90 BULBOUS PLANTS. 



be put in the ground after danger from frost is past, and at later inter- 

 vals to give a succession of flowers. The finest bulbs are supplied so 

 cheaply by American growers, that it does not pay to propagate in 

 small quantities. 



RICHARDIA >ETHIOPICA (Calla) which are out of service should 

 have the water gradually withheld from them, and as the foliage dies 

 down turn the pots on their sides and leave them in this position until 

 the time arrives for starting into growth in Autumn. The pots should 

 not be put in a place where the sun will have full play on them. Jadoo 

 potted tubers may as well have another season without disturbance, 

 as this material does not seem to decompose rapidly; liquid manure 

 would then, of course, have to be applied regularly. For increasing the 

 stock of the yellow varieties they should be grown all Summer; plant 

 them outside in rich, well-drained situations where they can be watered 

 abundantly when occasion requires it. In Winter they need a mini- 

 mum temperature of 60 degrees. By the middle of September the 

 largest sizes of R. ajthiopica should be in 6 and 7-inch pots and placed 

 in an open frame. Have the sash handy so that they may be protec- 

 ted during wet weather. With a good watering at first they won't 

 need much moisture till good roots are formed. At least one-third of 

 rotted cow manure should be in the soil. 



TRILLIUM— About a dozen species of these beautiful and interesting 

 native plants are in cultivation. T. grandiflorum is the one most com- 

 monly grown, owing to its very large white flowers. Its culture is of 

 the simplest description, requiring a half-shaded position with abun- 

 dance of vegetable humus in the soil. It is sometimes grown in pots for 

 early forcing, for which purpose it is well adapted. The rhizomes should 

 be potted as soon as the plants are at rest, late in Summer, and plunged 

 in a cool frame until wanted. With very little heat they will flower 

 several weeks in advance of their usual time. 



VALLOTA PURPUREA— A very useful plant, either for the greenhouse 

 or the window garden, but not of much service to the florist, as it 

 flowers at a period when the demand for cut flowers is not very great. 

 As the bulbs will last in the same pots for several years, the drainage 

 should be carefully arranged, and the soil mixed with crushed bone. 

 During growth occasional waterings with manure should be given. 

 The flowers are reddish scarlet, several in an umbel; in appearance some- 

 what like those of an Amaryllis. The foliage is evergreen, but during 

 the resting season the supply of water should be curtailed. 



Propagation — The Vallota has a very curious method of making 

 young plants which I do not remember to have seen described any- 

 where. These young plants are produced to such an extent that the 

 process tends to curtail the flowering propensities of the larger bulbs if 

 attention be not given in the matter of removing them. In course of 

 time they form two colonies, one on each side of the parent bulb. The 

 bases of the leaves forming the bulb ha\e each a small bud-like growth 



