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lour. Between these comes out the flower-stalk, which is from two 

 to three feet in height, round, and as large as a man's Utile finger, 

 naked to the top, where it supports a large head or umbel of blue 

 flowers, inclosed in a sheath, which splits into two parts, and is bent 

 backward. Each flower stands on a pedicel about an inch long. 

 The petals are blunt, and waved on their edges; the umbel being 

 large, the flowers numerous, and of a bright blue colour, making a 

 fine appearance. 



They appear about the end of August, or the beginning of Sep- 

 tember, and ficquenlly continue in full beauty till the spring. 



It is a native of the Cape of Good Hope. 



Culture. — This plant may be easily propagated by means of off- 

 sets taken from the parent plant. The operation of parting them is 

 to be performed at the season when the process of vegetation is in 

 the most languid state, which in this j)lant is generally about the 

 latter end of June. In performing the work the old plants are to be 

 turned out of their pots, and the mould cautiously cleared away from 

 them, that the fibres of the oflsets may be belter ascerlained. The 

 offsets are then to be separated in such a manner as that their heads 

 may not be injured. V\ hen ihey adhere \eiy closely a knife may be 

 employed for the purpose, being careful not to wound the bulb of 

 eillicr the old or new plant. After this has been accomplished the 

 bulbs are to be planted out separately, in pots of good garden mould, 

 and placed in shady situations that admit the moining sun. A liule 

 water should be given once or twice a week when the season is dry, 

 care being taken not to endanger the rotting of the roots by applyino- 

 it in too large a pro[)ortion. In lour or five weeks, when the ne\\r 

 planted bulbs have put out fresh roots, they should be removed into 

 other situatioPiS that are more fully exposed to the influence of the 

 sun, a little more water being cautiously applied in order to strengljicn 

 their flowering. The flower-stems mostly appear in the beginnino- of 

 September, and towards the end of it the flowers begin to open. At 

 this period, if the season be not quite favourable, the plants must be 

 brought under shelter, in order to ])rotcct them from the effects of 

 frost or loo much wet, care being taken to admit the air as freely as 



