves to eradicate this evil; 

 occasionally a leaf -borer makes its appearance, rendering the leaves 

 often very unsightly by its mining propensities. 



The following varieties have been recorded at various times: — 



Var. atrosanguinea, Sprenger ex Vilmorin in Rev. Horticole 

 (1909), 103. 



Flower-heads dark blood-red. 



Var. Brilhant, Lynch, I.e. xxxii. 442 (1902). 



A cross between ' Sir Michael ' and G. Jamesonii, with combination 

 of characters. Flower-head vermilion. 



Var. Clibran's Orange, Lynch in Gard. Chron. xlv. (1909), 341. 



According to Lynch a fine orange ; flowered in Clibran's nursery 

 five years ago. 



Var. illustris, Vilmorin, I.e. 104. 



Flower-heads more brilliant in colour than the type. 

 Var. King Sol, Watson in The Garden (1906), 288. 

 Scape 22 inches high, the flower-head 4J inches across, rich terra- 

 cotta, shaded with amber. 



Var. Sir Michael, Lynch in Gard. Chron. xxx. (1901), 223. 



Flower-heads lemon-yellow. 



Var. transvaalensis, Vilmorin, I.e. 



The following forms are alluded to by Sprenger in Gartenflora, 

 Iv. {1906), 15 :— 



Var. transvaalensis. Foliage dark green, lyrate, with the lobes 

 horizontally or directed upwards. Ray-florets very large, scarlet- 

 red. A very fine form, which Herr C. Sprenger received from the 

 Transvaal ; probably the same as var. transvaalensis, Vilmorin. 



Var. sanguinea. Leaves deeply lobed. Flower-heads very large, 

 shining blood-red. 



Var. illustris. Leaves shortly stalked, dark green, deeply cut. 

 Flower-heads very large with broad carmine-red ray-florets. 



Var. Jolanda. Leaves erect, small, deeply lobed. Flower-heads 

 large with narrow very long and thin bright scarlet ray-florets. Very 

 fine. 



Var. acanthifolia. Leaves very large, the margin entire above, 

 undulate, slightly sinuate towards the base. Flower-heads very 

 large, vermilion. 



Var. superba. Leaves sinuate, dark green. Flower-heads large, 

 purplish. 



Var. vomerensis. Leaves deeply lobed. Flower-heads fairly large, 

 light wine-red. 



VOL. XL, T 



