Gardening For The Million Part 15

_RUE_.--Hardy evergreen shrub. Leaves used for medicinal drinks; useful for poultry with croup.

_SAGE_.--Hardy perennial. Decoction of leaves drank as tea; used also for stuffing, meats, and sauces.

_SAVORY_, Summer.--Hardy annual. Used for flavouring soups and salads.

_SAVORY_, Winter.--Hardy evergreen shrub. Its aromatic flavour makes it valuable as a pot herb.

_SCURVY GRa.s.s_.--The small leaves are eaten as watercress.

_SKIRRET_.--Hardy perennial. Sweet, white, and pleasant; the tubers are boiled and served up with b.u.t.ter.

_SORREL_, Broad-Leaved.--Hardy perennial. Imparts an acid flavour to salads and soups.

_THYME_, Broad-Leaved.--Hardy perennial. Young leaves and tops used for stuffing, also in soups and sauces.

_TARRAGON_.--Hardy perennial. For flavouring vinegar; also used in salads, soups, and pickles.

_WORMWOOD_.--A hardy shrub. Beneficial to horses and poultry, and is used for medical purposes.

Herniaria Glabra.--These dwarf carpeting plants are of easy culture.

Grow from seed in spring and transplant into sandy soil. Height, 1-1/2 in.

Hesperis.--_See_ "Rocket."

Heuchera.--Very neat, but not showy, hardy American perennials. They may be grown in any ordinary light garden soil, are increased by dividing the root, and bloom in May. Height, 1 ft. to 2 ft.

Hibbertia Dentata.--An evergreen twining plant, requiring a greenhouse for its cultivation and a soil of sandy loam and peat. It flowers in July, and is increased by cuttings taken in spring or summer and kept under gla.s.s. Height, 6 ft.

Hibiscus Africa.n.u.s.--A handsome hardy annual Mallow. Sow in March in slight heat, and plant out in May 10 in. apart. Grows best in a mixture of loam and peat. Blooms in June. Height, 2 ft.

Hibiscus Syriacus (_Rose of Sharon_).--A hardy, deciduous, autumn-flowering shrub, which will grow in common soil, and may be propagated by seeds, layers, or cuttings planted under gla.s.s. Height, 6 ft.

Hieracium (_Hawkweed_).--A free-growing hardy perennial, suitable for a sunny bank or border. It is not particular as to soil. From June to September it produces orange-brown flowers. It grows freely from seed, and the roots bear division. Height, 1-1/2 ft.

Hippeastrums.--_See_ "Amaryllis."

Hippocrepis.--Very pretty hardy trailing perennials, covered from May to July with golden Pea-shaped flowers. They will grow in any light, sandy soil, and may be increased by cuttings, which root readily under gla.s.s. Height, 3 in. to 6 in.

Hippophae.--Ornamental shrubs, thriving in ordinary soil, and increased by layers or cuttings of the roots. H. Rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn) flowers in May. Height, 12 ft.

Holboellia Latifolia.--_See_ "Stauntonia Latifolia."

Holly (_Ilex_).--This pleasing hardy evergreen shrub thrives best on a deep, sandy loam, but will grow in any good soil, provided the position is dry. It succeeds well in the shade. Cuttings of young shoots having 1 in. of the old wood attached will strike root, but the plant is of very slow growth, and takes at least four years to grow into a good bush. Choice varieties may be grafted or budded on to the common sorts in June or July. To grow Holly from seed, gather the berries when ripe, crush them, and mix them up with a little sandy loam, bury them in a hole 3 ft. deep, and cover with litter. Dig them up and sow them in March. Big bushes are best moved at the end of August, mixing the earth to a puddle before planting. The less pruning they receive the better. They may be trimmed in spring.

