THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 289 



STMPHYANDRA PENDULA. 



jjHE pendulous Symphyandra is a native of Mount Cau- 

 casus, and was introduced into this country in 1824. 

 It grows about a foot high, and has ornamental white 

 or cream-coloured flowers. It prefers a cool, shady 

 situation, as it will not bear being fully exposed to the 

 sun; the north side of rockwork being a very suitable place. It 

 may be increased either by seed or by dividing the roots in the 

 spring. The genus Symphyandra may be recognized by the flowers 

 having five stamens, the filaments of which are dilated at the base, 

 fringed with hair and free, the antlers adhering so as to form a long 

 cylindrical tube. The species are herbaceous perennials, with 

 alternate leaves. The generic name is from symphis, to grow 

 together, and aner, an antler, in allusion to the combined antlers. 



PLANTING BULBS FOR EXHIBITION. 



|,HE soil for nearly every hardy bulb should be one half 

 thoroughly decomposed cow-dung, and half light soil 

 of almost any kind, or, if the dung from au old melon 

 or cucumber-frame be used instead of cow-dung, put 

 only one-third part, or two parts of light soil. If the 

 soil which is at hand be stiff and not light, mix clean sand with it 

 till it is made light, and then use two parts of the mixture to one 

 of the dung; or, if it be cow-dung, to an equal quantity. The 

 compost should be thoroughly mixed, and sifted through a coarse 

 sieve, that would let a small marble pass the wires. Take the pots 

 that are five inches across the mouth for the early tulips, and those 

 six inches across, or even more, for the hyacinths. Having first put 

 a bit of crock over the hole, fill these pots two-thirds of the way up 

 with the compost ; press the hyacinths or tulips very gently into 

 this surface, enough only to make them stand even while you fill 

 them up with the soil ; and let it be noticed that, if pressed at all 

 hard into the mould, the fibres will not easily enter; but press the 

 bulb upwards, and hyacinths frequently throw themselves nearly 

 out of the pot. But if the soil be soft, and the fibres can enter it 

 freely, the surface of the mould will not be disturbed, although the 

 bulb is but just covered an inch. When bulbs are potted, it is 

 usual to cover them with something. Six inches thickness of old 

 tan or sawdust is commonly used, the pots being first plunged to 

 the rim. We, however, do not attach so much importance to this 

 part of the operation as some do, principally because, having gene- 

 rally bloomed large collections without taking that trouble, and 

 found them much better than most other people's, we have of late 

 years omitted that troublesome job. We have put ours in the 

 dark — that is, under the front table of the potting-shed, or under 



October. 19 ' 



