FLOWER-GARDENING. 81 



Tulips. When they are planted in the open border, they should 

 be covered about four inches with earth ; and before the setting 

 in of winter, it is advisable to cover the beds with straw, 

 leaves, or litter, to the depth of six or seven inches, and to 

 uncover them about the middle of March. 



ORNITHOGALUM, OR STAR OF BETHLEHEM. 



There are about fifty varieties of these bulbs, natives of 

 the Cape of Good Hope, some of which are from three to five 

 inches in diameter, and shaped similar to a pear ; others are 

 much like Hyacinth bulbs. Among* those cultivated in Ame- 

 rica are the 0. lacteum and the 0. aureum. The former pro- 

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

 length ; and the latter produces flowers of a golden color, in 

 contracted racemose corymbs. The 0. maritimum, or Sea 

 Squill, is curious; from the centre of the root rise several 

 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 garden, 

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

 with barn-yard or stable manure. They produce their flowers 



early in June. 



4* 



