S42 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



tuberous rhizomes of variable shape, and of a somewhat lighter grey 

 than the corm itself. These are the future scions, with whose aid the 

 species is to be propagated. They are fragile, and are readily detached 

 from the parent root. A few which had been forgotten, and left in 

 the ground all the winter without shelter of any sort, sprouted in 

 the following spring, which will give an idea of the hardihood of 

 the species. 



When once the corms are taken up and the scions detached, 

 the former may be kept as easily as dahlias and other similar bulbs. 

 On or under the shelves in a cold-house, in an orangery, in a cellar, 

 or anywhere out of reach of the frosts, they will keep well ; but too 

 dry a place should be avoided, as the conns lose their moisture, and 

 become flabby, to the detriment of their buds. More than once 

 this has been the cause of failure. 



The detached scions should be spread out on a shelf in a dry 

 place, to allow their wounds to cicatrize ; after which they should be 

 deposited in layers, or in sand, or pots, or boxes, as in the stratifi- 

 cation of certain kinds of seeds. In the ensuing spring they should 

 be planted in seed-beds, where they will form subjects, which, in 

 their turn, after a couple of years' growth, will be ready for 

 decorative purposes. 



In this way the Amorphophallus Hivieri is grown in open ground ; 

 but it would be a shame that a plant so ornamental should not be 

 used for in-door decoration as well. For this purpose we should 

 proceed as follows : — About the beginning of April the corms should 

 be potted, as directed above, and the pots set in a stove ; towards 

 the middle of May the plants become developed, and should then be 

 given abundance of air. It would, perhaps, be best to set them in 

 an airy cold-frame. All through the summer water should be given 

 abundantly overhead and at the foot of the plants. When they have 

 attained a sufficient size, they may be placed in the rooms, where 

 they will find few rivals. Single subjects are generally used. Here 

 they may be kept for a fortnight. They will then require refresh- 

 ment, and to this end should be put in the cold-frame again for a 

 week ; after this they may be brought back again for a fortnight, and 

 so on until they are done with. 



On the Jipproach of antumn, when the leaves of the pot subjects 

 begin to fade, the waterings should be less frequent, and from 

 October until April they should be discontinued altogether. The 

 plants should then be repotted in pots of larger size if required, and 

 with fresh earth. In winter time the pots should be shelved under 

 glass. The season of flowering is likely to be materially influenced 

 by the mode of culture : for example, the plants we raised at first in 

 the stove invariably showed their inflorescence in December, January, 

 or February, whilst those reared iu the temperate-house were as 

 late as April. With the method we now practise, i.e., taking up the 

 bulbs, keeping them, and replanting in April, it is May or June 

 before the spathes appear, which allows us to set out the plants in 

 the open ground, without risk of injury. 



It may be imagined that the hardy character of our arad enables 

 it to dispense with shelter and to winter in the ground, where 



