AN ENCYCLOPEDIA OF HORTICULTURE. 



417 



Cyclamen continued. 



Cultivation in Pots. Few plants are better adapted 

 to pot culture for winter and spring decoration than varie- 

 ties of C. persicum (see Fig. 586), and few produce such 

 a profusion of flowers in return for the moderate amount 

 of care bestowed. A system of completely drying off in 

 summer was once thought a good plan ; but this has now 

 been abandoned by all good cultivators as most unnatural, 

 and the plants are grown from the seedling to the 

 flowering stage without a check of this sort. Seeds are 

 best sown in the autumn, as, if left until spring, a loss 

 of time is effected in the growth of the plants that are 

 intended to flower the following winter or spring. Ordinary 

 pots or pans should be filled with a compost of light 

 sandy soil, the seed placed thinly over the surface, then 

 pressed in, and slightly covered. A temperature of 

 55deg. will be sufficient to insure germination, the time 

 occupied varying according to the age of the seed. When 

 the seedlings appear, they must be raised near the 

 light, to prevent them becoming drawn, and, as soon 

 as large enough, pricked off several in a 5in. pot 

 and kept like this in a similar temperature till spring. 

 They may then be placed singly in Sin. pots, and grown 

 on in frames during the summer, with plenty of air after 

 becoming established, and also shading from bright sun- 

 shine. By July, most of the pots will be filled with 

 roots, and the plants should then be shifted into others, 

 Sin. or 6in. in diameter, in which they will flower. Good 



FIG. 581. CYCLAMEN PERSICUM, showing Rootstock and 

 Mode of Rooting. 



drainage must be insured, and a compost used of equal 

 parts loam and leaf soil, not, in any case, adding rank 

 manure. The roots proceed from the base of the fleshy 

 rootstock (see Fig. 581), and this should be about half- 



Fio. 582. CYCLAMEN PERSICUM, showing Rootstock and 

 Manner of Flowering. 



Cyclamen continued. 



covered with soil, leaving the tops clear whence the 

 flowers and leaves proceed (see Fig. 582). The after 

 cultivation consists chiefly in keeping the plants, at all 

 times, in a light airy place, near the glass, to prevent 

 drawing, and thereby weakening them. Shade in bright 

 weather only, apply water liberally, and syringe on fine 

 afternoons, to keep the plants clean and encourage growth. 



Cyclamens may be grown on a second year by drying 

 moderately and resting for a time, afterwards reducing 

 and repotting. They should receive similar treatment to 

 that previously advised for young plants, but the flowers 

 are generally earlier and smaller a second year. It is not 

 advisable to save plants after this age, as seed sown each 

 year will keep up a stock, and young plants are much to 

 be preferred. If no seed is required, the flowers should be 

 removed when over. 



Insects. Cyclamens are particularly subject to injury 

 from Green Fly, Bed Spider, and Thrips, at all stages of 

 growth. Neither must be allowed to obtain a footing, or 

 the leaves will soon become curled and irreparably injured. 

 Fumigating frequently, but not too strongly, will destroy 

 fly and many of the Thrips. Sponging the leaves, or dipping 

 them in soft soap water, and afterwards in clean water, is 

 the best remedy for clearing Cyclamens of spider. These 

 pests should be frequently looked for, and, when first ob- 

 served, measures at once taken to arrest their progress. 

 (African).* ft. white or red tinted, with a bright 



C. afrloanum < 



purple spot at 



auricled at the base, Jin. to lin. long. September and October. 



I. fully developed in December, cordate, orbicular, 



length and breadth of 6in. to 8in., with both large de 



and copious irregu' intermediate smaller ones, thin in texture, 



fully developed in December, cordate, orbicular, reaching a 

 length and breadth of 6in. to 8in., with both large deltoid teeth 



copious irregu' intermediate smaller ones, thir 

 and beautifully marbled with white. Tuber very large, with 

 fibres from all over the surface, h. 4in. to 6in. Calcareous 

 Mountains of Algeria. This very fine plant is closely allied to 

 C. neapolitanum, and, according to Mr. Baker, is but a sub- 

 species or geographical race of it. (B. M. 5758.) 

 C. olllolonm (Cilician).* fl., corolla segments pure white, with a 

 bright purple basal blotch, oblon<;-spatnulate, acute, not auricled 

 at the base. October. I. developed at the same time as the 

 flowers, sub-orbicular, entire, with close basal lobes. Rootstock 

 a largeregular depresso-globose tuber, with the slender root fibres 

 in a tuft from its base. A. 4in. Cilicia, 1872. This species some- 

 what resembles C. europceum, but may be distinguished from 

 that by its calyx segments. 



Fio. 583. CYCLAME: 



COUM. 



odorous ; corolla the 



C. Coum (Coum).* fl. usually deep 



smallest of all the species, with oblong-spathulate segments. 

 February and March. J. cotemporary with the flowers, with a 

 shorter petiole than in any of the others, quite orbicular, firm in 

 texture, neither lobed nor toothed, nor variegated with white, 

 tinted purple beneath. Rootstock a depresso-globose tuber, with 

 slender root fibres in a tuft from the base. h. 4in. South Europe 

 and Asia Minor. See Fig. 583. (B. M. 4.) The two principal 

 varieties of this in cultivation are C. album, with white, and C. 

 carneum, with rose-red, corolla segments. C. orbiculatum, given 

 by some authorities aa a species, is doubtless a variety of this. 



3 H 



