374 CALOCHORTUS. THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. CALOCHORTUS. 



bloom on each plant, and fine masses 

 of colour collectively. The dwarf 

 bouquet kinds, whilst specially good 

 for pot culture, are valuable as edgings 

 to beds of taller kinds. For pot 

 culture for exhibition, the best are the 

 medium-growing Victorias, as these, 

 if of a good strain, possess quality, 

 and handsome even heads of bloom. 



Mr J. Betteridge, a very successful 

 grower of Asters, writes : " For 

 several years I always sowed the seed 

 in bottom-heat ; now I sow it between 

 26th March and 26th April, in a cold 

 frame, under glass, in drills 6 inches 

 apart, and not too thick in the drills. 

 A few days suffice to bring the plants 

 above the soil, when air must be given, 

 or they will be weak. When large 

 enough, prick them out into another 

 cold frame, slightly shaded, where they 

 will soon root, and after they are strong 

 enough to handle, plant them out in 

 well-manured soil, and be careful not 

 to break the tender fibres of the roots. 

 Let the rows be i foot apart, and plant 

 the strongest plants i foot from each 

 other, in showery weather, and they 

 will soon root. If the weather be hot, 

 give them a little water till rooted ; 

 afterwards keep them clear of weeds. 

 About the first week in August top 

 dress with manure from an old hot-bed, 

 giving a good soaking all over in dry 

 weather. 



" China Asters like a deep rich soil, 

 and, should dry weather set in, it is 

 only in such soil that really fine flowers 

 can be obtained. Planted in the 

 ordinary way, they are weeds in com- 

 parison with those that are well 

 nourished. Confined to the top shal- 

 low crust of earth, they soon starve. 

 The best way to manage them is to 

 dig and cast off the top spit to one 

 side, handy to be returned to its place 

 again, and then to trench and break 

 up the soil below, working in plenty 

 of short manure. In very light soils 

 a few barrow-loads of clay, chopped 

 fine and mixed well in, will help. The 

 thing to aim at is to keep the soil cool 

 and moist ; then, if the weather be 

 favourable, the plants will take care 

 of themselves." 



Calluna. See ERICA VULGARIS. 



CALOCHORTUS (Mariposa Lily). 

 Bulbous plants from western N. America, 

 of the Lily order, and forming one of 

 the most charming groups of hardy 

 plants, the colours of the flowers varied 

 and beautifuL Excepting the Mexican 

 species, which are few, Calochorti arc 



hardy ; but my experience is that 

 unless on very warm soils their culture 

 is precarious in our country, and no 

 wonder, considering they come from 

 one of the most genial climates. 



They are so singularly beautiful, 

 however, that many will attempt 

 their cultivation, and the advice of 

 Mr Carl Purdy, who has studied the 

 species in their native wilds, and cul- 

 tivated them, is the best we can have : 



Calochorti are natives of a vast region 

 in N. America, stretching from far 

 east of the Rocky Mountains to the 

 Pacific Ocean, and from Northern 

 Mexico to British America. From the 

 sea-coast and islands they grow from 

 6000 feet to 9000 feet altitude on the 

 peaks. Some are natives of the in- 

 tensely hot deserts of Southern Cali- 

 fornia and Arizona, and some grow 

 in the moist meadows of Oregon in a 

 climate differing but little from that 

 of England. In Montana and other 

 states of the inland region the species 

 indigenous there have to bear as low 

 a temperature as 40 below zero. In 

 the soils in which they naturally grow 

 there is as much diversity. Clay, 

 sand, loam and rocky debris are respec- 

 tively the chosen homes of certain 

 species, and several choose the blackest 

 and stickiest of clays. One is found 

 in salt meadows, and many in grassy 

 meadows. 



' ' I have at different times tried nearly 

 every known species in many soils and 

 situations. The winter climate of 

 Ukiah is quite wet, with the thermo- 

 meter often at 20 to 24, and some- 

 times as low as 15 above zero. Often 

 the Calochorti leaves are frozen till 

 they crackle, but I have never known 

 any injury to result. In spring there 

 is abundant rain until their flowering 

 time, while our summer is perfectly 

 dry. Perfect drainage is the first 

 essential to success for all sorts. I 

 have gradually come to the use of 

 three mixtures. Along our river banks 

 there is a winter deposit of sandy silt. 

 This is excellent Calochortus soil, but 

 not so good as the next. I find the 

 best results follow from the use of 

 about one-half half-rotten spent tan 

 bark with one-half sandy or clay loam. 

 The tan bark rots slowly and gives a 

 loose, well-drained soil, which will not 

 pack. This suits all Calochorti, and 

 gives a splendid bloom and firm, well- 

 ripened bulbs. For English growers 

 many substitutes will occur. I know 

 of but one disease to which Calochorti 

 are subject. This is a mildew, the 



