160 BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS 



Bulbs. They are plgjits of the most brilliant colouring, as the 

 coloured plate shows, and their large, open flowers are of great 

 substance. They bloom in winter and spring, earlier or later 

 according as they are grown in a warm or cool house. Gardeners 

 start them into growth early, and put them in an intermediate 

 temperature in order to get them m flower in February, when 



they are the most beautiful occupants 

 of the house ; but they are not really 

 tender plants, and an amateur with an 

 ordinary greenhouse would derive much 

 pleasure from a small collection flowering 

 in spring. Potting bulbs in the same 

 kind of soil as that recommended for 

 Hyacinths, he could start them naturally 

 into growth as his house grew warmer, 

 and have them in bloom in April or 

 May. When they went out of flower he 

 could gradually dry them off, rest them, 

 and start them again the following year. 

 They like abundance of water when they 

 are growing. They may be increased 

 by means of the offsets which form on 



ARUM LILIES 



growths appearing on rested plant, Y icr Orous plants \ these VOUng gTOWths 

 condition for repotting. o JT j o o 



may be taken off and potted. 



Arum Lilies have already been considered (see Bulbous Section), 

 and it need only be added that they are among the most graceful 

 of pot plants. Blooming in winter and spring, they are very 

 valuable. They will thrive in an unheated house, if a newspaper 

 is twisted round them in severe weather, but will bloom later than 

 in a heated structure. 



Azaleas are among the most beautiful of greenhouse flowers. 

 They are distinguished by great freedom of flowering, and brilliant 

 colours. They are in the way of being hardy plants, and in mild 



