40 BULBS AND THEIR CULTIVATION. 



till three or more years after planting. Eremuri may be 

 raised from seed sown in sandy loam and leaf-mould in 

 gentle heat in spring, the seedlings being carefully trans- 

 planted into small pots, and finally placed in cold frames 

 for a couple of years before finally planting out. Natives 

 of Turkestan, Persia, and the Himalayas. 



Geranium. G. tuberosum is an interesting tuberous- 

 rooted Crane's-bill, growing about a foot high and having 

 curiously knotted and forked stems. Does best on a sunny 

 rockery, and in cold districts requires a little protection in 

 the shape of a covering of bracken or dry litter in winter. 

 A well-drained soil is essential. Increased by division. 



Helicodiceros. A curious Arum-like plant, formerly 

 known as Arum crinitum, or H. crinitus. It has narrow 

 lobed leaves, purple-spotted stems, and purplish spathes 

 which emit a carrion-like odour when fully grown. 

 Kequires similar culture to the Arum. 



Mirabilis (Marvel of Peru). Tender tuberous-rooted 

 plants long grown in gardens during the summer. M. 

 Japala grows three feet or so high, and bears red, lilac, 

 yellow, or white fragrant flowers in summer. Other 

 species are M. longiflora, bearing white, pink, or violet 

 fragrant blossoms in August; and M. multiflora, purple 

 flowers. The first-named is the most generally grown. 

 The tubers require to be lifted in autumn, stored like 

 dahlias, and started in heat in March, or planted out 

 direct into the soil in May. Plants may be reared from 

 seed sown in heat in February, to plant out in May for 

 flowering the same year. 



Orchids. Several genera and species of orchids have 

 tuberous roots, and, being very interesting hardy plants, 

 must not be omitted from this volume. We refer to 

 Calapogon pulchellus; Habenarias (Butterfly Orchises); 



