TENDER BULBOUS AND TUBEROUS PLANTS 



TENDER BULBOUS AND TUBEROUS PLANTS 



The plants in this group are such that they cannot be grown in 

 the open air, even during the summer months, with any degree of 

 success. They are natives of the tropical and subtropical parts of 

 the globe, and are mostly found at low elevations where the heat 

 and moisture are often great. It must be borne in mind that plants 

 from the same geographical region may be quite different in their 

 natures, and would consequently require different cultural treatment. 

 Thus, a species from the high mountain tops at altitudes of 10,000 

 or 12,000 feet, would be quite hardy in our climate, in comparison 

 with other species from the same latitude, but found at the base of 

 the mountains or on the plains. This accounts for many plants from 

 the mountain ranges of Central America being hardy or almost 

 hardy in the British Isles, while others at a lower elevation require 

 to be grown in a stove or greenhouse. 



As the terms "stove" and "greenhouse" are frequently used in 

 this work, it may be as well to explain to the amateur what is meant 

 by them. A " stove " house is a very warm greenhouse — one with 

 a good supply of hot-water pipes, so that even in severe winters it may 

 be possible to maintain a night or minimum temperature of at least 

 60°-65°F. This can only be done by proper attention to stoking 

 the furnaces. As a rule a " stove " house is also a moist one, that is, 

 the atmosphere is constantly kept in a state of humidity either by 

 throwing water on the floors (" damping down " as gardeners call it) 

 or by the frequent use of the syringe or hose-pipe. Water-tanks 

 are built in the houses, so that a liberal supply of water is always 



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