FIRST WEEK IN MARCH 



son, and bronze on a pale primrose ground, and these 

 singular and beautiful blossoms are produced at the end 

 of a long leaf, which also bears a tuft of young leaves, these 

 eventually reaching the ground from their own weight, 

 where they take root, and in this way the plant is propagated. 

 This marica needs to be kept decidedly dry in winter, with 

 a slightly warmer temperature than Morcea iridioides John- 

 soni, but neither of them are difficult to manage. The marica 

 blooms in the early spring, producing several flowers on the 

 same leaf-stalk in succession. 



Tigridias, which are amongst the most magnificent of 

 irids, should now be planted, as well as the splendid gladioli 

 (Kelwayi and others) with which our specialists in these 

 gorgeous flowers have provided us of late years. Both 

 tigridias and these gladioli should be taken up from the 

 border in October, and kept fairly dry in a frost-proof place 

 until the following March, when they can be planted again, 

 choosing a warm, sheltered position for the tigridias, which 

 are tropical bulbs from South America. 



How brilliantly coloured the garden birds are now 

 evidently arrayed for the season of courting, with all sorts 

 of devices to attract the admiration of the other sex ! Even 

 the old starling, which resides on the highest chimney of the 

 house now, has bright red legs and a fine golden bill, to say 

 nothing of the lustrous sheen of his feathers, which, although 

 they look black at a distance, reflect all the colours of the 

 rainbow in the sunshine at close quarters. The ordinary 

 dull brick-red and slate colour of the cock chaffinch is now 

 changed for soft rich red, with an azure crest on his head ; 

 and the touches of black, white, and yellow on his wings 

 make him extremely smart. But the tiny blue titmice, 

 in turquoise, primrose, and soft grey-green, are the 

 most fascinating little things, especially when they climb 

 about and squabble over a cocoanut. The greater tit- 

 mouse, too, with his black velvet cap, iridescent in the 

 light, and fine stole of the same changing tint over pale 

 yellow, is a very handsome fellow and most entertaining 

 in his ways. 



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