ALSTRCEMERIA 



THE BULB BOOK 



ALSTRCEMERIA 



into as many clumps as there are 

 crowns showing. This is best done 

 as a rule in spring-time, when growth 

 recommences after the winter rest. 

 Ripened seeds may also be sown 

 either in autumn or in spring, in pots 

 or pans of rich gritty soil, and kept 

 in a cold frame or greenhouse. The 

 seedlings when large enough to handle 

 easily should be pricked out into a 

 compost of sandy loam, Avith a little 

 peat and leaf-soil, in pots or pans. 

 They may be grown on in this way 

 for about a year, attention being 

 given to watering, etc. They will 

 then be large enough to transplant, 

 without much danger to the brittle 

 roots, to the open air where they are 

 to bloom. Instead of sowing the 

 seeds in the way described, they may 

 be sown when thoroughly ripe in 

 patches where it is intended the 

 plants are to remain eventually. By 

 covering the seeds with 2 or 3 ins. 

 of rich gritty mould, they pass the 

 winter safely and germinate freely the 

 following spring. When this method 

 is adopted one must not forget to 

 mark the spot where the seeds have 

 been sown. 



The following are amongst the 

 most useful garden kinds : — 



A. aurantiaca (A. aurea). — A splen- 

 did strong-growing species 2 to 4 

 ft. high, native of Chili, having thin, 

 lance-shaped leaves, and masses of 

 large orange flowers, the two upper 

 inner petals being brightly streaked 

 with red or carmine. One of the 

 best kinds for the open border. {Bot. 

 Mag. t. 3350.) 



A. brasiliensis. — A Brazilian species 

 3 to 4 ft. high, with oblong, lance- 

 shaped leaves about 2 ins. long, and 

 reddish-yellow flowers, the inner 

 segments being spotted with deep 

 brown. This species is too tender 

 for outdoor cultivation. 



A. caryophyllea. — A Brazilian 



species about 8 or 9 ins. high, with 

 narrow, lance-shaped leaves, and 

 sweet-scented scarlet flowers pro- 

 duced in February. This species was 

 erroneously figured as A. Ligtu in the 

 Bot. Mag. t. 125. It is not a hardy 

 plant, and can only be brought to 



l'"ii;. 41. — Alstncmeria uurantiaca. (i.) 



perfection in a stove or warm green- 

 house. During the winter season 

 the roots are at rest, and consequently 

 require no water during that period. 



A. ehilensis. — A beautiful Chilian 

 species 2 to 3 ft. high, with more or 

 less obovate, spoon-shaped, rather 

 glaucous, twisted leaves minutely 

 fringed at the edges. The blood-red 

 or pink flowers appear during the 

 summer and autumn months, and 

 have the two upper inner segments 

 lined with yellow. There are many 

 seedling forms of this plant in 

 gardens, having a great variety of 

 colour from blush-white to deep 

 orange or red. 



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