90 A GUIDE TO FLORICULTURE. 



tious in purchasing- them after November, although their 

 appearance is good ; if planted after that time they will, in 

 most cases, rot, as the ground is then too cold to assist them 

 in striking root ; that being the case, they will either rot or 

 flower weakly and die at last ; it is like a man that has 

 been so long without food that nature has exhausted and 

 injured the vital part, nothing could restore that animation 

 necessary to create or reinstate again the proper function to 

 restore life. Bulbs of every description, if sold after the 

 proper season for planting, are dear at any price, therefore 

 purchase them at a proper season if you have to pay a 

 higher price ; still you will find them cheapest in the end. 



CANDYTUFT. 



(IBERIS AMARA.) 



This annual is an ornamental herbaceous plant, found 

 growing in the chalky fields in England ; flowers in gene- 

 ral during the months of June and July ; by planting the 

 seeds at different periods they can be brought to flower dur- 

 ing the whole summer. The leaves of this pretty orna- 

 mental border flower are lanceolate, acute, variable in the 

 toothing. The flowers forming a head, becoming race- 

 mous, the husk being well formed, will drop the seeds, if 

 precaution be not taken before all the flowers expand ; thus 

 making it absolutely necessary for those who collect seed 

 for sale to cut the stalk before two thirds of the flowers have 



