94 GARDENING DIFFICULTIES SOLVED 



which will be found far preferable to the blanks caused by the 

 removal of the boxes. Small plants of variegated Ivy can be 

 secured for draping the front of the boxes. 



Treatment of Newly Potted Bulbs 



Q. I am told that newly potted bulbs should be plunged for five or 

 six weeks so as to encourage the formation of roots before top growth 

 starts. Could 1 use sawdust for covering them ? E. A. T., Rugby. 



A. Yes ; you may plunge the pots containing the bulbs in 

 sawdust, but ordinary sand would be far more suitable it is better 

 than ashes. Crocuses, Snowdrops, Tulips, Hyacinths and Narcissi 

 should all be plunged in the same way. 



Rose of Jericho 



Q. I should be glad of a few particulars of this extraordinary 

 plant. Amateur, S. Wales. 



A. This is a common name for Anastatica Hierochuntina, which 

 is also known as one of the Resurrection Plants. This plant recovers 

 its original form, however dry it may be, on immersion in water, but 

 it is not true that it will come into full flower in so short a space of 

 time. This curious plant is in fact an annual, the leaves of which 

 fall off after flowering ; the branches and branchlets then become 

 dry, hard, and ligneous, curling inwards at their extremities. Even 

 after the lapse of many years in this dry state the plant will resume 

 its vitality on being placed in water. It is a native of Syria and the 

 Mediterranean region, and when in a dry round ball it is readily 

 blown about the sea shore. By some commentators it is supposed to 

 be the " rolling thing before the whirlwind" mentioned by Isaiah. 



About Tuberoses 



Q. When is the best time to pot up Tuberoses to provide blossom 

 in the greenhouse in summer ? E. K. J., Sussex. 



A. April is a suitable time to pot the bulbs of Tuberoses to 

 flower during the summer. Suitable pots are those of the 3- 

 or 4-inch sizes. The Tuberoses like turfy soil, and leaf mould, 

 decayed manure, and sand should be included. It will be necessary 

 to plunge them in cocoanut fibre, and if this is directly over the hot 

 water pipes so much the better. One watering immediately after 

 potting is all that is required till growth commences, although if 

 close to the pipes the fibre should be kept moist. When growing 

 freely remove to 6- inch pots, place on a sunny shelf, and water more 

 liberally, giving occasional applications of liquid manure. 



