

IXIAS. 

 The Ixias are not destitute of beauty; indeed, some of them have strong claims to our regard 



on account of their good looks, but there are few flowers that attract more attention by their curi- 

 ous forms and strange coloring. Some of them, and, indeed, 

 nearly all, showing three or more colors. They make a nice 

 addition and give variety to the larger bulbs, as Hya- 

 cinths, &c., more commonly used in house culture, 

 and seldom fail to please. Several may be planted 

 in a small pot, and the treatment is the same as we 

 have recommended for other bulbs in pots. The 

 Ixias are all natives of the Cape of Good Hope and 

 portions of South Africa. The bulbs exude a viscid 

 gum when cut, and hence the name, from a Greek 

 word which means to fix. Our engraving shows the 

 form of flower and habit of plant, though there is a 

 greater difference in the form and color of Ixias than 

 with almost any other class of plants. The variety 

 IXIA FLOWER. W e figure is Viridijlora, and the prevailing color is IXIA 



green, the center being purple and pink, but the Ixias are of almost all imaginable diverse colors. 



OTHER WINTER DECORATIONS. 



In this department, so fruitful of subjects for winter flowers, it may be well to call attention 

 to the EVERLASTINGS, or IMMORTELLES, and GRASSES, so desirable for WINTER DECORATIONS. 

 Many of them, like the Acroclinium and Helichrysum, are grown 

 in this country, and they will be found described on pages 95, 96 and 

 97 ; but large quantities are im- 

 ported from Europe, especially of 

 the Gnaphalium, which is gener- 

 ally known as the Immortelle. 

 The natural color is yellow, but 

 they are bleached white, and dyed 

 of almost any color, by the ingenuity of French growers. 



The Everlastings, with the Feather and other Grasses, 

 make up nicely in bouquets and Floral Baskets. For mak- 

 ing ornamental letters, by attaching them to pasteboard forms, 

 the little Everlastings are excellent. With a little skill 

 and taste and a good deal of patience, great things can 

 be accomplished in this way. The Grasses and Everlast- 

 ings are sold by the bunch, pound or hundred by most florists, and are in great demand about 

 the Holidays for decorative purposes. Our engravings give some idea of this work. 



139 



