Silene (Catchfly).—­Elegant plants, delighting in a light, rich soil.  Sow the seeds of the annual varieties early in April where they are intended to bloom.  Silene Pendula, when sown in the autumn, makes a pleasing show of pink flowers in the spring.  The roots of the herbaceous kinds may be divided in spring.  The shrubby sorts are increased by cuttings planted under a hand-glass.  The dwarfs make fine rock-work ornaments.  Flowers are produced in June and July.  Height, 2 in. to 1-1/2 ft.

Silphium Aurantiacum.—­A good and hardy border perennial, which produces during July and August large deep orange-yellow flowers resembling a Sunflower.  It is very useful for cutting, will grow anywhere, and can be increased by dividing the root.  Height, 4 ft.

Sisyrinchium Grandifolium(Satin Flower, or Rush Lily).—­A light loam suits this plant, which is moderately hardy.  The soil should be moist, but not wet.  It does not like being disturbed, but when necessary the crowns may be divided in autumn, taking care to spread the roots well out.  It blooms in April or May.  Height, 1 ft.

Skimmia.—­Neat-growing, dwarf evergreen shrubs having Laurel-like leaves, and producing a profusion of scarlet berries in winter.  They succeed in any ordinary soil, but thrive best in peat and loam; and are propagated by cuttings placed in heat under glass.

Slugs.—­A sharp watch should be kept over all slugs, and constant visits paid to the garden at daybreak for their destruction.  If fresh cabbage leaves are strewed about in the evening the slugs will congregate under them, and in the morning they may be gathered up and dropped into strong brine.  The ground may also be dusted with fresh lime, which is fatal to them, but in wet weather the lime soon loses its power.

Smilax.—­A greenhouse climbing plant that is admired for its foliage rather than its bloom.  A mixture of peat and loam or leaf-mould and sandy loam suits it.  Train the shoots up string, and freely water the plant in summer; during the autumn and winter it does not need much moisture.  Keep the temperature of the house up to 60 degrees throughout the winter.  It is readily increased by cuttings.  It flowers in July.  Fine for table decoration.  Height, 4 ft.

Snails.—­To prevent snails crawling up walls or fruit trees daub the ground with a thick paste of soot and train oil.  There is no remedy so effectual for their destruction as hand-picking.

Snake’s Head Lilies.—­See “Fritillarias.”

Snapdragon.—­See “Antirrhinum.”

Sneezewort.—­See “Achillea.”

Snowball Tree.—­See “Viburnum.”

Snowberry.—­See “Symphoricarpus.”

Snowdrops (Galanthus).—­These are most effective in clumps.  They may be planted at any time from September to December, and left alone for three or four years, when they may be taken up and divided.  They grow best in a light, rich soil.