42 BULBS AND THEIR CULTIVATION. 



or March. Draw drills two inches deep and six inches 

 apart, and plant the tubers claw-side downwards. In dry 

 weather give copious supplies of water, with an occasional 

 dose of weak liquid manure. On very light soils add a 

 mulch of rotten manure to conserve the moisture and keep 

 the roots cool. When the leaves turn yellow lift the 

 tubers, dry, and store them away till planting time. 

 Increased by seeds and offsets. 



Salvia. Salvia patens, a blue-flowered Mexican 

 species, has tuberous roots, and requires to be treated 

 similarly to the Marvel of Peru. Increased by cuttings 

 inserted in a warm greenhouse in early spring; also by 

 seeds sown in heat in March. 



Schizostylis coccinea. A showy crimson- 

 flowered gladiolus-like plant, the spikes of which are most 

 valuable for cutting in late autumn. It should be grown 

 at the foot of a sunny wall or fence in moist loamy soil. 

 Give an ample supply of water in summer, with occa- 

 sional applications of liquid manure. 



Tropaeolum. Three species of this genus have 

 tuberous roots, and are more or less hardy. T. penta- 

 phyllum grows six to ten feet high, and is well suited for 

 rambling over a tree stump or trellis ; and T. polyphyllurn 

 and T. tuberosum are also suitable for tree stumps or 

 trailing over sunny banks. All require a sunny position; 

 the two first a rich and the latter a rather poor soil. Lift 

 the tubers of T. tuberosum in October, store in sand in a 

 frost-proof place, and plant out the following May. Indeed, 

 in cold districts it would be wise to treat all the species 

 in this fashion. Increased by offsets. 



