BULBS AND TUBERS HALF-HARDY SPECIES 61 



the most beautiful of them all, A. pelegrina alba, is more 

 tender, requiring shelter, and is perhaps the only one suitable 

 for pot culture. Alstromerias do best grown from seed, for 

 the long thong-like roots are easily injured, and dislike removal. 

 For this reason it is well to sow the seeds of this species in 

 what is called a " Lily pot," deep and narrow in proportion 

 three or four seeds at most being enough for a 7 -in. pot. 

 This lovely plant, with its heads of white Lily-like flowers, 

 freckled with palest green, will disappoint no one. It starts 

 early into growth, and, like Lachenalias and other half-hardy 

 bulbs, must not be frosted, but it is a typical plant for the 

 cold greenhouse, as it invariably shows signs of distress in too 

 great warmth by losing its leaves. 



Probably most people would wish to grow Callas, but they 

 are somewhat more tender than might be supposed, for 

 the leaves are disfigured by the slightest touch of frost. 

 They are quite safe, however, in a low temperature, pro- 

 vided it does not touch 35. 



The dainty little climbing Tropseolums, not always recog- 

 nised as tuberous plants, should not be overlooked, as they 

 also add an entirely distinct feature to the greenhouse in 

 early spring. T. tricolorum Jarratti is the best known species, 

 and is often grown upon a balloon trellis. In a small un- 

 heated conservatory I once had a narrow piece of wired 

 wall between two windows which every spring was draped 

 with its brilliant scarlet and black flowers, and was the 

 admiration of all beholders. T. brachyceras, with small 

 butterfly- like yellow flowers, has the same habit, and trains 

 itself to upright wires in much the same fashion, both of 

 them hanging out many slender branchlets in natural 

 festoons. Almost any form of trellis, or even a support 

 of slight twigs, is better than the stiff artificial wire balloon 

 so beloved of some gardeners. T. azureum, with its slender 

 blue flowers, is only seldom met with, but it is a very gem 



