ON THE CULTURE OF THE TUBEROSE. 87 



variety of this pienus, viz. P. tuberosa, P. tubevosa flora plena (the 

 subject of the present paper), and P. gracilis, or slender-leaved 

 Tuberose. 



In the autumn provide a quantity of compost, composed of the 

 fi)llowing materials : — two wheelbaiTows full of light maiden loam, 

 one ditto of decomposed hot-bed dung, and a little white sand, 

 well chopped and mixed together at different times during the 

 following winter, for the frost to ameliorate and decompose it. In 

 the month of February, prepare the bulbs by taking off all the 

 loose rind and superfluous offsets, or side bulbs, being careful not 

 to injure the principal one. Then pro\'ide a sufficient quantity of 

 pots (the size should be 7i in. by 64 in.), well drained with broken 

 jwtsherds ; they must be filled with the above compost, and well 

 shaken down, but not jiressed with the hands. A little white sand 

 must be place<l in the middle of the top of the compost, and the 

 bulb must be pressed gently, though finnly, down with the sand, 

 to within a quarter of an inch of the top of the bulb. Some 

 cultivators use finely -jiounded stone, commonly called grit in this 

 county (Cheshire), instead of sand, which answers the purjjose 

 very well. 



After the bulbs arc potted, plunge them in a strong hot-bed, 

 where they must remain till they have grown to the height of 

 three or four inches ; they must be kept quite close till they begin 

 to vegetate, when a little air may be admitted ; shaded when the 

 sun is powerful, and covered up witli mats at night ; water must 

 be supplied very sparingly while they are here, for the steam 

 arising from the bed answers, in a great measure, the purpose of 

 water. When they have grown to the height above stated, take 

 them to tlie stove, allowing them a plentiful supply of air and 

 water, setting them in a place where they will get plenty of light, 

 or they will be apt to draw up weakly. As they advance in growth, 

 tie them carefully up to green sticks 6 or 7 feet long, well rounded 

 at the bottom ; care must be taken not to tic them too tight, or 

 else their stems will become ill-shapen and crooked, and they will 

 flower weakly. Here let them ivmain till they are in flower, when 

 they must be removed to the conservatory ; and when set among 

 other exotics, they will, by tluir beauty, add to the gaiety and 

 grandeur of the house, and shed around their fragrant odours, 

 every even and mum when the house is dosed, such that 



