THIRD WEEK IN OCTOBER 



The bulbs (which are rather large) should be ordered at 

 once, and potted up directly they arrive. If left in a paper 

 bag for only a few days mildew is apt to appear at their base, 

 and this is very injurious, if not fatal, to the plant. In this 

 case the mildew should be wiped off with a soft cloth, and a 

 little powdered sulphur or charcoal dust rubbed gently over 

 the bulb, drying it before a fire for a few minutes, after which 

 each bulb should be potted separately in a 5-inch or 6-inch 

 pot (according to its size), well drained, with a compost of 

 loam and leaf-mould in equal quantities, adding a little sand 

 and charcoal, especially under and around the bulb, which, 

 however, should only be half-covered, although its point 

 should be level with the top of the pot. This compost must 

 be moist (but not too wet) when used, and must be firmly 

 pressed around the bulb, after which the pot should stand over 

 hot-water pipes in a temperature of about 60, water being 

 supplied only (and then in a lukewarm state) when the soil 

 is thoroughly dry, until the green point of the foliage starts ; 

 after which more water is needed, and before long the supply 

 will need to be ample, with syringing, too, daily. 



Although it may be several weeks before the bulbs start 

 into growth (and all that time they must be kept on the dry 

 side, or they may rot before roots are formed), when once 

 this dormant period is over the upper part of the pot should 

 be filled with rich manurial compost, and they can scarcely 

 have too much moisture then, both in the atmosphere and at 

 the roots ; any failure to supply this will result in an attack 

 of red spider, which quickly destroys the foliage and cripples 

 the plant. 



The earliest variety for spring work is the African tube- 

 rose ; but the American species, Excelsior Pearl (blooming 

 later in the season), is a still finer plant, and there are other 

 good varieties to be found in Messrs. Button's and other 

 catalogues. For succession it is desirable to grow a few of 

 each kind, for their rich scent in the conservatory is notice- 

 able. The plants look best when grouped with other flowers 

 and ferns on the ground, as their stems are tall. 



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