384 GARDEN PLANTS. PART II. 



ably to be started by covering the pots containing them with three 

 or four inches of old bark or half pulverized leaf-soil. A due share 

 of moisture is thus preserved around both leaves, bulbs, and roots ; 

 and moisture is their vital element in the growing stage. When 

 they reach the surface of the covering they may be gradually 

 introduced to the full existing measure of solar light, which will 

 speedily restore the colour of the blanched foliage. Another 

 important necessary to their complete perfection is a large portion 

 of river or white sand in the soil. Nothing is more prejudicial to 

 them than stagnant water." 



Lachenalia. 



Small bulbous plants, natives of the Cape of Good Hope ; for 

 the most part, I believe, not succeeding here. An unnamed 

 species, with spotted leaves and orange-yellow tubular flowers 

 of little beauty, is occasionally presented at the January exhibi- 

 tions of the Agri-Horticultural Society. 



Drimea. 



D. revoluta. A small pot-plant, with curious lurid-green leaves 

 covered with round white spots ; bears in May spikes of small 

 dull-pink flowers. 



Anthericum. 



A. vespertinum. A small plant ; bears in March, upon long 

 bare stems, small white flowers of little interest. 



Dianella. 



D. nemorosa A little bushy 'plant, native of this country, 

 bears small white insignificant flowers ; uninteresting except for 

 its brilliant ultramarine-coloured berries of the size of a pea. 



Eustrephus. 



Eu. angustifolius. Native of New Holland; said to bear pale 

 purple flowers, but ornamental principally as a small climbing 

 plant of graceful slender character, and pretty drooping, grass- 

 like leaves. 



Asparagus. 



1. A. acerosus. Native of Bengal ; an erect herbaceous thorny 

 plant, with needle-like leaves ; bears, in the beginning of the cold 



