332 THE FLORAL WOELD AND GAEDEN aUIDE. 



Dog's-tooth Violet. — This exquisitely beautiful plant, JEry- 

 tlironium dens-canis, is not half appreciated as it deserves, and it 

 seems to owe some of its obscurity to the prevalence of a belief that 

 it is difficult to grow. The fact is, the more you do for it the less it 

 likes you. In the front of a peat-bed is a capital place for them ; 

 or in any thoroughly sandy loam. To be well drained is of the 

 greatest importance. They are hardy as oaks, and in the early days 

 of spring their leaves and flowers are alike so beautiful that whoever 

 gives them a fair chance will never after be without them. I name 

 as few varieties as possible generally in these notes, because if 

 people want myriads of varieties of any particular class, they have 

 but to hunt them up in trade catalogues. But in this case, I mention 

 all I know, and recommend album, album major, purpureum, purpu- 

 reum major, roseum, and Americana. 



Teitojn'ias. — People will persist in confounding tritonias and 

 tritomas, yet they are as distinct as lilies and ixias. I saw not long 

 since at a flower show, a specimen of Tritonia aurea labelled Tri- 

 toma uvaria I This came from a celebrated nursery, the proprietor 

 of which is an old exhibitor ! ! Tritouias are not quite hardy, but 

 they may be grown out of doors in a bed of sandy peat well drained, 

 with some protection in winter. The best for out-door purposes is, 

 T. aurea (sometimes called Crocosma aurea). This forms a fine 

 bush-like mass two feet high, well covered all the summer with pretty 

 orange-coloured flowers. To grow it out of doors the bed must be 

 sheltered, and the plants must have a cover of cocoa-nut fibre piled 

 over them all winter. The note on ixia and sparaxis in last month's 

 number, will afibrd all the information required. As to pot-culture, 

 all the tritonias can be managed easily. Pot the bulbs in autumn, 

 in well-drained pots of sandy peat. Give very little water until 

 they are growing freely, and keep them in a cool greenhouse or 

 frame, taking care that frost does not get to them. "When they 

 begin to grow, give air frequently, and as they advance increase the 

 supplies of water. If extreme neatness is required, they should be 

 neatly tied to thin green stakes, but I prefer to let them sprawl 

 about ato naturel. Put a row of T. crocata in bloom, and in the 

 sprawling state, all along the front of the conservatory stage, and 

 what a glorious sight you have. All the species and varieties are 

 good, but I recommend particularly, in addition to the two already 

 named, T. concolor, T. eximia, T. fenestrata, T. lineata, T. rasa, T. 

 speclosa. 



Alstecemeeia. — These are best known to the old class of gar- 

 deners. They are truly fine things, producing many racemes of 

 flowers of brilliant red, orange, rose and carmine colours, variously 

 barred, and striped. They are generally supposed to be tender, but if 

 properly treated are hardy enough to endure any of our ordinary 

 winters, and may, therefore, be planted with perfect safety. The way 

 to manage them is to plant them in a dry sandy loam or peat, conse- 

 quently, they are well adapted for beds and borders, which have 

 been prepared for Calandrinia umhellata (a lovely herbaceous plant), 

 Semper vivums, Erythrotiiums, and Tritonias. A well-drained posi- 

 tion, a bed raised above the level, and the shelter of a wall or large 



