DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF FLOWERS. 327 



The Malayans style the Tuberose the mistress of the 

 night : — 



" The Tuberose with her silver light, 



That in the gardens of .Malay 



Is called the mistress of the night. 



So like a bride, scented and bright, 

 She comes out wiien the sun's away." — Lalla Rnokh. 



" The variety with double flowers is the one generally 

 in cultivation ; the single variety is not so much esteemed. 

 This double variety was obtained from the seed by Mon- 

 sieur Le Cour, of Leyden, in Holland, who for many years 

 was so tenacious of the roots, even after he had prop- 

 agated them in such plenty as to have more than he could 

 plant, that he caused them to be cut in pieces to have the 

 vanity of boasting that he was the only person in Europe 

 who possessed this flower." Luckily, that man died in 

 due course of time, and as he could not carry them with 

 him, they have since been disseminated among florists and 

 amateurs throughout the world; but no thanks to that 

 mean man. The roots are the best which are large and 

 plump, provided they are sound and firm, and the fewer 

 ofi'sets they have the stronger they will flower. The un- 

 der parts of the roots or bulbs should be particularly ex- 

 amined, because it is there they first begin to decay. The 

 best compost for the Tuberose, is said to be " two wheel- 

 barrows of light maiden loam, one ditto of decomposed 

 hot-bed dung, and a little white sand should be well chop- 

 ped and mixed together in autumn ; this should be exposed 

 to the frost during the winter, that it may become ame- 

 liorated and thoroughly decomposed. To have flowers in 

 perfection in August or September, the bulbs should be 

 potted and set to growing in March. The bulbs should 

 be first prepared by taking ofi* the loose rind and super- 

 fluous ofisets, or side bulbs, being careful not to injure the 

 principal one. Then provide a quantity of six-inch-pots, 

 well drained with broken pot-sherds ; they must be filled 



