Flowers all the Year Round 



numbers are annually consigned to the London markets, and find 

 a ready sale for bouquets and table decoration. Of course these 

 Hyacinths will not bear comparison with the splendid named 

 varieties which come later, but the Italian and Roman classes are 

 ready at a time when flowers are scarce and valuable. Like other 

 bulbs of the same class, they may be shaken out of their own pots, 

 and transferred to ornamental contrivances. 



Iris. The tuberous varieties are all perfectly hardy, and may be 

 planted at any time from August to December. Put into light soil 

 three inches deep and nine inches apart they will give no trouble, 

 except to lift and divide them every second or third season. 



Ixia. Babianas, Ixias, and Sparaxis may all be treated in pre- 

 cisely the same manner. In certain warm districts of the Southern 

 counties they can be grown in the open ground ; but, as a rule, the 

 culture must be in pots under the shelter of a frame or greenhouse. 

 A 48-sized pot will hold four or five bulbs, and they will thrive in 

 any soil which contains a large proportion of sand. In spring they 

 may be transferred to a sandy border, or they can be kept in pots for 

 a couple of years when well managed. 



Jonquil. The treatment recommended for Narcissus will suit 

 this highly perfumed flower, both for forcing and in the open ground. 



Narcissus. It is undesirable to hold these bulbs in a dry condi- 

 tion longer than is necessary, and those intended for pot culture 

 should be got in promptly. A low temperature must be relied on 

 for keeping back such as are intended to flower late. The Double 

 Roman and the Paper White naturally come into bloom in advance 

 of other sorts, and these should be selected for the earliest display. 

 Give them a rich porous soil, and pot them rather firmly, but not so 

 firmly as to render it impossible for the roots to penetrate, or they 

 will raise the bulb out of the soil. Place them in a cool spot, 

 covered with some material to keep the bulbs in their places, and to 

 prevent the foliage from starting prematurely. When top-growth 

 commences, the pots must go into some house or frame to progress 

 slowly until the moment arrives for forcing them. If the buds just 

 show, about a week in a bottom heat of 65 will suffice to bring 

 them to perfection. A succession can be brought forward at inter- 

 vals by the same means, until the final lot will flower naturally 

 without such assistance. And for the comfort of those who do not 

 possess heating apparatus, we may add that the flowers grown with- 

 out artificial aid will probably be finer than those which have been 

 forced. 



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