THIRD WEEK IN JUNE 



one of the many lovely irids which adorn the veldt of 

 South Africa. 



Many uncommon bulbs from the Cape are now showing 

 bloom in the garden, such as the ixias, in exquisite variety, 

 babianas, tritonias, &c. The plains of the Transvaal are no 

 doubt a wonderfully beautiful sight at this time, when the 

 many and various iridas, ranging from iris to gladiolus, open 

 their blossoms. In the Botanical Magazine about twenty- 

 three distinct species of these (including Watsonias, Moraeas, 

 freesias, &c.) are illustrated, and all are lovely. Many of 

 them will grow in the open air in a warm, light soil, 

 well drained ; but for the rarer irids we use panes of glass, 

 or small frame-lights, which are fixed against the south wall, 

 under which they grow, to cover the bulbs in the border from 

 November to April. This is such an easy precaution (which 

 enables us to grow many a rare bulb successfully in the open 

 air) that it can be well recommended. 



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