104 BULBS AND THEIR CULTIVATION. 



The chief species are: Gigantea, red (July); and Jose- 

 phine, scarlet (July), the latter being the better of the 

 two. 



Crinum. A few species of this genus of bulbous-rooted 

 plants require warm greenhouse culture. All are hand- 

 some, both in foliage and flower, and merit culture where 

 space can be found for them. 



They require rather large pots or tubs to grow them 

 well. The compost should consist of two parts turfy loam, 

 one part of peat, and a liberal amount of silver sand. Good 

 drainage, too, must be provided, as the bulbs are best not 

 repotted oftener than once in three or four years. In 

 potting bury the bulb about half-way in the soil, and ram 

 the latter down firmly. March is a good time to repot. 

 During the spring and summer give plenty of water, and 

 in the case of bulbs that have not been repotted for a year 

 or so an occasional dose of liquid manure. In autumn 

 gradually withhold water, and, finally, store the pots on 

 their sides under the staging till spring. The plants like 

 full exposure to sun in summer. Increased by seeds or 

 offsets. 



The species above referred .to are: Amabile, purple 

 (July) ; Macowanii, white and purple (autumn) ; and 

 Moorei^ rose (summer). 



Gladiolus. A new form of Gladiolus has recently been 

 introduced from the Rain Forest, Victoria Falls, on the 

 river Zambesi, in tropical Africa, under the name of Gladi- 

 olus primulinus var. "Maid of the Mist." The discoverer 

 of this plant, which, by the way, the Kew authorities regard 

 as a unique kind, was Mr. Francis Fox, a well-known 

 engineer, and a member of the firm who built the bridge 

 at the Zambesi Falls. The stock he was able to collect 

 was placed by him in the hands of Messrs. Kelway and 

 Son, Langport, to distribute. The plant grows three to 

 four feet high, and bears bright golden-yellow and primula- 



