410 On the Treatment of several Genera 



dioli is a mixture of sandy loam and peat, or decayed leaves, in 

 about equal proportions. They are generally grown by crowd- 

 ing two or three bulbs into a pot not sufficiently large enough for 

 one, which is one cause of their failing to produce flowers. Only 

 one bulb should be placed in a number three pot; give a good 

 drainage with potsherds: after they are potted set them in a 

 frame, or, in want of this, plunge the pots in a w^arm aspect, in 

 the garden, and cover them with an inch or two of soil, over 

 which throw a few dry leaves or some old haulm: they may re- 

 main in this situation for a few weeks, until the approach of cold 

 weather, when they should be taken up and removed to the green- 

 house; if any heavy rains should occur while they remain in the 

 ground, a few boards should be laid over them to prevent the soil 

 from being too much saturated with water. No other care is 

 requisite but to give the plants air, light and water, until they 

 have blossomed and perfected their 'leaves, when the water should 

 be applied quite sparingly, gradually giving less and less until the 

 foliage is dried up, at which time it should be wholly withheld. 

 The bulbs may then be taken out of the pots, and laid away in 

 papers in a dry room, until the time of planting, which should be 

 done in October or November. This species is not so easy of 

 cultivation as the others, but its splendor will amply repay for all 

 the care bestowed upon it. Seeds may be easily obtained, if the 

 flowers are impregnated Avith some of the other species, and 

 new varieties Avould probably be produced. 



G. floribundus. — This is also a charming species. The flow- 

 ers are of a yellowish-white, or cream-colored, very numerous, 

 and collected in bundles, from whence its name. It is treated in 

 the same manner as the cardinalis, and with much more certainty 

 of its blooming well. It is a very beautiful and desirable spe- 

 cies. 



G. natalensis. — This very showy species, which has lately 

 been introduced to our gardens, is very easily cultivated. The 

 method of planting the roots and managing the plants is so well 

 detailed in our I, p. 54, by a correspondent, that it is hardly 

 necessary for us to say any thing here; for their cultivation in 

 pots we shall refer the reader to those remarks, and confine ours, 

 at the present moment, to their growth in the border. 



The bulbs are perfectly hardy, and will produce their flowers 

 in greater beauty when planted in the border, than when growing 

 in pots: they should be set out in the month of October or No- 

 vember, in a rich hght soil; placing them five or six inches under 

 the surface. No more care is requisite. Upon the approach of 

 spring the shoots will make their appearance above the ground; 

 when they have attained to some height they should be tied to 

 neat stakes, to prevent the spikes of flowers from faUing to the 

 ground. 



