MARCH 



IRISH GARDENING. 



43 



Coum, found in the Greek Archipelag-o, with 

 its variety C. vernum, or Coum Zonal ; C. 

 ibericum Atkinsii, a garden form, with large 

 white flowers, with a purple spot at base of 

 each perianth segment ; Cyclamen europaium, 

 found in Central and Southern Europe, and 

 which requires deep planting. The Italian forms 

 of this species are — C. Clusii, C. litorale, and C. 

 Peakianum. Their flowers are varied in colour 

 and beautifully scented. Cyclamen hederae- 

 folium is found in Switzerland, Italy, Greece, 

 and north coast of Africa. It has luxuriant 

 foliage, much like our ivy leaf in form 

 (hence the specific name), and is a profuse 

 bloomer. 



Then we have the form Persicum, from 

 which have sprung the many beautiful 

 varieties now so largely grown in pots, 

 and used so freely during winter and 

 spring for conservatory, room, and house 

 decoration ; but for out-of-door cultivation' 

 of the cyclamen I would recommend the 

 following culture : - Good drainage, and at 

 least twelve inches of good compost, made 

 up of good loam, grit, decayed leaves, and 

 cow manure. A south-east aspect is best, 

 and if screened from harsh winds by shrubs 

 or rocks they should thrive well for years, 

 and amply repay for all trouble taken with 

 them at the start. 



The cyclamen, now so largely used 

 for pot culture, is almost entirely con- 

 fined to the race of seedling varieties of 

 C. persicum that in recent years have 

 been so much improved in size, colour, 

 and profusion of flower. So great is 

 the improvement that the cyclamen of the 

 present day is, without doubt, amongst the 

 most beautiful and continuous bloomers of 

 all our greenhouse plants. Their culture is 

 being better understood by gardeners, and can 

 moreover be brought to perfection now in less 

 than half the time considered necessary 25 years 

 ago. By abandoning any unnatural check and 

 giving more warmth, so as to stimulate a 

 quicker growth, this new race succeeds much 

 better than under the old method, by which, 

 after forming, the plants were subjected to a 

 severe drying process, whereby they were much 

 weakened in constitutional vigour. The treat- 

 ment found to suit them best is that the 

 plants should be grown from seed each year, 

 and from the time of sowing the seeds until 

 ttie plants are setting their flowers a tempera- 



ture of from 50 to 55 degrees is necessary. 

 I sow the seeds about the middle of September 

 in clean pans with good drainage, and filled 

 to within three-quarter-inch of the rim with a 

 compost of good loam, leaf-mould, and sand, 

 with some crushed brick or crocks added. 

 This soil is made firm and smooth on the 

 surface. The seeds, which had been steeped in 

 tepid water for twehe hours previously, are 

 then placed one inch apart on the surface of pans 

 pressed in, and covered with a quarter-inch of 

 fine compost. They are then watered with a fine 



Giant White Cyclamen 



rose-can, and the pans covered with glass or 

 strong naper to prevent evaporation. They are 

 then placed in a temperature of about 55 degrees. 

 In four weeks the seed will begin to show signs 

 of life ; then the glass is tilted up a little, and in 

 a few days it can be entirely removed, when the 

 pans should be raised near the glass, so that 

 the little plants do not become drawn. 



About the middle of January they should be 

 placed singly in small pots, using the same 

 compost. The seedlings should be lifted from 

 the pan with a wooden label so as to secure all 

 roots and soil adhering to them. When potted 

 the little bulb should not be buried. The same 

 applies to subsequent pottings. They will 

 require but little water further than spraying 

 their foliage lightly twice daily until their roots 

 have entered the new soil. When the plants 



