Gardening For The Million Part 28

Symphytum Caucasic.u.m.--Hardy perennials. They will grow in any soil or situation, even thriving under the shade of trees, and may be increased by division. June is the month in which they flower. Height, 3 ft.

Syringa (_Lilac_.)--There are many choice varieties of these favourite shrubs, but any of them may be grown in a tolerably good soil. They are propagated by layers or by suckers from the root. They bloom in May or June. Height varies from 4 ft. to 12 ft.

T

Tacsonia.--A beautiful twining shrub belonging to the Pa.s.siflora family. It should be provided with a rich soil, and, as the flowers are produced upon the lateral shoots, it requires frequent stopping.

Syringe frequently in warm weather to induce a quick growth. It is a quick grower, and, when properly treated, a profuse bloomer, the flowers being produced in July, August, and September. Cuttings of young shoots placed under gla.s.s in a sandy soil will strike. Height, 20 ft.

Tagetes (_French and African Marigolds_).--Half-hardy annuals, very elegant when in flower, and deserve a place in the garden. The seed should be sown on a hotbed in March or April, the plants gradually hardened off, and placed in the open at the end of May in a rich, light soil, when they will flower in August. Height, 1 ft. to 2-1/2 ft.

Tamarix.--Neat feathery plants, very suitable for banks and thriving at the seaside, as is evidenced by its luxuriant growth along the parades at Eastbourne. The hardy kinds will grow in any soil, and may be propagated by cuttings planted in the open either in spring or autumn. The greenhouse and stove varieties require a soil of loam and peat. Cuttings of these should be placed in sand under gla.s.s. They flower in June and July. Height, 8 ft. to 10 ft.

Tansy.--A feathery-foliaged hardy perennial, useful for mixing with cut blooms. No special treatment is required. Height, 11 ft.

Taxus.--_See_ "Yew."

Tecoma.--Ornamental evergreen shrubs of a twining nature, needing a greenhouse for their cultivation. They require a rich, loamy soil mixed with a little sand, or loam and peat, and rejoice in shade and moisture. T. Radicans will grow in the open against a wall, but a warm situation is needed to make it flower. They may be propagated by cuttings of the roots placed in sand under a hand-gla.s.s, and by layers. Their flowers are produced in July and August. Height, 6 ft.

to 30 ft.

Telekia.--_See_ "Buphthalmum."

Tellima Grandiflora.--A hardy and very ornamental perennial with round bronzy foliage and spikes of white flowers at midsummer. It succeeds best in peat, but will grow in any rich, light soil. To increase it, divide the roots. Height, 1 ft.

Tetratheca.--Pretty greenhouse evergreen shrubs which produce pink flowers in July. They flourish in a soil consisting of equal proportions of loam, peat, and sand. Cuttings of the young wood planted under gla.s.s in a sandy soil will strike. Height, 1 ft.

Teucrium Scorodonia.--This hardy herbaceous plant will grow in any ordinary garden soil. It flowers in July, and is easily raised from seed or increased by division. Height, 1-1/2 ft.

Thalictrum.--Hardy Fern-like perennials, suitable for the backs of borders. They grow well in any light soil from seed sown in spring or autumn, and may also be increased by division.

Thermopsis Montana_(Fabacea)._--This hardy perennial produces spikes of yellow Lupin-like flowers from June to September. The soil should be light and rich. As the plants suffer by division, it is best to raise them by seed, which may be sown either in autumn or spring.

Height, 2 ft.

Thladianthe Dubia.--A fine climbing plant with handsome foliage and an abundance of fine yellow flowers. Quite hardy. Sow on a hotbed early in spring, and when sufficiently large and strong, pot off, place in a cold frame to harden, and plant out at the end of May in rich soil.

Thrift.--_See_ "Armeria."

Thumbergia.--These slender, rapid-growing climbers are extremely pretty when in bloom during June, but they are only half-hardy; they therefore need greenhouse care, or to be planted in a warm situation.

They flourish best in a mixture of sandy loam and leaf-mould, and may be grown from seed sown in heat (65 to 75 degrees) early in spring.

Cuttings strike readily. Height, 4 ft.

Thuya (_Arbor Vitae_).--Very decorative conifers, mostly of conical shape, and indispensable to the shrubbery. They thrive in any soil, but prefer a moist situation. For sheltered positions, where a small dome-shaped bush is required, the Chinese Arbor Vitae _(Biota Orientalis)_ is most desirable; it delights in a heavy soil. The Biota Elegantissima is one of the most unique hardy shrubs cultivated, and presents a bright golden appearance. Another effective yellow variety is the Semperaurescens, which retains its colour throughout the winter, and makes a fine pot-plant. One of the most beautiful of all evergreens is the Thuyopsis Dolabrata; its flat, spray-like leaves are bright green above and silvery below. The China varieties are somewhat tender, and require protection from frost. They may all be propagated from seed or by cuttings.

Thymus.--Effective little perennials for rock-work, growing best in a light, dry, sandy soil. The hardy kinds like an exposed position; rarer kinds should be grown in pots, as they need protection in winter. They are easily increased by seed sown in spring, by cuttings or division. Height, 3 in. to 6 in.

Tiarella.--These hardy herbaceous plants are very suitable for rock-work or the front of a border. They are not particular as to soil; they flower in April, and may be propagated by seed or division.

Height, 9 in. to 1 ft.

Tiarella Cordifolia (_Foam Flower_).--A hardy herbaceous perennial, having fine foliage. It will grow in any good soil, but likes shade and moisture. It may be increased by dividing the roots at the end of the summer. The blooms are produced during May and June. Height, 1 ft.

