THE FLORAL WOELD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 151 



they begin to show flower, when they are taken to the conservatory. 

 "When required for flowering late in the spring, they must have 

 colder quarters. 



When the flowers are faded, there must be no hurry in drying 

 them off, as it is a bad plan to give the conns too long a rest through 

 the summer. Put them in a cool, dry place, and give just sufficient 

 water to keep the foliage plump until the seed is ripe, and then dry 

 off; but do so in a gradual manner. Pot the old corms at the same 

 time, and use the same compost as recommended for the autumn 

 potting of the young ones ; but instead of potting without disturb- 

 ing the ball as in dealing with the latter, shake away all the old 

 stuff, but without injuring the roots. Beware even of trimming 

 them, as is frequently done by people who know very little about 

 cyclamen culture. 



Nothing further need be said, as it would be a repetition of 

 former directions ; but I must not forget to caution my readers 

 against the too liberal use of liquid manure. I have purposely said 

 nothing about its use, because I think it had better be left alone 

 until the cultivator thoroughly understands the habits of these 

 plants ; for they are by no means gross feeders, and magnificent 

 specimens can be grown without its aid. 



CULTIVATION OF ALPINE PLANTS 



1ST JAMES BACKIIOTJSE AND SON. 



N the course of looking over some trade catalogues, our attention was 

 arrested — as well it might be — when we came to the catalogue of 

 Alpine plants issued by James Backhouse and Son, of York. Every 

 one of our readers who has any special taste for these interesting plants 

 must know that in the nurseries of this firm at York is the most perfect 

 rockery in the British islands — that is to say, the most perfect artificial rockery, 

 furnished with the most beautiful collection of Alpine plants. To this same firm, 

 too, we are indebted for the chief part of all the best hardy plants that have been 

 introduced within the past quarter of a century. This preface appears to be need- 

 ful as an introduction to what we now extract from Messrs. Backhouse's catalogue 

 on the subject indicated by the heading to this. They say — 



" A very large proportion of the most showy species may be grown in an ordi- 

 nary border in common soil, and nearly the whole range of Alpine plants (which 

 constitute one of the most interesting classes of perennials) may also be grown well 

 in pots, where a garden is devoid of the rockwork which best represents their 

 natural 'element.' Whether cultivated in pots or on rockwork, it may be well here 

 to state, that after long experience, and far too much of that kind of 'misfortune' 

 which usually attends 'experimenting' upon new plants, we find that, as a rule, 

 it is an error to place in the shade in summer, for the sake of coolness, those species 

 which inhabit very high mountain regions. These plants, as a class, hate the soft, 

 humid, 'lifeless' atmosphere which shady situations in low districts afford. Living 

 naturally on lofty ridges, they are constantly exposed to high winds, and an atmo- 

 sphere of crystalline clearness, through which the sun's rays dart down with a 

 vehemence which often heats the rocks till you can scarcely bear to touch them. 

 This brilliant sunshine in the daytime alternating with excessively heavy dews or 

 sharp frosts at night, are the summer conditions of a large number of the rarest 

 and most beautiful species in their native abodes. And these, born near vast fields 

 of perpetual snow, receive a rapid and permanent supply of moisture at the roots, 

 which is checked only when wintry winds again bind everything in a mass of ice. 



