COOL GREENHOUSE, 115 



should only be performed every three or four years, and 

 the best time to do this is directly after the plants have 

 flowered. Some of the kinds push forth their flower-spikes 

 before the new leaves, others just after. Anyhow, directly 

 growth begins, water liberally, and continue to keep the 

 soil moist until May, The season of growth begins 

 in August or September, and continues till May. 

 From May to September withhold water entirely, 

 and stand the pots outdoors in a sunny spot. When signs 

 of new growth are evident, soak the pots in water for an 

 hour or so, and treat as advised. Bulbs not newly re- 

 potted may be fed with liquid manure once or twice a 

 week from August till March. Bear in mind that the 

 plants must be encouraged to grow freely from September 

 to May, afterwards to have no water, and to be thoroughly 

 exposed to the sun to ripen the bulbs. Nerines may be 

 increased by offsets at potting time, or by seeds sow r n in 

 heat in spring. The seedlings will not flower until four 

 or five years old. 



Ornithogalum. 0. arabicum, bearing white starry 

 flowers in summer, and growing two feet high, is an ex- 

 cellent bulbous-rooted plant to grow in a cool house. It 

 also forces well. The flowers, too, are fragrant and valu- 

 able for cutting. 



The bulbs should be planted singly in a 5in. pot in Sep- 

 tember. Use a compost of two parts loam and one of 

 equal proportions of leaf -mould, decayed manure, and 

 silver sand. After potting, place under fibre refuse in a 

 cold frame until growth commences, then transfer to the 

 cool house, and water freely. If early flowers be desired 

 place a few of the most forward plants in the warm house 

 until the flowers expand, then return to the cool house. 

 After flowering, remove to the cold frame, withhold water 

 gradually, and keep dry when the foliage- fades. Repot 

 in October. Increased by offsets. 



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