78 Gardening in Egypt. 



Gloriosa superba. A lovely climbing Lily, lately 

 introduced into the country from India, flowers late in 

 the summer, and makes a pretty object when climbing 

 over a tree-stump ; also Pancratium maritimum (The 

 Sea Daffodil), Montbretias, and Hemerocallis fulva 

 (The Day Lily), with spikes of yellow flowers, which 

 appear in May and June, and Chlorophytum elatum, 

 make nice border plants. Ranunculus, in a sheltered 

 spot, blooms in February and March, while the 

 Amaryllis, Vallota purpurea and Agapanthus unbellatus, 

 and Albidus (The blue and white African lilies), are seen 

 at their best about the middle of April, and Crinum 

 amabile and C. asiaticum flower throughout the summer. 

 All the above-named species make better plants if they 

 are not transplanted. 



European Narcissi, Sparaxis, Freesias, and Ixias 

 should be planted either in pots or in the open 

 ground in November ; the Narcissus growing, perhaps, 

 best in the open ground, and the others in pots. 

 After flowering, just enough water should be given 

 to keep the foliage from withering and to ripen the 

 bulbs. As soon as the leaves turn yellow, and part 

 freely from the bulb, the latter should be shaken out 

 of the soil, dried in the sun, and afterwards stored 

 in sand until the following planting season. In some 

 cases Narcissus will be found to throw up a quantity 

 of leaves without flowering ; but if the roots are 

 shortened by cutting a circle about two inches from the 

 bulb, this will often be found to check the over-growth 

 of foliage and cause the plant to produce flowers. 



Hyacinths can also be potted in November, but 

 they usually deteriorate after the first year. When 

 the blooms appear, an inverted flower-pot should be 

 covered over them to draw up the flowers, otherwise 

 the bloom will remain down amongst the leaves. 

 Tulips and Crocus do not succeed in Egypt. 



Dahlias. The tubers of these, should be planted 

 out in April, in rich soil, when they will grow 

 into large plants, and continue to bloom until late 



