356 FLOWERS ALL THE YEAR ROUND 



three inches deep and nine inches apart they will give no trouble, 

 except to lift and divide them every second or third season. 



IXIA. Babianas, Ixias, and Sparaxis may all be treated in pre- 

 cisely the same manner. In certain warm districts of the southern 

 counties they can be grown in the open ground ; but as a rule, the 

 culture must be in pots under the shelter of a frame or greenhouse. 

 A 48 -sized pot will hold four or five bulbs, and they will thrive in 

 any soil which contains a large proportion of sand. In spring they 

 may be transferred to a sandy border, or can be kept in pots even for 

 a couple of years when well managed. 



JONQUIL. The treatment recommended for Narcissus will suit 

 this highly perfumed flower, both for forcing and in the open ground. 



NARCISSUS. It is undesirable to hold these bulbs in a dry condi- 

 tion longer than is necessary, and those intended for pot culture 

 should be got in promptly. A low temperature must be relied on 

 for keeping back such as are intended to flower late. The Double 

 Roman and the Paper White naturally come into bloom in advance 

 of other sorts, and these should be selected for the earliest display. 

 Give them a rich porous soil, and pot them rather firmly, but not so 

 firmly as to render it impossible for the roots to penetrate, or they 

 will raise the bulb out of the soil. Place them in a cool spot, 

 covered with some material to keep the bulbs in their places, and to 

 prevent the foliage from starting prematurely. When top-growth 

 commences, the pots must go into some house or frame to progress 

 slowly until the moment arrives for forcing them. If the buds just 

 show, about a week in a bottom heat of 65 will suffice to bring them 

 to perfection. A succession can be brought forward at intervals by 

 the same means, until the final lot will flower naturally without such 

 assistance. And for the comfort of those who do not possess heating 

 apparatus we may add that the flowers grown without artificial aid will 

 probably be the finer for its absence. 



Narcissus may also be grown in glasses in the manner recommended 

 for Hyacinths, and there is no bulb which surpasses the former for 

 this special treatment. 



In the open ground Narcissus should be planted in quantity, 

 especially in those spots where it appears naturally at home, such as 

 under the shade of trees and in shrubbery borders. There is now 

 an awakened interest in the many forms of Double and Single 

 Daffodil, and they are certainly most effective border flowers. All 

 the varieties of Narcissus should be grown in clumps and patches, in 

 every spot which is suitable and vacant. In the reserve border of 



