116 BULBS AND THEIR CULTIVATION. 



Oxalis. A few species of this genus are worthy of cul- 

 ture in the cool greenhouse. Those named below are 

 either tuberous or bulbous-rooted, easy to grow, and very 

 pretty when in flower. The following are the most note- 

 worthy kinds: Cernua (Bermuda Buttercup), yellow 

 (spring), Gin. ; cernua fl. pi., double-flowered; floribunda, 

 rose (spring), 1ft.; floribunda alba, white; purpurata, 

 purple (October), Sin. ; rose a, rose (spring), Sin. ; tetra- 

 phylla, red (summer), Gin. 



The foregoing kinds should be grown in a compost of 

 two parts sandy loam, one part leaf-mould and plenty of 

 silver sand. The potting of all the above kinds should be 

 performed at the same time. Those that flower in spring, 

 as rosea and tetraphylla, should be potted in January and 

 February; those that bloom in summer in March; those 

 that do so in autumn and winter in August. Plant the 

 bulbs or tubers about half-an-inch below the surface, and 

 half-an-inch to an inch apart in 5in. pots. After potting, 

 place in a cool window or greenhouse until growth begins ; 

 then remove to the light. No water should be given till 

 growth begins, and then only in small quantities until 

 growth is well advanced. An occasional application of 

 manure will be beneficial when the plants are in full 

 growth. After flowering, gradually withhold water, and 

 keep the soil quite dry from the time the leaves die until 

 the potting season arrives. Propagation is effected by 

 seeds, cuttings, or offsets. Many kinds seed freely, and 

 it is no uncommon occurrence to find plenty of seedlings 

 springing up in the same pot, or in other pots that have 

 stood near the parent plant. Seed may be obtained from 

 florists, and if this be sown in the compost mentioned 

 above in pots in a warm greenhouse in spring, abundance 

 of seedlings may be obtained. The seeds should only 

 be lightly covered with soil, and care must also be taken 

 not to water the soil too freely. Transplant the seedlings 

 when large enough to handle an inch apart in Sin. pots, and 

 later on plant three seedlings in pots of this size. Cuttings 



