ALSTROMERIA. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. ALSTROMERIA. 425 



its branches, it will pass through the 

 winter safely. If uncovered too soon in 

 spring, the young growths get nipped by 

 late frosts. It is increased from cuttings 

 and is a hardy wall plant in mild seashore 

 districts, but not so common, owing to the 

 cold, in inland districts. Verbena order, 

 Chili. Syn. Lippia. 



ALSTROMERIA (Peruvian Lily). 

 Handsome tuberous plants of the Ama- 

 ryllis order, which require a richly 

 manured and thoroughly warm and well- 

 drained soil, the best place being a south 



The plants should be procured in pots, as 

 they rarely succeed from divisions, and, 

 once planted, should never be interfered 

 with. Place them in rows about 18 in. 

 apart, and with i ft. from plant to plant. If 

 planted during the winter, they should be 

 placed from 6 in. to 9 in. deep, so as to 

 keep them from frost ; and a few inches 

 of half-rotten leaves shaken over the soil. 

 Should there be any difficulty in obtain- 

 ing established plants in pots to start 

 with, seed may be had ; and this sow in 

 pots or beds where the plants are to re- 



Alstromeria (Peruvian Lily). 



border, or along the front of a wall hav- 

 ing a warm aspect, where, if the soil is 

 not light and dry, it should be made so. 

 Dig out the ground to the depth of 3 ft., 

 and spread 6 in. or so of brick rubbish 

 over the bottom of the border. Shake 

 over the drainage a coating of half-rotten 

 leaves or short littery manure, to prevent 

 the soil from running through the inter- 

 stices of the bricks, and stopping up the 

 drainage. If the natural soil be stiff, a 

 portion should be exchanged for an equal 

 quantity of leaf soil, or other light vege- 

 table mould, and a barrow-load of sand. 



main. The seeds should be sown 2 or 3 

 in. deep, with three or four in a patch. If 

 well treated, they will begin to bloom at 

 a year old, and if not disturbed will in- 

 crease in strength and beauty every sea- 

 son. If one takes the seed of Alstrp- 

 merias as soon as it is ripe and sows it, 

 every seed will germinate the first season. 

 It is also much better to sow three to 

 five seeds in each pot and let the 

 seedlings remain in the same pot the 

 first year. The young plants of Alstrd- 

 merias are very difficult to handle, being 

 as brittle as glass, and a very great 



