Agapanthus (African Lily)—This is a noble plant, which succeeds well in the open if placed in a rich, deep, moist loam in a sunny situation or in partial shade In pots it requires a strong loamy soil with plenty of manure Throughout the summer the pots should stand in pans of water Re-pot in March Give it plenty of pot room, say a 9-in pot for each plant In winter protect from severe frost, and give but very little water The flowers are both lovely and showy, being produced during August in great bunches on stems 3 ft high The plant is nearly hardy Several growing together in a large tub produce a fine effect It is increased by dividing the root while in a dormant state.

side-shoots equally balanced, and to prevent the growth advancing in the centre The bush form merely require the removal of any dead wood and of cross-growing branches This should be done late in the summer or in the autumn The trees are frequently attacked by a small moth, known as the Plum Fortrix, which eats its way into the fruit and causes it to fall In this case the fallen unripe fruit should be gathered up and burned, and the trees washed in winter with caustic potash and soda For growing on walls the following kinds may be recommended: Diamond, White Magnum Bonum, Pond's Seedling, and Belle de Louvain for cooking; and Kirke, Coe's Golden Drop, and Jefferson for dessert For pyramids and bushes, Victoria, Early Prolific, Prince Engelbert, Sultan, and Belgian Purple are good sorts In orchards Plums should stand 20 ft apart.

Mentha Rotundifloria Variegata (Variegated Mint)-A hardy perennial, which may be grown in any soil, and is easily increased by dividing the roots It flowers in July Height, 2 ft.

Althea—See "Hibiscus".


Biennials—These plants take two years to flower, and then they die away altogether The seed of the hardy varieties is sown thinly in the open border any time between April and June, and the plants transferred in the autumn to the place where they are intended to bloom Seed is also sown in August and September for flowering the following year The half-hardy kinds may be sown in May or June These require protection during winter, such as is afforded by a cold pit, frame, or greenhouse, or the covering of a mat or litter.

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