TENDER BORDER AND BEDDING PLANTS. 319 
for pegging down as an edging to beds ; Souvenir de Bonn, 
green and white ; and Swaitzi, also green and white. Of the 
flowering kinds, mostly hybrids, Chrysotophanum compactum, 
yellow, dwarf ; Brilliant, bright red, dwarf ; and Royal Scarlet, 
scarlet, are very showy and pretty. 
Agapanthus (African Lily). — This is better known as a 
greenhouse plant, but in the South and sheltered parts of the 
kingdom it is successfully grown outdoors in sunny borders 
or on rockeries. It is also frequently grown in pots under 
glass in the winter, and placed outdoors in summer whilst in 
flower. To grow it outdoors the soil must be a light loam 
and well drained. Plant out in May. In autumn surround the 
base of the shoots with a thick layer of rotten manure, and 
cover the plant in severe weather with dry bracken or litter. 
Many gardeners plant out in May, lift and store the roots in a 
frost green-house in October. Others, again, grow the plants 
in pots and plunge the latter in the soil in May, lifting and 
taking indoors in October. The typical species, A. umbellatus, 
has blue flowers. There are, however, numerous varieties, 
such as albidus, white-flowered ; aureus, leaves variegated with 
creamy yellow ; Leitchlinii, deep blue ; maximus, bright blue ; 
minor, a dwarf variety ; variegatus, leaves variegated green and 
white, very pretty ; atrocasruleus, dark violet ; giganteus, dark 
blue ; pallidus, pale porcelain blue ; and sandersonianus, dark 
blue. The plants require an abundance of water in summer 
and occasional applications of liquid manure. Increase is 
effected by division of the roots in March. This genus belongs 
to the Lily family (Liliaceas). 
Agathsea (Blue Daisy). — A greenhouse perennial, be- 
longing to the Daisy family (Composite), but often extensively 
grown for bed and border decoration in summer. The species 
(A. caelestis) bears sky-blue flowers of a marguerite shape, 
and grows about 12 to 15m. high. There is also a variety 
with golden leaves. Both are suitable for massing in beds or 
grouping in borders. To obtain a stock of plants for bedding 
insert cuttings in pots or boxes of light soil in a cold frame in 
July or August. Keep in the frame till October, then remove 
to a heated greenhouse till March, when pot off singly, keep 
in heat till May, harden off and plant out at the end of the 
month. Natives of South Africa. 
Agave ( American Aloe ; Mexican Aloe). — A genus of 
fleshy-leaved spiny plants, belonging to the Amaryllis family 
(Amaryllidaceae). They are grown for their grotesque or 
peculiar appearance only. The large species, A. americana, 
and its variegated variety, attain a large size, and are grown 
