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IKISII (iAKDKNlNG 



The Frees'ia. and its Culture, 



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Of latr years considfralilc imiudN ciiuiil has 

 lii'i'M luailt' anioMU tlu' l-'iccsias. and now we 

 havr. ill addition to the i)(»|Hilar F. ict'iacta. 

 many beautiful forms of hyhiid ori^nn. Tlicy 

 arc all highly prized for their deliirhtful fia^- 

 ranee. and tlie <i;raeeful s|)ikes of l)loom last a 

 i'onsideial)l(> time in water. V. refraeta, with 

 its \aiiet\- all)a. and V. Leiclit linii are well 

 known, and amcinj: tiiose of reeent iutrodue- 

 tion are F. ('ha])mani. F. Tubergoni, and others 

 uliich in) under sueh fancy names as Fairy 

 l^ueen. &e.. w hile some hrms oti'er a good mixed 

 strain at a reasonat)le price. 



Immense quantities of bulbs arc sent to this 

 country from Bermuda, the Channel Islands. 

 aiul the South of France. They reach here, as 

 a general rule, in August, and should be re- 

 l)otted directly the grower receives tliem, 

 l»ecause Freesia bulbs if left out of the soil for 

 any great length of time lose much of their 

 vitality. 



I'ldike many bulbs cmj)loycd foi- grecniiouse 

 ilecoration. it is not necessary to purchase a 

 fresh sui)ply every year. If they are pi'operly 

 iil)ened they will continue to give a gf)od 

 account of themselves for. one might say, an 

 intlctinitc period. The saving of the old bulbs 

 has its advantages in enabling us to rej)ot them 

 during the month of July. Early jiotting is 

 the secret of growing Freesias to perfection, 

 and when grown thus they are most dehghtful 

 ])lants, while on the other hand inferior pots of 

 bulbs are not worth house room. Receptacles 

 live and six inches in diameter are usually 

 chosen, and they are filled one-fourth of their 

 de])th with drainage. 



Freesias repay for generous treatment, and 

 the soil sliould consist of the best loam, three 

 parts to one part leaf -mould. A fair sprinkling 

 of rotten manure or a little bone meal ma}' be 

 included. The larger pots will take about twelve 

 bulbs, and in the smaller size nine or ten will 

 sultiee. The tops of the bulbs should be two 

 inches or so below the surface. When the re- 

 l)otting is finished, give a gentle watering, 

 l^lace the pots in a cold frame or at the base of 

 a south wall, and slightly cover them with leaf- 

 mould or cocoanut fibre. Some growers do 

 not practice tliis method, but it prevents 

 the soil from becoming too dry, and no harm is 

 done if the covering is removed directly top 

 growth begins. If a cold frame is emj)loyed, 

 the lights must be off except during heavy 

 rains, and at all times plenty of air nuist be 

 admitted. The soil must be kept moist, and 

 as growth advances water maj- be afforded in 

 greater quantity, but any excess in this direc- 



(ion must be avoided at all limes. Il will Ix' 

 necessary to stake the plants to pre\cnt the 

 growths from bending oNcr. and three or four 

 thin bamboo lips placed around the edge of 

 cull pot. with a thin |)iece of ratlia attached. 

 will answci the purpose admirably. Neat 

 staking should always he piactised. 



.\s wiiitri- 



iproa. 



ind frosts are likely 

 to make thrii' a |)pcai aiicc. the plants must be 

 reuu>\cd to a heated pit or cool greenhou.se. 

 selecting a light and airy jxisition. IMants so 

 treated will bloom al»out February and March, 

 but if desired they can b(^ had in Mower at an 

 earlier date. For flowering at Christmas il 

 would be necessary to i)lace a batch in gentle 

 heat about the .second week in November, and 

 l)y bringing in successive batches at fortnightly 

 intervals a supply of bloom can be maintained. 

 It shoukl be borne in mind, however, that the 

 Howers lack substance when forced to an>' great 

 extent. 



When the |)()ts are lilled with roots, alternate 

 waterings with weak liquid manure will |»ro\-e 

 of considerable benefit. 



.\fter the spikes are cut the plants should 

 still remain in a greenhouse, and be regularly 

 su})plied with water until tiic foliage shows 

 signs of decay. At this stage the supply is 

 gradually withhekl until the leaves have died 

 down. Then they are kept quite dry until the 

 times arrives for the annual re})otting. When 

 the bulbs are turned out of their pots thc\' 

 should be graded, the best bidbs being used for 

 pots and the snuill ones may be grown on in 

 pans, thereby not taking up so much space. 



Few insect pests trouble Freesias if the cid- 

 tural details quoted above are adhered to as 

 far as po.ssible. 



Phoenix Park and Stephen's 

 Green in early June. 



A RUN round the above parks in the first week 

 of June found preparations for " bedding out "' 

 in full swing, and many June flowering plants 

 in flower. In the People's Gardens a fine bed 

 of Lupinus Polyphyllus Moerheimii was aj)- 

 proaching i)crfection, and being nicely backed 

 by dark-leaved shrubs, was admirably ])laced 

 for effect, the beautiful soft i)hik of the blossoms 

 showing up well agahist the dark backgroimd. 

 June flowering perennials are extremely useful 

 in keeping up a display in the flower garden 

 dm-ing the transition stage between the spring 

 flowers and the summer bedding. Further on, 

 near the Parkgate entrance, a fine bed of the 

 beautiful Py ret brum Queen Mary was most 

 attractive. Here again the value of a darker 

 background was effectively shown, the fine pink 

 colour immediately attracting one from some 



