A GUIDE TO FLORICTTLTURE, 



ACHI MENES. 



u When the wandering eye 

 Unfixed is in a verdant ocean lost, 

 ANOTHER FLORA then, of bolder hues, 

 And richer sweets, beyond our garden's pride." 



This is a family of bulbous rooted plants of recent intro- 

 duction, and now commands much attention by the florist 

 in this country as well as Europe. A. Longifoloia is of an 

 azure blue flower, the foliage a dark green and of fine hab- 

 itj forming a beautiful contrast, growing about twenty inch- 

 es high and branching. The different varieties all vary 

 in color of the flowers, I do not know of a family of flow- 

 ers of recent introduction more prepossessing than the Achi- 

 menes, all growing easily from cuttings, but is principally 

 propagated from bulbs that form in abundance at the roots 

 of the plant, about the size and shape of a pea. I observe 

 some of the latest introduction the bulbs appear about 

 half an inch long and formed of scales, small, not unlike 

 the burr of the pine. These plants are better calculated for 

 the green-house, as the bulbs require to be planted early 

 and should be forced with bottom heat, either of tanner's 

 bark or stable manure to make them flower early, other- 

 wise it will be so late before you get them to flower that the 

 cold weather would prevent them from developing their 

 beautiful and graceful flowers. These plants are tender 

 and will not bear the least frost, therefore should be alw r ays 

 kept in the house. The soil best calculated for the whole 

 variety is a rich soil, principally leaf mould and sand with 



