246 ON THE CULTIVATION OF HARDY BULBS. 
but as I got mine from my own seedsman I suppose they are to be had 
at all the principal seed shops in the country. 
[They are most suitable for the pnrposes intended, and are orna- 
mental. We recommend them to our readers.—Conp. | 
ON THE CULTIVATION OF HARDY BULBS. 
BY MR. A. COURTIN, GOMER GARDEN, SEAFORTH, NEAR LIVERPOOL, 
So far as my opportunities have enabled me to judge, I believe there 
are comparatively few places in England where this beautiful tribe of 
plants are extensively or well grown. With the exception of the late 
Dean of Manchester, who was distinguished asa botanist for his know- 
ledge of Amaryllidez in general, as well as for his success as an ama- 
teur grower of a vast collection, there are none who have given bulbs 
that attention which they deserve, and which has been freely lavished 
on other families of plants, if not of less merit as objects of scientific 
study, certainly of less beauty and elegance of form. I have therefore 
much pleasure in laying before your readers a few observations on the 
cultivation of such sorts as may be grown in the open ground; and 
beg to assure them that those which I shall enumerate are well worthy 
of a place in every garden, and will amply repay the care that may be 
bestowed on them. If they are not grown extensively, they should be 
placed in the border in front of a greenhouse, where a limited number 
will ‘produce the best effect ; perhaps 500 or 600 plants might be con- 
veniently grouped together. The finest hardy bulbs are, without 
doubt, the Alstreemerias from Chili, the Ixias, the Sparaxis, with the 
different species and varieties of Gladiolus. In regard to the best way 
of managing the three first, I should say, choose a border in front of 
any house in your garden with a warm exposure; empty this border 
two feet deep, and put more .than a foot and a half of good drainage 
at the bottom. The soil should be a mixture such as the following : 
Two-fifths old peat, one-fifth well-decayed dung or leaf-mould, one- 
fifth loam, and one part common sand; mix this well, and fill up the 
border with it to within about six inches of the top, in order to leave room 
for placing the bulbs in, as they will require to be covered five or six 
inches. In planting the Alstroemerias it will be desirable to keep them 
one foot apart. The Ixias and Sparaxis may be planted closer. If 
your border is about four or five feet wide, the bulbs will be most 
effectively placed as follows :—Place three rows of Ixias close to the 
wall, two or three rows of Alstroemerias in the middle, and the 
Sparaxis may be placed in front. Placed in this way they will form a 
neat arrangement, according to the size they attain. The proper time 
of doing this is about the middle of October, and the only thing to be 
observed after that is to prevent them from getting too wet. As soon 
as frosty or rainy weather sets in, they should be covered, by laying on 
some straw, and then some oiled canvas; or they may be provided with 
lights, supported on temporary frames, and these may be covered. 
Where lights can be spared they are preferable, as they keep off the 
rain without obseuring the light. In March, the bulbs will begin to 
