NOTHING that the great African continent has given us in the way of flowers can surpass in value the glorious old African lily, which is not a lily, but an amaryllis, and is none the worse for that. From Africa we have the magnificent terrestrial orchids called disas, any number of heaths and pelargoniums, not a few of the finest palms, and the hard-leaved cycads. But for use-fulness, the agapanthus stands alone; and if we are called upon to find a companion for it, the Vallota purpurea shall have the preference over all other African plants; and this also, although called "Scarborough Lily," is, strictly speaking, an amaryllis. The agapanthus, or African lily, has been classed as a crinum, as a hyacinth, as a polyanthus, and a tulbaghia; its modern name dates from the publication of Aiton's "Hortus Kewensis," wherein, on the authority of L'Heritier, it is entered by the name now universally recognised. It was cultivated in the Royal Gardens at Hampton Court in 1692, therefore it is no novelty; and yet of its history there is not much to be said.

This fine plant is commonly and advantageously regarded as requiring protection in winter, and is, therefore, grown in pots and tubs. It is, however, quite hardy in the southern counties, and in London survives an ordinary winter in the open border, where, if spared for a few years the trial of a severe and prolonged frost, it increases to a large mass, and flowers freely in the month of September. The winter of 1885-6, the longest we have known, though certainly not the severest, affected out-door plants at Kew so slightly, that when, in the month of April, the spring renewed the growth of vegetation, they were found to be fresh and green, and scarcely touched by the winter frost. In the Botanical Gardens of Manchester some large clumps have stood out in borders for several years, with but little harm, from which they have soon recovered. Some very fine clumps that we had in the open border, on heavy land, in a northern suburb of London, were so much injured by the keen frost that occurred in the month of March, 1880, that it was not until the end of May that they presented above ground a new growth of green leaves from the roots; and in that year they did not flower, having enough to do to accomplish their re-establishment.

We are particular to set forth these facts, because, when a noble plant, such as the one before us, proves to be hardy enough to brave an average winter in the open ground, the gain to all lovers of a garden is immense. But, as remarked above, the plant is with advantage treated as requiring protection in winter, and, generally speaking, the amateur cultivator will insure the best success by practising pot-culture.

The agapanthus requires a rich, strong, loamy soil, in which it produces a large mass of stout, fleshy roots, that are thirsty in high summer time. It is a mistake to prepare a light sandy compost, except when the plants have been cut up for increase; in which case, for the first potting they should have a sandy soil of a rather poor character, and be put into pots as small as possible. But when they have made new growth, and require more room, the soil should be a rich, strong loam, the pots should be large in proportion to the plants, and from June to August they should stand in pans of water. By this treatment they will make a grand growth, and flower finely. During winter a stable or shed will suffice to shelter them, but the best place is a plant-house, heated sufficiently to keep out frost. It is a good practice to shift the plants into pots one size larger than the last when growth commences in the spring, and to continue this practice until they become too large for the purposes required, when they may be divided by carefully cutting through at the crown, while being cautious not to seriously mutilate the roots. Each piece removed should have a bunch of roots of its own; and if these are unmanageable when they are potted, they may be shortened, but must not be severely cut back. For some time after the divided pieces have been potted in small pots very little water should be given. To be out of doors from the 1st of May to the 1st of October will suit the agapanthus well.