The Canad'uDi Horticiiltio isl. 



•7 



SOME HINTS IN REFERENCE TO 

 THE BULB DISTRIBUTION FOR SPRING OF 1889 



Bv Hkrmann Simmers, Tokonto. 



HAVING been requested to give a 

 few points in reference to the 

 above subject, in order to facilitate the 

 cultivation of the bulbs, I will endeavor 

 as explicitly as possible to give a few 

 practical hints, so that it may be easier 

 for the cultivator to care for the bulbs. 



Not much reference need be made to 

 the Gladiolus, except the variety Hor- 

 tense, which is a beautiful rose, on white 

 ground, flamed car- 

 mine. A description 

 of the cultivation has 

 already been given in 

 one of the previous 

 numbers of The Hor- 

 ticulturist. It is an 

 exceedingly pretty 

 flower, and one that 

 will be much admired. 



Tigridia Conchiflora, 

 sometimes called 

 Tiger Flower, color 

 fine yellow spotted 

 crimson, is a genus 

 of Mexican bulbs 

 growing about one and 

 a half feet high, and 

 producing flowers of 

 exquisite beauty. The 

 flowers are large, 

 about four inches 

 across, of singular curious shape, and 

 the color gorgeous and purely con- 

 trasted. It blooms from July first 

 until October ; the bulbs may be planted 

 in May about two inches deep in anv 

 garden soil, and require no particular 

 care. It is sometimes called the " Day 

 Lily," as the flowers open in the morning 

 and have closed and entirely finished 

 their bloom the same day ; other buds 

 make their appearance every few days 

 and flower in a similar manner. In 

 autumn after the tops are killed by the 

 frost, the bulbs may be taken up and 



Fig. 9. — Tiger Flower 



kept in a dry place awaj- from the frost 

 until the time of planting in the spring. 

 They are one of the easiest bulbs to 

 cultivate, and will flower abundantly in 

 any situation. 



Apios Tuhcrosu, sometimes called tu- 

 berous-rootedWisteria, closely resembles 

 the common Wisteria in vine and foliage, 

 and has clusters of rich, deep purple 

 flowers, which have a strong violet frag- 

 rance. This plant, 

 which is a native of 

 \'irginia, has for a 

 century been cultivat- 

 ed in botanic gardens 

 in Europe, and has 

 only lately been 

 brought to promin- 

 ence, through aFrench 

 traveller during his 

 travels in North 

 America, who believ- 

 ed that the tubers 

 could be made of 

 value as an article of 

 food, for which they 

 are used to some 

 extent. Various at- 

 tempts have been 

 made to cultivate 

 them like the potato, 

 but this is found 

 difficult, on account of the length and 

 weakness of the turning shoots and the 

 length of the roots. The tubers cooked 

 in steam are free from all acidity and 

 bitterness, and very much resemble pota- 

 toes. Dressed in the same way, they 

 contain more nitrogen, also more starchy 

 farina than potatoes. 



Their care and cultivation is very 

 simple ; plant the tubers near a trellis, 

 about three inches deep, in well prepar- 

 ed ground. They are perfectly hardy, 

 and do not require to be taken up in 

 winter, which is a great advantage. 



