86 OXALIS. 



are much like Hyacinth bulbs. Among those cultivated in 

 America are the O. lacteum, and the O. aureum ; the former 

 produces fine white flowers, and the spike is about a foot in 

 length ; and the latter produces flowers of a golden colour, 

 in contracted racemose corymbs. The O. marilimum, 01 

 Sea Squill* is curious ; from the centre of the root rise seve- 

 ral shining glaucous leaves, a foot long, two inches broad at 

 the base, and narrowing to a point. If kept in a green-house, 

 these are green during the winter, and decay in the spring ; 

 then the flower-stalk comes up rising two feet, naked half 

 way, and terminated by a pyramidal thyrse of white flowers. 

 These bulbs are generally cultivated in the green-house, 

 and require a compost consisting of about one half fresh loam, 

 one third leaf mould, and the remainder sand, in which they 

 may be planted in September. When cultivated in the gar- 

 den, they should be planted four or five inches deep, and 

 protected with dung, &c* They produce their flowers early 

 in June. 



OXALIS. 



The Oxalis is a native of the Cape of Good Hope ; the 

 species are numerous, and their roots are very small bulbs, 

 articulated, jointed, or granulated, in a manner peculiar to 

 this genus. They produce curious flowers of various hues, 

 yellow, purple, rose, red, white, striped, vermilion colour, &c. 

 The bulbs should be planted III very small pots, in August 

 and September, in a compost consisting of about two thirds* 

 loam, and one third leaf or light mould, and treated in the 

 same manner as other Cape Bulbs. They increase in a pe- 

 culiar manner, by the parent bulb striking a fibre down from 

 its base, at the extremity of which is produced a new bulb 

 for the next year's plant, the old one perishing. These 

 plants will flower freely in a green-house. 



