78 ON CULTIVATING IXIAS, SPARAXIS, GLADIOLUS, ETC. 



stem is erect, branched, producing long, terminal, many-flowered ramose 

 racemes of fine orange-scarlet blossoms. Each flower is about an inch 

 long. It is a desirable plant, and very ornamental. It bloomed beau- 

 tifully at the Royal Gardens of Kew. 



IXIAS, SPARAXIS, GLADIOLUS, &c. 



REMARKS ON THEIR CULTIVATION, 

 BY AN ARDENT CULTIVATOR. 



For many years the entire class of flowers, of which the above named 

 form a part, have possessed very considerable charms for me. I have, 

 therefore, grown them in Devonshire with very great success, by the 

 following process of culture. It being the result of my own experience, 

 I forward it for insertion in the Floricultural Cabinet. 



In mj'^ own neighbourhood beds of Sparaxis grandiflora, and others, 

 also of Ixias, are often seen ; but the flowers, being so delicate, are 

 liable to so many casualties, that they are generally injured, and their 

 beauty defaced by exposure. In order to avoid such disappointments, 

 I culcivate my stock in pots, equally as luxuriant and profuse in 

 flowers ; at tlie same time I liave protection for the blossoms, and wlien 

 they are arranged upon the stage in tlie greenhouse, pit, or frame, more 

 fully display the delicate brilliancy, beauty, and loveliness of their 

 flowers of orange, white, velvet, pink, and other variations in colour, and 

 very much superior to the open air culture. The warmth and protec- 

 tion afforded tend to a full expansion of the flowers, and that, too, during 

 a longer daily period. About the middle of October I examine my 

 bulbs, and take off any offsets, and pot them in a compost formed of 

 turfy loam, equal to two-thirds ; tlie other part consisted of peat and 

 silver sand, the whole well mixed tosrether. I had a free drainage of 

 broken pot, over which I laid some smallisli bits of old dried cow 

 manure, upon wliich the compost was placed, &c. This very much 

 tends to the vigour of the plant. Having a moderate hot-bed at work, 

 I placed a foot deep of dry old tan, and plunged the pots in it, taking 

 care that the heat was just warm to the pots. I admitted abundance of 

 air by day, but closed the glass during night. I gave no water to the 

 bulbs till they had pushed roots and tlie foliage began to appear, and 

 even then in frosty weather gave it but slightly, only to preserve them 

 from draught. When severe weatlier began, I had the frame banked 

 well round with warm dung, half a yard thick, and the glass covered 

 six inches deep with dry hay, over whicli was laid a piece of asphalte. 



With this management I usually had a fine display by the end of 

 April, and just before expanding their blossoms I had them placed in 

 the greenhouse. In order to prolong the blooming season, I usually 

 potted a second lot of bulbs at the end of November, and such being 

 treated in all respects as the first potting, bloomed for several weeks 

 after the first had ceased. When the bloomino- was over I continued to 

 water the bulbs, in order that they miglit be duly perfected for the 

 following season. I had the pots placed in the frame, giving air freely, 

 and as the leaves begun to change, gradually allowed them to become 



