ON THE CULTURE OF THE BLETIA TANKERVILLIA. 105 



they should be carefully taken up, and potted into wide shallow pots, 

 of sufficient size not to cramp the roots, using the compost already 

 recommended : the only further care they require is, to place them 

 in a cold frame, where they will be just protected from frost, keeping 

 them comparatively dry, and carefully watching that snails and slugs 

 do not eat off the flower buds as they advance. It is scarcely neces- 

 sary to say that light should, as much as possible, be admitted, never 

 keeping the frame covered in the day, except during very severe 

 frosts, and taking care to allow a free circulation of air in mild 

 weather. 



I have a quantity of pots, whilst the plants are in bloom, in my 

 sitting room, where they flourish beautifully, and give a sweet cheer- 

 fulness to it. 



ARTICLE V. 



ON THE CULTURE OF THE BLETIA TANKERVILLIA. 



BY MB. J. CHAPMAN, UNDER GARDENER, RUFKORD GARDENS IN NOTTINGHAMSHIRE. 



Thinking the following remarks on the culture of Bletia Tanker- 

 villia might be serviceable to the readers of the Cabinet, and tend 

 in some degree to stimulate the cultivation of such a noble flowering 

 plant, I forward them for your observation, and should you deem 

 them worthy inserting in your valuable practical publication they 

 are at your service. As soon as the plants have done blooming, re- 

 move them to a cool part of the stove, and let them remain a fortnight 

 or three weeks, giving them very little water ; you will then perceive 

 the plants making numerous young shoots, all the old flowering 

 shoots should now be cut quite down, and water totally withheld 

 until the wounds made by cutting down are quite healed. The plants 

 should now be potted in the following compost : two-thirds good 

 turfy loam, one-third leaf earth, with a small portion of sharp sand 

 added. The whole must be chopped together (not sifted), and used 

 in a rough state, giving a good drainage, care being taken not to over- 

 pot them, as over-potting would cause a too vigorous growth, and 

 disappointment would be the result, by the plants not showing bloom 

 the following season. It will now be advantageous to remove the 

 plants to a warmer part of the house until they get well root-'d in the 

 fresh soil. They will then require a plentiful supply of water 



