170 TREATMENT OF TROPCEOLUM TRICOLOKUM. 



one-third sandy peat, one-third well rotted leaf mould, and old 

 hotbed dung, and the other part, a fresh yellow loam. I put two 

 inches deep of drainage, viz. one of broken pots, and the other 

 of moss. 



I had the bulb placed high in the middle of the pot, and I re- 

 placed the plant in the greenhouse, and gave it water only when 

 it was quite dry. This latter attention is very necessary, for the 

 least excess of water rots the tender fibres, and consequently 

 the foliage and stem dies. When, however, by any inattention, 

 such a causuality occurs, a friend of mine, who has long grown 

 this plant, say 3, that the bulb should not have anymore water, 

 the surface stagnant soil to be removed, (not where the fibrous 

 xoots are), and a little dryish loam be substituted, the bulb ought 

 then to be allowed to rest, just as if it was the usual season of its 

 dormant state, at the end of the summer. Early in March, I put 

 the pot in a gentle heat, in a hot bed frame for a fortnight, the 

 bulb pushed a shoot, I then removed it to the greenhouse, where 

 T carefully trained it to a circular wire frame, when the plant 

 reached die height of six feet, and produced hundreds upon hun- 

 dreds of its delightful blossoms. I am fully persuaded that the 

 season of rest is by many persons prolonged too late in spring. 



It is better to .get the plant pushed by the end of March, and 

 it can then be gradually encouraged by watering, &c. so as to 

 becoms vigorous, and it should then be placed in a congenial si- 

 tuation in the greenhouse, where it is light and airy. When the 

 bulb is kept dormant till April, as is generally done, a strong ex- 

 citement is often had recourse to, by forcing the shoot up, and 

 pushing it up afterwards very rapidly, in doing this, the roots 

 are generally more tender, and the increased temperature ren- 

 ders an increase of water necessary ; this often rots the fibres, 

 and the plant either dies or becomes sickly. The greatest atten- 

 tion is required in the following particulars, viz. Have the bulb 

 planted high, and excite the shoot up by placing the bulb a fort- 

 night in gentle heat. Grow the plant in a light and airy green- 

 house. Never water the soil till dry at surface, and dry it gra- 

 dually for a season of rest ; repot in the manner stated, and suc- 

 cess is certain. 



Flora. 



