156 GLENN YS HANDBOOK 



ISOPOGON. [Proteaceae.] Greenhouse evergreen shrubs 

 from New Holland. Sandy peat, with one-third loam. In- 

 creased bj cuttings in sand under bell-glasses. They are of 

 slight importance as ornamental plants. 



ISOTOMA. [Lobeliaceae.] A pretty dwarf blue-flowered 

 Lobelia-like plant, requiring the shelter of a greenhouse in 

 winter, but growing in the open air in summer, and blossom- 

 ing through a great part of that period. It grows best in 

 a dryish sandy loam, and in a warm situation. The plants 

 should be raised from seeds in July, and kept through the 

 winter in a dry frame or greenhouse in readiness for planting 

 out the following May or June. There are many varieties. 



ISOTPiOPIS. [Leguminosse, § Papilionaceae.] Green- 

 house evergreen shrubs. Sandy peat and loam. Propagated 

 by cuttings in sand under bell-glasses. 



IVY. See Hedera. 



IXIA. [Iridaceae.] Very beautiful bulbous plants, with 

 brilliant flowers. They delight in sandy loam and peat earth 

 in equal quantities, with a little well-decomposed dung ; and 

 a south border made up of this compost will bloom them in 

 high perfection. They are handsome pot plants ; and, 

 although few flowers so well deserve attention, yet few are so 

 little known and appreciated. They should be potted in 

 October, and placed in a frame, where they must be protected 

 against frost and excess of wet, and from which they may be 

 removed to the greenhouse as soon as they indicate bloom. 

 Three or four bulbs are sufficient in a pot, and the plants in 

 each pot should be confined to one sort. Whether in pots 

 or in borders they must not be reached by frost, and sliould 

 be guarded against wet in winter ; nor must they be suffered 

 to get dry during the season of growth. Ixias are increased 

 by offsets from the old bulbs, which should be separated at 

 potting or planting time, or placed in a store pot or bed. 

 They may also be raised from seeds, which should be sown 

 very thinly in a pan. xlfter the first year s growth, and when 

 the foliage dies, the diminutive bulbs may be transferred to 

 other pans or pots, and put in an inch and a half apart, or 

 thi'ee or four in a small pot, and in this way continued to be 

 grown until they flower. The varieties are already nume- 

 rous. 



