The Tuberose. 203 



After bloom is past, the bulbs are of little value, and maybe thrown 

 away. If examined, they will be found to consist of a mass of offsets, each 

 of which will, with care, make a flowering bulb in three j'^ears. We have 

 succeeded in thus growing them by keeping them in the cellar during the 

 winter, and planting them in the open border in summer ; but in New Eng- 

 land, when we consider the cheapness of imported bulbs, the process is too 

 much trouble. 



The double variety of the tuberose is most generally grown ; but it is 

 by no means as delicate or graceful as the single, while both are equally 

 fragrant. 



In the preparation of the hot-bed, if horse-droppings and litter cannot 

 be procured, any mass, such as leaves or stubble, which will heat, will answer 

 the purpose; and a little light soil may supply the place of the tan. 



By the preceding mode of culture, we have seen spikes of tuberoses 

 produce from tliirty to forty flowers instead of the few weak blossoms 

 developed under ordinary treatment. 



The tuberose belongs to the natural order Liliaceae, and is a native of 

 the East Indies. 



The botanical name is Polianthes tuhcrosa; from which the derivation of 

 the popular name is evident. 



A singular phenomenon has been observed in this plant, which has been 

 seen " on a sultry evening, after thunder, when the atmosphere was highly 

 charged with electric fluid, to dart sparks of lucid flame in abundance 

 from such of its flowers as were fading." 



The spike of flowers from which our illustration is taken was kindly 

 furnished us by Mr. William C. Wilson of Astoria, L.I., a florist who has 

 been most successful in the cultivation of this flower, to which he devotes 

 much attention, and whose plants always give satisfaction. 



E. S. R., Jan. 



Glen Ridgb, August, 1868. 



