CULTURE OF THE CHILIAN ALSTROEMERIA. 271 



the various apartments of the house, no other flowers can be compared 

 with them. 



The length, thickness, and number of their fascicled roots hinder 

 them from flourishing under pot-culture ; they succeed best in the 

 open ground, in the free air, which, if subjected to the following 

 treatment, they can brave with impunity. A bed is dug about 14 

 inches deep, in length and breadth proportioned to the number of 

 roots required to be planted, at a foot apart from heel to heel; the 

 bottom of the trench must be filled with rubble of potsherds, frag- 

 ments of bricks, tiles, &c, in order to permit a prompt and easy 

 drainage. It is then filled with a rich compost, formed of one-third 

 fresh loam, one-third sandy bog earth, and one-third spit dung, and 

 some such strong manure as guano may be added, in the proportion 

 of one-thirtieth of the whole mass. The whole is to be mixed well to- 

 gether, and left in heaps about two months before making use of it. 



Each rhizome is planted in the month of October, taking care that 

 its growing point is 10 inches below the surface of the soil. On the 

 frost becoming severe, the bed is covered with a frame-work, and sur- 

 rounded by muck ; the air being abundantly admitted whenever the 

 thermometer may not be below 32° Fahr. We have, however, 

 known the cold to descend to 25°, and the roots not to be injured 

 thereby. 



As long as the severe frost lasts, the frame" is covered with litter or 

 straw, which is removed at all times when the plants can enjoy the 

 benefit of the sun's rays. So soon as the cold is no longer to be 

 dreaded, the above protections are removed, and the plants whose 

 shoots are already apparent, are left perfectly free to all atmospheric 

 influences, and finally treated like other perennials. They must be 

 very sparingly watered during the ripening of the seeds, and should 

 great rains follow after the seeds are gathered, they must be protected 

 by the frames to prevent the rot. The roots are to be taken up 

 towards the end of July, the rhizomas cleaned and separated ; after- 

 wards they may be left exposed on shelves in a very airy dry place, 

 until the moment of replanting. 



The splendid collection of Alstroemerias which the abovenamed 

 gentleman possesses has been spoken of this year by several eminent 

 floriculturists of this country, who saw them in bloom. 



