132 THE CULTURE OF POT-PLANTS 



it to make roots and leaves, and by these means to renew 

 its internal store. 



Hence the importance of good roots and leaves. Without 

 them, as we have seen, a bulb may be able to flower, but 

 afterwards it must dwindle away. The roots gather in the 

 raw material ; the leaves elaborate it and convert it into food. 

 In the case of certain lilies which have two sets of roots, one 

 at the base of the bulbs as usual, and the other at the base 

 of the flowering stems, the upper set assists in providing 

 additional material for the flowers ; but in other cases, all or 

 most of the material is obtained from that previously stored 

 in the bulbs, and the function of the roots at their base is to 

 keep up and increase the supply. For this reason, in the 

 cultivation of bulbs every effort should be made to get strong 

 roots in advance of top-growth, and this applies even when 

 they are in flower, though all that the roots can do then is 

 to provide the necessary amount of water for the solution of 

 the solid materials. Unless, therefore, bulbs are completely 

 covered with soil or fibre, they should be kept in the dark 

 until they are well rooted, for top-growth is stimulated by 

 light. 



If plants are to give satisfaction and remain healthy in 

 pots, the conditions must be as nearly as possible similar to 

 those to which they are accustomed in their native habitat. 

 And as their development is interrupted in the latter case, 

 it must also be interrupted in the former. In other words, 

 though they should be plentifully supplied with food and 

 water while they are growing, they should, towards the end 

 of their growth, be fully exposed to air and sunshine and 

 gradually dried off — completely dried off if they are 

 deciduous, and kept very much drier than before if they 

 are evergreen. If desired, the deciduous species may be 

 turned out of their pots and replanted later ; but if so, they 

 should be kept in dry sand or something similar which will 

 preserve them from extreme changes of temperature, as well 

 as prevent their being excessively dried owing to exposure 

 to the air. 



For room decoration, bulbs are often grown in bowls of 