Tigridia (_Ferraria; Mexican Tiger Flower, popularly called the Tiger Iris_).--A gorgeous flower of exceptional beauty. Plant the bulbs in the sunniest spot out of doors during March, April, or May, in a sandy loam enriched with a liberal amount of leaf-mould, placing them 3 in.

deep and 6 in. apart, and putting a little silver sand round each bulb before covering it with the soil. Shelter from cutting winds. The blossoms appear in July or August. Each bloom lasts only one day, but is succeeded on the next by fresh ones, so that a continuance of bloom is maintained. Protect them in winter with a covering of dead leaves, or, better still, take them up when they have done flowering, and keep them dry and free from frost. For pot-culture plant the bulbs in sandy loam and peat, plunge them in a cold frame, and withhold water until the foliage appears. They may be increased by off-sets or seeds.

Height, 1 ft.

Tobacco Plants.--_See_ "Nicotiana."

Tobacco-Water.--Boil 2 oz. of s.h.a.g, or other strong tobacco, in a pint of water. Apply with a soft brush. This is a deadly poison to insects.

Tomatoes (_Love Apples_).--Those intended to be grown in the open should be raised from seed sown the first week in March in pots of very rich, light mould. Place them in a cuc.u.mber-house or other gentle heat, and when the second leaf appears, pot them off singly, keeping them near the gla.s.s and well watered. Towards the end of May remove them to a cold frame to harden off, and plant out as soon as fear of frost is over, in deeply-dug and moderately manured ground, against a south wall fully exposed to the sun. Train to a single stem and remove all lateral growths. When the plants are 3 or 4 ft. high pinch off the tops to prevent further growth and throw strength into the fruit.

Watering should cease as soon as the blossom-buds appear, except in periods of very severe drought. When grown under gla.s.s Tomatoes need to be trained in much the same way as Grape Vines. Constant attention must be given to removing all useless shoots and exposing the fruit to air and light. An average temperature of 60 degrees should be maintained, with a rather dry and buoyant atmosphere.

Toothwort.--_See_ "Dentaria."

Torch Lily.--_See_ "Tritoma."

Torenia.--These stove and greenhouse plants require a rich soil. They may be increased by seed or division. They flower during June and July. Height, 6 in. to 9 in.

Tournefort.--_See_ "Crambe Cordifolia."

Tradescantia Virginica (_Spider Wort_).--A hardy herbaceous plant. In a light, rich soil it will flower in July. Height, 1 ft. There are other varieties of Tradescantia; they all make good border plants, thrive in any situation, and are continuous bloomers.

Transplanting.--Plants may be transplanted as soon as they are large enough to handle. They must be lifted carefully with a small trowel, or if they are very small, such as Golden Feather, with a still smaller blunt article, disturbing the roots as little as possible. It should be done when the ground is wet, and preferably in the evening.

In dry weather they should be well watered twelve hours before they are disturbed. Shade them from sun for one or two days. Cabbages, Lettuces, Cauliflowers, Broccoli, Kale, and other members of the Bra.s.sica family _must_ be transplanted, or they will be a failure.

Root crops such as Carrots, Parsnips, Turnips, etc., must not be transplanted, but thinned out. Celery may be transplanted in June or July.

Traveller's Joy (_Clematis Viorna_).--This hardy climbing plant grows best in a light soil, flowers in August, and is increased by layers of the young shoots in summer. Height, 12 ft.

Trees, Plants that Flourish under.--Ivy, St. John's Wort (Hyperic.u.m Calycinum), early-flowering White Aconite.

Tricyrtis.--These greenhouse herbaceous plants bloom in May. A rich, light soil suits them. Height, 6 in.

Trientalis Europaea (_Star Flower_).--To grow this native perennial to advantage, it should be planted in leaf-mould with which a large proportion of sand has been mixed. Confine the roots to a narrow compa.s.s by means of slates placed just beneath the surface of the soil. Let the ground be kept moist, but well drained. The bloom is produced during May and June, and it is propagated by runners. Height, 6 in. to 8 in.

Trifolium Repens Pentaphyllum.--A showy, hardy, deciduous perennial.

It thrives in ordinary soil, puts forth its white flowers in June, and is propagated by seed or division. Height, 6 in.

Trillium Er.e.c.t.u.m (_Wood Lily_).--This tuberous perennial is quite hardy, and flourishes in partial shade. The soil must be light and rich, yet moist. The plant does not increase very fast, but the roots of good-sized plants may be divided. It flowers in May and June.

Height, 6 in.

Tritelia.--A charming spring-flowering plant, bearing pretty white star-like flowers on slender stalks. It is used largely for edgings.

It looks well in clumps on the front of borders. Plant in autumn, and divide the bulbs every two or three years. Height, 6 in.

Tritoma (_Red-hot Poker, or Torch Lily_).--Requires a rich, sandy soil, and to be protected in a frame from wet and frost in the winter.

Increase by division or by suckers from the root. The flower spikes grow 18 to 27 in. long. The crown of the plant should not be more than 11/2 in. in the soil, which should be dug deeply and mixed with rotted manure. In winter, if it is left in the ground, surround the plant with 2 in. of sawdust, well trodden. Remove this in May, and water liberally with liquid manure till it blooms. The best time to plant is March or October. By many it is considered advisable not to disturb the plant too often.

Tritonias.--These somewhat resemble miniature Gladioli, and are among the most useful bulbs for pot-culture. Plant from September to December, placing five or six bulbs in a 5-in. pot, and using a compost of loam, leaf-mould, and silver sand. Plunge the pots in ashes in a cold pit or frame, and keep them dry until the plants appear.

When in full growth they may be removed to the conservatory, placing them near the gla.s.s, and giving careful attention to watering. For outdoor cultivation choose a sunny, sheltered position, with a light, rich, sandy soil. Give protection in frosty weather by covering with dry litter.