IN MY LADY'S GARDEN 



grown in a rather large pot and sheltered from frost in 

 winter (though with as little fire heat as possible), when it 

 will open its buds towards the end of June. The arrange- 

 ment of the petals is singular in these flowers ; two of the 

 three narrower petals are spotted with green, giving the 

 blossoms something of the appearance of an azalea, but the 

 petals are arranged more like those of a pansy. The orange 

 alstroemeria (aurantiaca) and the Chilian hybrids, in tints 

 like those of Azalea mollis, form grand groups in the border, 

 and are quite hardy in Devonshire. In cold districts they 

 should be covered in November with a conical pile of ashes, 

 substituting plenty of rich leaf- mould for this in March. 

 They increase yearly under this treatment, and are excellent 

 for table decoration, as they are specially beautiful by 

 artificial light. The lily of the Incas should be placed in 

 the open air after flowering, choosing the warmest, sunniest 

 corner, and can be shifted into a pot, two sizes larger than 

 the last, in September, after which a frame (or a cool green- 

 house, from which frost is just excluded) will suit it well ; 

 but in severe weather it will need to be moved to a slightly 

 warmer place, as frost is fatal to it for it comes from 

 South America, and is by no means hardy. Alstrcemerias 

 can be easily raised from seed in slight warmth in spring, 

 or now in the greenhouse ; the seeds should be sown in a 

 box about 6 inches deep, well drained, and filled with light 

 soil, leaf-mould, sand, and charcoal. The roots are long, 

 and much like a pound of " rushlights " in shape ; it is 

 therefore a good plan to knock the bottom off" the box 

 before planting out the seedlings (which should be grown in 

 the box for a year), as in this way it is possible to avoid 

 injuring these curious roots. Plant them rather deeply in 

 September or October, and protect them with ashes or leaves, 

 as before mentioned ; the position should be sunny and well 

 drained, with deep soil, to which plenty of leaf mould has 

 been added. 



Now that flowers are plentiful, a few words on the best 

 system of packing them for the post may be useful. As a 

 rule, double flowers travel better than the single varieties ; and 



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