IN MY LADY'S GARDEN 



Successful gardening is only to be accomplished by doing 

 things at the right time, and although Christmas is scarcely 

 over, no time must now be lost in arranging and starting our 

 gardening for the season ; for every week in the year has its 

 appropriate work, which, if neglected then, cannot be so 

 satisfactorily done later on. 



Under glass, various amaryllids are pushing up their 

 foliage after a sleep of three months, during which time they 

 have been kept cool and fairly dry, though not entirely 

 deprived of water. The stately crinums from South Africa 

 are the first to awake, and their roots, which are very 

 strong and abundant, need more room yearly, as the bulbs 

 become larger. Crinum capense album, with umbels of 

 pure white lilies, is one of the hardiest and most desirable 

 of all ; for it is a plant which all may grow, whether in a 

 hothouse, a cool greenhouse, or even in the garden ; although 

 in the latter position it flowers very late in the season, and 

 should be given all possible sunshine and warmth. 



In a sunny verandah this plant will do well if kept entirely 

 in the open air ; the bulb remains dormant until the spring, 

 and does not suffer from the cold ; but in severe weather 

 it is advisable to wrap a mat round the large pot or tub 

 which contains the roots, and draw this protection also over 

 the bulb. If grown in warmth, the first flowers will open in 

 May, and several umbels will be thrown up in the course of 

 the summer, each from 3 feet to 4 feet in height, containing 

 from five to twenty-five blossoms. Without heat the plant is 

 less luxuriant ; but it is always handsome, and should be seen 

 far more commonly than it is. Crinum Moorei, C. longifolia, 

 and C. Powelli are all fine varieties in pink and also in white, 

 which, however, should be grown in a greenhouse rather than 

 in the open air. 



Amaryllis hippeastrum, with magnificent scarlet flowers, 

 should also be repotted as soon as fresh signs of growth 

 appear ; the exhausted soil can be shaken out, and a compost 

 of good rich loam, two parts to one of leaf mould, with a 

 little soot and sand, will suit most of the amaryllids well. 

 As their roots are thick and abundant, it is very necessary to 



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