their Cultivation^ Propagatioti, c^'c. 39 



of their old pots, and all the loose earth shaken off, being par- 

 ticular, however, not to injure the long fleshy roots which are 

 always coiled round the pot : some of the smallest and least 

 fleshy may be cut away, but the less that is done to them the 

 better, if they are in good condition. All the ofl"sets should 

 also be removed. Now supposing the plant to have been in 

 a 12-inch pot, it may be planted in an S-inch, which will an- 

 swer for some time. At this potting, the top of the bulb 

 should be about half an inch below the soil. Place the soil 

 in tolerably firm, with the potting stick, and finish with a 

 very gentle watering, just sufficient to settle the surface. They 

 may be then removed to a cool, half-shady place, where they 

 should remain until the bulbs have made shoots two or three 

 inches long. A thin layer of moss over the drainage will 

 allow of a freer passage of superfluous moisture. 



General Treatment. — Water should be very sparingly 

 given until the shoots have grown to the length of a foot, 

 when the plants may have a liberal supply. By this time, 

 also, they should be removed to an airy and light part of the 

 house, which will prevent them from drawing up weakly. 

 No other care will be required, but to give them water, until 

 the first of April, when they Avill need shifting into the pots 

 in which they are to flower. For good strong bulbs, these 

 should be twelve inches in diameter. At this potting, the same 

 soil should be used as before, but the bulbs should be placed deep- 

 er in the pots : if they have done well, numerous roots will be 

 seen issuing from the base of the stem on the surface of the 

 sofl : these are the roots which support the flowering stems, 

 and, at this potting, the bulb should be sunk deep enough to 

 cover these roots about two inches. They may then remain 

 until they throw up their flower stems, when they should be 

 neatly staked up, being careful not to injure the bulbs. Re- 

 peated syringings should be given to the plants until the flow- 

 ers are nearly ready to expand, as this greatly invigorates 

 them. 



About the middle of June, the flowers will begin to open, — 

 those of punctatum first, — and from that time until the end 

 of August, they will be constantly in bloom : during this pe- 

 riod, they should be liberally supplied with water, and have 

 a good airy situation: if partially shaded in the middle of the 



