OXALIS. 



An interesting class of small bulbs, desirable for winter-flowering in pots, producing an abund- 

 ance of bloom. They should be potted as early as convenient, and in nice sandy loam, with 

 good drainage. Most of the varieties have small bulbs, and should be planted from three to five 

 bulbs in a pot; versicolor is particularly small. When through 

 flowering, and the foliage begins to turn yellow, let them dry off 

 gradually. When perfectly dry, knock them out of the pots, sepa- 

 rate, and plant on fresh soil, keeping them in a dry place. About 

 August or September they will commence growing again. Then 

 bring them to the light and air, and commence watering. In this 

 way the bulbs will keep sound all summer, and will increase 

 rapidly. The leaves, as will be seen by the engraving, resemble 

 in form the Clover leaf; indeed, the celebrated Irish Shamrock is 

 an Oxalis. As the leaves are on long, slender stalks, and con- 

 isequently droop, it can be readily understood how well the Oxalis 

 is adapted to hanging baskets and other similar purposes. Gener- 

 ally, both leaves and flowers are abundant, so that a few plants pre- 

 sent a very cheerful aspect during the whole winter. There are 

 varieties that will not blossom in the winter, and these are mostly 

 OXALIS. desirable for borders, edgings, &c., and those fiigured on page 116 



are especially desirable for this work, and are becoming very popular as summer border plants ; 

 but it is the winter flowering sorts, so desirable for pot culture, and particularly for basket 

 work, to which we desire to call especial attention. Our little engraving shows a plant in bloom, 

 but the different varieties vary very much in habit, and the plants make a more vigorous growth 

 and fill a larger space than the size of the bulb would seem to indicate. We have plants now, 

 almost globular in form, and measuring from a foot to eighteen inches in diameter. 



CYCLAMEN. 



This pretty flower is too little known. It is a native of Europe and Asia, some varieties being 

 very abundant in Switzerland and Italy. It is of the easiest culture. Pot in October or Novem- 

 ber, in rich loam ; mix about a spoonful of soot with 

 the same, which will add brilliancy and size to the 

 flowers. Bits of charcoal, broken fine, will serve 

 the same purpose. Use a small pot, and place the 

 crown of the bulb just above the surface of the soil. 

 Keep the plants cool till the leaves are well grown. 

 When the flower buds begin to rise on the foot stalks 

 remove to a sunny shelf, where they will soon 

 show bloom. Place as near the glass as possible. 

 After the blooming season (which generally lasts 

 two or three months,) is over, gradually withhold 

 water, and let the leaves dry down. The plant 

 seeds freely, but it is not a good plan to allow it to 

 ripen the seed, as it hurts the blooming qualities of 

 the bulb. Seedlings bloom when two years old. 

 To keep the bulbs through the summer, bury them 

 in the open border. Take them up about the mid- 

 dle of September, and they will be found plump and 



fresh. It is particularly adapted for window culture, CYCLAMEN PERBICUM. 



and will give more flowers with less trouble than almost any plant we are acquainted with. The 

 colors are usually white, tipped at the base with rich rosy purple. In all the species both leaves 

 and flowers spring directly from a solid tuberous rootstalk, as shown in the engraving. The 

 leaves are heart-shaped, while the flowers are of one petal, but deeply divided into five segments. 

 After flowering the flower stalk coils itself up in a spiral form, with the seed vessel in the center,, 

 and bends itself toward the ground, in which position the seeds are ripened. 



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