Acrotis—These are mostly hardy herbaceous plants from South Africa The soil should consist of two parts loam and one part leaf-mould, and the situation should be dry and sunny Seed may be sown early in March in gentle heat, and the plants grown on in a cold frame till May, when they may be planted out a foot apart They will flower at midsummer Winter in a warm greenhouse Height, 2 ft Some few are of a creeping nature.

Parsnips—These succeed best in a rich soil, but the application of fresh manure should be avoided, as it induces forked and ill-shaped roots Let the ground be trenched two spits deep and left ridged up as long as possible As early in March as the weather will permit level the surface and sow the seed in drills 15 in apart, covering it with half an inch of fine soil When the plants are 2 or 3 in high, thin them out to 9 in apart They may be taken up in November and, after cutting off the tops, stored in a pit or cellar in damp sand, or they may be left in the ground till required for use.

Joss Flower-See "Chinese Sacred Narcissus".

Abelia—Very ornamental evergreen shrubs, bearing tubular, funnel-shaped flowers They succeed in any ordinary soil if the situation is warm and sheltered, and are readily raised by cuttings Height, 3 ft to 4 ft.


Balsams—The seeds of these tender annuals require to be sown in early spring in a hot-house or a warm frame having a temperature of 65 to 75 degrees When 2 or 3 in high, or large enough to handle, prick off singly into small pots, shade them till they are established, and re-pot as they advance in strength in a compost of loam, leaf-mould, sand, and old manure Give them air when the weather is favourable The last shift should be into 24-sized pots Supply them with an abundance of liquid manure, admit as much air as possible, and syringe freely They must never be allowed to get dry Secure their stems firmly to sticks They will flower in the open early in September Height, 1-1/2 ft to 2 ft.

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