COLD GREENHOUSE, 125 



in cold frame under fibre refuse till growth begins, then 

 place in the greenhouse, keep well watered whilst grow- 

 ing and dry when the leaves fade. Bepot in autumn. 

 Increased by offsets. 



Colchtcum. The Colchicums flower in autumn or in 

 early spring, producing their blossoms before making new 

 growth. Those that flower in autumn are particularly 

 valuable, because there is at that period a paucity of 

 flowering bulbous-rooted plants. The kinds that flower 

 then are: Autumnale, purple; byzantinum, rosy-purple; 

 Decaisnei, flesh; and speciosum, lilac-purple. The spring- 

 flowering species are: Hydrophilum, pink; libanoticum, 

 rose and white ; and crociflorum, purple and white. 



The bulbs may be grown in pots or pans, planting them 

 two inches deep and two to three inches apart, according 

 to theii 4 size. The compost should be two parts of loam, 

 one of leaf-mould, and one of coarse sand, and the plant- 

 ing be done in August for the autumn-flowering kinds, and 

 in September or October for the others. Store in a cold 

 frame till the flower stems show, and afterwards place in 

 the greenhouse. Directly after flowering put them back in 

 the cold frame to complete their growth. When the foliage 

 fades withhold water entirely. Increased by offsets. 



Crocosmia. C. aurea is a South African bulbous- 

 rooted plant, bearing orange-red flowers on graceful spikes 

 in. summer, and growing about two feet high. Although 

 usually grown as a border plant, it is equally adapted for 

 pot culture. 



The corms should be planted one inch deep, and five 

 in a 5 in. pot, in November, in a compost of two parts 

 loam, one part leaf-mould, with a plentiful addition of 

 coarse silver sand. Store in a cold frame, and treat as 

 advised generally for bulbs. When growth begins place 

 in the greenhouse, and keep well watered whilst growing, 



