BULBS 123 
because the flowers fade,—the plant has got to 
make its growth and store up food for next season. 
Continue to water and feed — outdoors in the sum- 
mer — until the leaves begin to turn yellow; then 
dry off and store in a cool place until the bulbs again 
show signs of growth. The flowers are generally 
borne from January until May and come in shades 
of crimson, blood-red and white and attractive com- 
binations of these colors. 
Vallota purpurea is little known, but a very use- 
ful plant for the window garden, resembling the 
amaryllis, but having evergreen foliage which, of 
course, gives it a distinct advantage. The flowers 
are reddish scarlet. 
Imantophyllum miniatum is another very desir- 
able evergreen foliaged bulb, having large amaryllis- 
like flowers, red with a yellow throat. There are 
several varieties. 
The African blue lily (Agapanthus umbellatus) 
is quite like the above but the flowers are bright 
blue, a large number forming each umbel, so that it 
is one of the most striking of plants. It naturally 
flowers in the summer (being carried through the 
winter by storing in the cellar), but by changing the 
resting season may be flowered in the spring. Un- 
like most of the other bulbs in this group, they 
should be repotted in rich soil every year, to do 
their best. Beside the above there are varieties 
with white and with double flowers and one with 
