506 



THE VILIA GAKDENER. 



onion and the liyacinth ; the scaly, which consist of large fleshy scales, 

 adhering together only at the root, as in the lily ; and tlic solid, which consist 

 of a homogeneons, white, nut-like mass, as in the crocus, and which, indeed, 

 are not bvilbs, hut corms. 



562. The culture of bulbs is a matter of much difficulty. It was formerly 

 supposed to he necessary to take up all the kinds as soon as they had done 

 flowering ; as it was found that if left in the ground, comparatively few sur- 

 vived the winter, being destroyed not so much by cold as by damp. Most 

 bulbous plants are natives of hot dry countries, where tliey have alternate 

 seasons of excessive rain, and excessive drought; and where the extraordinary 

 provision of feculent or starchy matter laid up in tlie bulb, is necessary to 

 supply nourishment to the leaves and flowers dm-ing their rapid growth in 

 the rainy season ; as at that season they want food fjister than it could possibly 

 be taken up by the roots and leaves. When the plant has done flowering, 

 all this matter is exhausted, and only the membranous pai't is left. The 

 plant, when left in the earth, then begins, througli its leaves and roots, to take 

 lip sufficient nourishment from the soil and air to form a new bulb ; and this 

 process of alternate exhaustion and replenishing goes on every year, if the 

 bulb is kept dry while it is in a state of repose. If, however, the bulb is 

 exposed to moisture during the winter, the starchy matter laid up in it is 

 dissolved too soon, as in winter there is not light and heat enougli for it to 

 develope its leaves and flowers; and consequently the bulb rots instead of 

 germinating. It is on this account that bulbs are generally taken up as soon 

 as they have done flowering, and their leaves have begim to decay, and 

 replanted in spring. If, however, they can be kept dry, it is much better to 

 leavje most of the kinds in the ground all the year, as then they form masses 

 of bulbs, which, from their roots never beitig disturbed, grow with extraordi- 

 nary vigoui", and flower splendidly. All the kinds which are called corms, 

 such as the gladioli, the different kinds of crocus, and nearly all the Cape 

 bulbs, succeed best when treated in this manner ; but choice hyacinths and 

 tidips arc still generally taken up as soon as the leaves begin to decay, 

 as the flowers are said to degenerate if the bulbs are left all the year in 

 the ground. 



563. List of hardy orjiamental floivering bulbs and corms, to he planted in 

 beds or borders. 



Tigridia pavoiiia {Tiger flower) 



coiichiiflora 



Scilla bifolia (SquiU) 



sibirica 



Ornithogalum narbonense ( White Star of 



BetMeheni) 

 Narcissus Jonquilla (Jonquil) 



lUilbocodium (Hoop Petticoat) 



Ajax 



Sluscari moscliatum 



raccniosum (Crape Hyacinth) 



Ijoucojuni vernum ( Snow-JfaJce) 



xstivuni (,S^ Agnes's Flower) 



autumn ale 



