58 THE UNHEATED GREENHOUSE 



or touched with scarlet, and with more or less distinct purple 

 blotches. One species, generally called L. tricolor, but more 

 correctly L. luteola, has a good deal of green in the drooping 

 bells, while another, L. ccerulea purpurea, shows a peculiar 

 metallic blue on the spike of grey-white flowers, and in its best 

 variety is very ornamental. 



The most familiar of all hybrid forms is L. Nelsoni, raised 

 now many years ago. It will always hold its own, but of late 

 years these lovely Cape Cowslips, as they are sometimes called, 

 have been skilfully taken in hand by Mr. F. W. Moore, the 

 able curator of the Glasnevin Botanical Gardens, Dublin, 

 and others, and have been brought to a high degree of 

 perfection. 



Lachenalias should be grown with as little artificial heat as 

 possible, and nothing injures the flowering quality of these, or 

 in fact of most bulbs, more than to let them start into root 

 growth before they are potted. The routine of cultivation 

 may be said to begin as they go out of flower. Water should 

 then be given them sparingly, and after the leaves die down it 

 must be withheld altogether. The pots may then be laid on 

 their side on a warm shelf, where they will not be dripped 

 upon, that the bulbs may ripen, for to be kept absolutely dry 

 during their period of rest is essential. The least moisture at 

 this stage will start the ring of little white root-points into 

 growth, in which case, it is better to re-pot them immediately. 

 August is, however, the right month for re-potting all the 

 kinds, L. pendula excepted, when they should be shaken out of 

 the dry soil, sorted into three sizes and placed in their flowering 

 pots without delay. On this point, it is well to remember that 

 any disturbance of the roots after potting and growth has once 

 begun will seriously cripple the flowering power of the bulbs. 

 The larger bulbs will give the finest spikes for pots; the 

 second size may be " boxed " and will give useful flowers for 

 cutting ; the smallest, if the sort be valuable, will be worth 



