352 GAKDEN PLANTS. PART II. 



planted as much as six inches deep, otherwise the new corm 

 which forms above the old one is apt to push above ground. It 

 is recommended to put a layer of sand over the corm when 

 planted an inch thick. They blossom in March. After flowering 

 the leaves gradually die down, and then the pots with the 

 dormant corms should be put in some place where they may 

 remain dry till the time comes round to pot them afresh. 



Sparaxis. 



A genus of Cape bulbous plants of small size, bearing abundant 

 flowers of great beauty. Some four or five are mentioned by 

 Dr. Voigt as succeeding in this country and blossoming in 

 February and March. The cultivation of them is much the same 

 as that of the Gladiolus. The following are given as the finest. 



1. S. lineata. Flowers white with pale-green eye, clouded with 

 black. 2. S. grandiflora. Flowers purple with white rim; of 

 extraordinary beauty. 3. S. tricolor. Flowers very large ; orange 

 and yellow. 



Ixia. 



Cape bulbous plants, between which and the last there is but 

 a slight botanical difference. The cultivation is the same. Some 

 succeed and flower well in this country. Those considered finest 

 are : 1. I. HeUeni. 2. I. flexuosa. Flowers, white, rosy-striped. 



3. I. viridiflora. Flowers green, star-formed, with purple eye. 



4. I. Trichonema rosea. 



Crocus. 



The cultivation of the English Crocus has never, that I am 

 aware of, been attended with success in this country. 



C. sativus SAFFKON. Of this very beautiful species I obtained 

 bulbs from a friend brought from Cashmir, which blossomed to 

 perfection in my garden at Ferozepore. 



MUSACE^B. 

 Heliconia. 



H. buccinata. Native of Amboyna; has something of the 

 appearance of a Plantain ; leaves three or four feet long and a 

 foot broad, very rigid and erect in their grovUh, with large pale 



