I40 THK CULTURE OF POT-PLANTS 



size, the larger the amount of material — that is, of stored 

 food — they contain, and therefore the more likely they are 

 to produce fine flowers. Single varieties are generally more 

 satisfactory than double, and blue or white than yellow or 

 red. The so-called Roman hyacinth is really of French 

 origin. It is not a distinct species, but a small and early 

 variety. " Dutch Roman " bulbs which are sold by some 

 firms are merely young bulbs of the ordinary hyacinth, and 

 flower at the same time, not as soon as its early variety. 



The soil for pots should consist of loam and either leaf- 

 mould or thoroughly decomposed manure in a crumbling 

 condition, with enough sand to make it porous. If there 

 is a layer of sand for each bulb to rest on it will hasten 

 rooting. In order to allow as much space as possible below 

 for root-growth, the tops of the bulbs should be near the 

 surface, and in order to exclude the light it is a good plan 

 to sink the pots in ashes, and to leave them there until top- 

 growth commences. The ashes serve two other purposes : 

 they prevent the bulbs from being forced upwards by the 

 pressure of the roots underneath them, and if the pots are 

 on the ground they prevent the entrance of worms. The 

 soil should be kept slightly moist until the commencement 

 of growth, when more water is needed. At this stage the 

 temperature may be raised, and when the flower-buds appear 

 it may be raised again. It is rarely worth while attempting 

 to grow the same hyacinths a second time in pots, especially 

 if they have been forced. They should be planted out in a 

 shrubbery or some other part of the garden. 



In bowls of fibre they should be treated in much the 

 same way as in pots. In glasses of water they should be 

 kept in a dark cupboard until they have formed strong 

 roots and begun to make top-growth. 



Iris. — The species most commonly grown in pots are 

 /. xiphioides (English iris) and /. xiphium (Spanish iris), both 

 of them bulbous, the latter being perhaps the more suitable 

 because it is the smaller. There are a number of beautiful 

 varieties, and unnamed bulbs can be obtained for a mere 

 trifle. They should be placed outside after they have 



