138 THE CULTURE OF TOT-PLANTS 



seed. The seed can be sown either in spring or in autumn. 

 When the seedHngs are large enough they should be pricked 

 out about 2 in. apart in a box. Before they begin to crowd 

 one another they should be transferred to small pots of sandy 

 loam and leaf-mould, and, when necessary, to larger ones, the 

 corms not buried in the soil, but partly above it. A position 

 shaded from strong sunshine is the most suitable for the 

 plants, and during hot weather they should be sprayed 

 frequently, otherwise they are liable to be attacked by red 

 spider. To get rid of these pests, and also of thrips and 

 aphides, the foliage should be sponged with an insecticide. 

 Spraying is of little use, owing to the difficulty of wetting 

 the lower sides of the leaves where the insects are mostly 

 to be found. The young plants should be kept growing 

 during the whole of the first winter in a temperature not 

 below 50° F., and during the following season until they have 

 flowered, when they may be dried off a little, but not 

 entirely. The corms are often throw^n away when they are 

 more than three years old. The flowers then get much 

 smaller, but sometimes are very numerous. 



Daffodil. — See Narcissus, p. 142. 



Freesia refracta. — This well-known plant has strongly 

 scented white flowers blotched with orange. There is a 

 variety {alba) which is pure white. The small bulbs should 

 be potted about i in. apart and \ i"- below the surface in 

 loam, leaf-mould, and sand from August onwards. The best 

 position is a shady frame or greenhouse, or a west window. 

 If the soil is moist little or no water should be required 

 until the leaves appear, when the supply should be increased. 

 The pots should then be moved into a lighter position, 

 in order that the plants may not get too taU. When the 

 foliage begins to wither, they should be dried off. The bulbs 

 may remain in the soil, or they may be stored in sand until 

 they are wanted again. Freesias can easily be grown from 

 seed. If it is sown as soon as it is ripe, many of them will 

 flower in the following season. 



Galanthus (Snowdrop). — The finest species is G. Elwesii^ 

 which is therefore the best for pots. The bulbs should be 