Hollyhock.--May be raised from seed or cuttings. Sow the seed about the second week of March in very rich soil, and cover it with 1 in. of dry earth. In June (having soaked the bed thoroughly overnight) remove the young plants to a nursery-bed, setting them 6 in. apart. Press the earth firmly round the roots, and water plentifully until settled. In the autumn plant them where they are to bloom. Cuttings may be taken as soon as the flowers appear, or from the old plants in autumn. Each joint having an eye will furnish a plant. Select side branches having two or three joints and leaves. Cut the shoots through just under the lower joint, leaving the leaf entire; cut it also about 2 in. above the joint. Plant in equal parts of loam, gritty sand, and leaf-mould; shelter from the sun, and sprinkle them every day in fine weather with water. If the cuttings are taken in autumn pot them off in 60-sized pots, and keep them in a cold frame till the spring, when they may be planted out. Flowers in August. Height, 6 ft.

Homerias.--Beautiful little South African plants. For out-door cultivation plant the bulbs in a dry, warm situation, from October to January, 3 in. deep, and the same distance apart, in rich, light, well-drained soil, and protect them from heavy rains with a good layer of leaves. For pot culture put four or five bulbs in a 5-in. pot, place in a cold frame, and cover with cocoa-nut fibre until the growth appears. Water moderately, and when the flowers fade abstain from supplying moisture. The bulbs are not quite hardy, therefore they should be removed indoors before frosts appear.

h.o.m.ogyne Alpina.--Hardy herbaceous plants flowering in April. Any soil is suitable for them, and they may be increased by division. Height, 6 in.

Honesty (_Lunaria_).--Interesting hardy biennials. When dried, the s.h.i.+ning seed-pods make a handsome addition to winter bouquets, mixed with ornamental gra.s.s. Any common soil suits them. Sow the seed any time from April to June, and transplant them to the border in the autumn for flowering the following May. Height, 1-1/2 ft. to 3 ft.

Honeysuckles.--These rapid twiners thrive in any loamy soil, and may be increased by putting down layers in the autumn, after the leaves begin to fall. They can also be propagated by cuttings taken in the autumn and planted in a shady, sheltered spot. Caprifolium Brachypoda and the evergreen C. Sempervirens are handsome, free-flowering kinds, suitable for almost any situation. C. Aurea-reticulata has beautifully variegated leaves, which render it very ornamental. Height, 6 ft. to 8 ft.

Hop.--A useful hardy climber for covering verandahs, summer-houses, etc. Plant in rich, loamy soil, and increase by dividing the roots.

(_See also_ "Humulus j.a.ponicus.")

Hordeum Jubatum (_Squirrel-tail Gra.s.s)_.--A very pretty species resembling miniature barley. Sow seed in March, covering it very lightly, and keep the surface of the soil moist till the gra.s.s appears. Height, 1-1/2 ft.

Horminum Pyrenaic.u.m.--This hardy perennial produces erect white flowers with blue corolla in June or July. It will grow in any ordinary soil, but needs protection in winter, as it is apt to be injured by damp. It may be propagated either by seed or division.

Height, 1-1/2 ft.

Horn Poppy.--_See_ "Glaucium."

Horseradish.--Plant in October or February in deep, rich soil; or it may be grown on a heap of cinder-ashes, or on any light ground through which the roots can make their way readily. The best way to increase it is by slips taken from the roots. It requires little or no attention beyond pinching out the tops when running to seed and keeping the ground hoed.

Hotbeds, to Make.--Take dead leaves and stable-straw, with the dung, in the proportion of two double loads for a three-light frame. Turn it over four or five times during a fortnight, watering it if it is dry.

Then mark out the bed, allowing 1 ft. or more each way than the size of the frame. Shake the compost well up, and afterwards beat it down equally with the fork. Place the frame on the bed, leaving the lights off for four or five days to allow the rank steam to escape. Keep a thermometer in the frame, and as soon as the temperature falls below 70 degrees apply a lining of fresh dung to the front and one side of the bed, and when this again declines, add another lining to the back and other side, and so on from time to time as occasion requires. The mats used for covering the frames in frosty weather should be made to fit the top, and not hang over the sides.

