410 The Cultivation of the Cyclamen. 



of new things, we copy the following excellent article on its 

 treatment. Those who wish to know what success we have 

 had will consult our article alluded to : — 



The name of this genus is derived from the Greek kyclicos, 

 circular ; which term Was applied to them by Linna3us, in 

 allusion to the circumscription of their leaves, the outline of 

 which, in the majority of the species, is more or less round, 

 though not strictly circular. The common name is Sow- 

 bred. 



The plants themselves form one of the most distinct and 

 pretty groups which are brought under cultivation. They 

 are all dwarf herbs, having flattened fleshy tubers, from 

 which both leaves and blossoms spring up, in a more or less 

 dense tufi, according to the peculiar habit of the dilferent 

 kinds. Sometimes, under good cultivation, the flowers pre- 

 ponderate in number over the leaves ; and in some cases two 

 or three hundred blooms are produced at one time, when the 

 plants are strong and in good health. This character is 

 attained chiefly by the Cyclamen persicum, which is the 

 most common of the tender species, the most varied in its 

 flowers, and perhaps the most beautiful of all. 



The blooms of the Cyclamen family are of a most singular 

 form : they are monopetalous ; that is, they consist but of 

 one piece, which is made up of a very short tube, by which 

 they are united to the flower stalks, and a comparatively 

 large recurved limb, of five segments, which, from their being 

 so deeply divided, look like distinct petals ; naturally their 

 face would be towards the earth, but the segments are bent 

 upwards quite at the base, and the efiect is, that the entire 

 inner face of the corolla is exposed to the eye, while the 

 back is as completely hidden. 



CULTURE. 



The cyclamen is one of many modest yet beautiful plants 

 belonging to the natural order Primulaceae to be met with in 

 a cultivated state. It is somewhat surprising that it is not 

 more generally cultivated, either in private gardens, for the 



