TEOPIOLUM LOBBIANUM. 



a strong bloom. As regards watering, they must have a careful supply, neither too much 

 nor too little ; but if they can be sprinkled overhead with the syringe before shutting up 

 the house, they Avill not require much water at the roots for some time. Towards tlie end 

 of May, if the weather is favorable, they may be placed in a warm sheltered spot out of 

 doors, and ought to have their stems tied to a stake, in order to prevent their being in- 

 jured by wind. A few plants may be retained in the greenhouse, with a view to have 

 them in flower earlier ; indeed, I place some of my bulbs in a moderately close, warm house 

 early in March, and I manage to have them in flower early in August ; others I retard, to 

 prolong their flowering until October ; but a season's practice will be the best guide in this 

 matter. These Lilies are not liable to suffer from the attacks of insects, but the green-fly 

 will occasionally make its appearance upon such of the plants as may have been kept over 

 warm. If so, fumigate at once with tobacco-smoke, or wash the leaves with weak tobacco- 

 water. I have said nothing about soil, for they are not very particular in this respect. I 

 use fresh fibrous loam and peat in equal portions, with a suflacient quantity of sand to ren- 

 der it porous ; if peat cannot be had, use leaf-soil. Some say, however, that the flowers 

 are much higher colored in peat. The only thing requiring further notice is, to be careful 

 of the flowers when you have got them — syringing overhead, or a damp stagnant atmos- 

 phere, will spoil them, just as it would a light-colored Camellia flower. I once lost a fine 

 head of bloom in this way. If you are anxious to propagate them, it may be effected by 

 means of the scales of the bulbs. Fill a pan with soil similar to that recommended for 

 growing them in ; lay the scales upon the surface, and sprinkle a little fine soil over them ; 

 give a little water, and place the pan in a close warm atmosphere. This is, however, a 

 part of the business which had better be left to professional hands, and, except the amateur 

 be proficient in such work, he will not be very successful. If properly managed, they will 

 soon increase by natural means to more than can be accommodated. I may just state, by 

 way of conclusion, that, in my opinion, these fine Lilies have one fault — they produce their 

 flowers too far from the surface of the soil. I have tried to remedy this by placing three 

 smaller bulbs in a pot with the principal one at the first potting, and I think this improves 

 their appearance when in flower. With this exception, they are splendid productions, and 

 deserve the most extensive cultivation ; grown in masses in large pots, or in conservatory 

 borders, they are surpassingly grand, and they are quite within the means of the amateur. 

 Don't be satisfied with your treatment unless your full-grown bulbs produce from twenty- 

 five to thirty flowers upon a single stem. — Autumnalisy 



TROPIOLUM LOBBIANUM AS A GREENHOUSE CLIMBER. 



BT EDGAE SANDERS, GAEDENER TO J. F. EATHBONE, ALBANY. 



The insignificance of this plant under bad treatment, may cause many to question its 

 great beauty as a decorative plant. In my mind, as a greenhouse climber for winter 

 flowering it has few equals, commencing early to put forth its blossoms and continu- 

 ing them without intermission till late in the spring. Perhaps the following notes of 

 its treatment here may not be uninteresting to a portion of your numerous readers, 

 e plants when received from the nursery were good, established plants, in 

 As soon as obtained (October 31) they were shifted into 11-inch pots, usin 