Houseleek.--_See_ "Sempervivum."

Houstonia Coerulea.--These hardy little evergreens are more generally known as Bluets. They make charming ornaments for rock-work, planted between large stones, but in this position they need protection from severe frosts. When planted in pots and placed in a cold frame they show to most advantage. A mixture of leaf-mould and sand, and a moist but well-drained situation is what they delight in. They bloom continuously from April to July. Height, 3 in.

Hovea Celsi.--A greenhouse shrub, which is evergreen and elegant when in flower in June. A sandy loam and peat soil is most suitable, and it may be increased by cuttings planted in sand under a hand-gla.s.s.

Height, 3 ft.

Humea.--A remarkably handsome and graceful plant, the leaves of which when slightly bruised yield a strong odour. It is equally suitable for the centre of beds or large borders, and placed in pots on terraces or the lawn it is very effective. The seed should be raised on a gentle hotbed, then potted off and kept in the greenhouse till the second year, when it may be turned out into a warm situation. It generally succeeds better in such a position than in the greenhouse. Flowers in July. Height, 6 ft. to 8 ft.

Humulus j.a.ponicus.--(_j.a.panese Hop_).--A hardy annual Hop of rapid growth, the leaves of which are splashed with white. Useful for covering arbours, verandahs, etc. A deep, loamy soil suits it best.

Increased by seed sown in gentle heat in February, and gradually hardened off. Flowers in July. Height, 20 ft.

Hutchinsia Alpina.--This small alpine creeper is a profuse bloomer, its glistening white flowers being produced at all seasons. It grows in moist vegetable mould, and bears transplanting at any season. Care, however, is required to prevent its roots over-running and choking other things. Height, 2 in.

Hyacinths.--May be grown in pots, in gla.s.ses, or in beds and borders.

The soil should be rich and light. Good loam mixed with old manure and a little leaf-mould and sand suits them very well. If intended to be grown in pots the best time to begin potting is early in September, putting more in at intervals of two or three weeks until the end of December. One bulb is sufficient for a 5-in. or 6-in. pot, or three may be placed in an 8-in. pot. The soil under the bulb should not be pressed down. The top of the bulb should be just above the surface.

Place the pots on a bed of ashes in a cold frame, put a small inverted pot over the top of the bulb, and cover the whole with cocoa-nut fibre or cinder-ashes to the depth of about 4 in. In about a month roots will have formed with about 1 in. of top growth. The plants may then be taken out, gradually exposed to the light, and finally removed to the conservatory or sunny window. The doubles do best in pots.

For growing in gla.s.ses select the firmest and best-shaped bulbs.

Those with single blossoms are preferable, as they are of stronger const.i.tution than the doubles. Fill the gla.s.ses with pure pond or rain water, so that the bulbs just escape touching it, and put a piece of charcoal in each gla.s.s, and change the water when it becomes offensive, taking care that the temperature is not below that which is poured away. Stand the gla.s.ses in a cool, dark place for three or four weeks until the roots have made considerable progress, then gradually inure to the full light. September is a good time to start the growth.

When planted in beds or borders, place the bulbs about 4 in. deep and 6 in. apart, putting a little silver sand below each one. This may be done at any time from October till frost sets in. They succeed fairly well in any good garden soil, but give greatest satisfaction when the ground is rich and light.

Hyacinthus (_Muscari_).--A very hardy race of spring-flowering bulbs.

Though the varieties are very dissimilar in appearance, they all produce a good effect, especially when planted in good large clumps.

Plant from September to December. A sandy soil suits them best.

The following are well-known varieties:--_BOTRYOIDES_ (_Grape Hyacinth_).--Very pretty and hardy, bearing fine spikes of deep, rich blue flowers in compact cl.u.s.ters on a stem 6 to 9 in. high.

Sweet-scented, and blooms about May. The _Alba_, or white, variety is also sweet-scented.