g8 THE BOOK OF BULBS 



COLOCASIAS 



The Colocasias are very ornamental plants with large 

 handsome leaves, and are related to and require the 

 same culture as the Caladiums. There is considerable 

 confusion in the nomenclature of these plants in gardens, 

 and Caladiums are sometimes found named Alocasias or 

 Colocasias, and vice versa. The principal species are 

 antiquorum ; its variety, esculentum (syn. Caladium 

 esculentem), sometimes used in the south for sub-tropical 

 effect, being planted out in June, and freely supplied 

 with water ; and odorata. 



CRINUMS 



We have already referred to the hardy Crinums, but 

 this work would be imperfect without a few details 

 about the stove species, among which are some plants of 

 the highest types of floral beauty. These should have 

 a good soil of fibrous loam, peat, a little sand, and char- 

 coal to keep the compost sweet, as the plants require 

 plenty of water while growing, C. campanulatum and C. 

 purpurascens especially requiring this, as they do best 

 standing in a pan of water. They are also greatly 

 benefited by syringing overhead. After the flowering 

 period is over water may be reduced. They need large 

 pots or tubs, as they form fleshy roots which should 

 be as little disturbed as possible. There are so many 

 Crinums, that a short selection of well-proved, good 

 species suitable for the stove is necessary. These are 

 amabile, three feet, red; asiaticum, two feet, white; 

 campanulatum, one foot, red-purple ; giganteum, three 

 feet, white ; Kirkii, one and a half feet, white, striped 

 red ; Macowani, two feet, pink ; purpurascens, one foot, 

 claret-red; and zeylanicum, three feet, white, striped red. 



