CHAP. V. ORNAMENTAL TREES, SHRUBS, ETC. 351 



6. I. xiphioides ENGLISH IBIS. Bulbous plants with grass- 

 like leaves. Of these there is a vast number of varieties cultivated 

 in the gardens in England. They do not bear being kept long 

 out of the ground. Of a large assortment I procured when at 

 Ferozepore, though apparently perfectly sound, not a single one 

 started, but remained for months in their pots, till they eventually 

 perished. Of a collection I imported at Howrah all came up 

 pretty well, and many flowered, but not at all satisfactorily. 



7. I. moroeoides. Thrives and blossoms well in Calcutta, 

 bearing very beautiful white flowers in the Hot season. 



Tigridia. 



T. Pavonia. TIGEE-FLOWER. A large bulbous plant; bears 

 great gorgeous but most fugitive flowers, with bright scarlet 

 petals, and the centre spotted like a leopard's skin. Dr. Voigt 

 states that it blossoms here in July and August, but I found no 

 success whatever with the bulbs I brought down from Ootaca- 

 mund, where it thrives well and is met with in abundance. 



Pardanthus, 



P. Chinensis. LEOPARD-FLOWER. An herbaceous plant with 

 iris-like leaves ; bears during the Rains an upright stalk two 

 feet high, and upon its summit several middling-sized dull 

 orange-coloured flowers with scarlet spots ; a common plant in 

 all gardens in India. 



Babiana. 



A numerous genus of Cape small bulbous plants, bearing 

 middling-sized beautiful flowers, but not cultivated here, I 

 believe, with any success. 



Gladiolus. 



SWORD-FLAG. 



Of this genus of bulbous plants the number of hybrids and 

 varieties that have been raised by cultivators in Europe is 

 almost endless. It is one of the few Cape bulbs of the order 

 which thrive to satisfaction in this country; and a selection 

 of good varieties once procured may be preserved with little 

 difficulty from year to year. They may be planted either in 

 pots or in the open ground towards the end of October. They 

 require a soil principally of sandy leaf-mould. They should be 



