COLD GREENHOUSE. 135 



enumerated in the list of hardy bulbs are adapted for 

 pot culture, so that we need not mention their names 

 here. 



September is the best time to pot bulbous irises, but 

 the Spanish and English kinds may be potted as late as 

 October. All require a compost of two parts sandy loam 

 and one part of equal proportions of decayed manure, leaf- 

 mould, and coarse silver sand. The dwarf species may be 

 grown five or more in a Sin. pot, and the taller ones five 

 in a Gin. pot, the bulbs being buried about an inch deep. 

 After potting place the pots in a cold frame, plunging the 

 pots to their rims in cinder ashes, and leaving the surface 

 uncovered. The sashes should be left off the frame, ex- 

 cept in wet weather, as the bulbs require cool treatment. 

 The bulbs will not be long in making growth, and then 

 water may be sparingly given. In November put on the 

 sashes at night, and also on cold and damp days, but 

 admit air freely. In due course the early-flowering kinds 

 will begin to develop their flower spikes, and then they 

 should be taken to the cold house. The late-flowering 

 English and Spanish kinds should be kept in the frame 

 till about April, then taken into the greenhouse. After 

 flowering return the pots to the frame, and again plunge 

 in ashes to ripen their bulbs; after which keep dry. The 

 English and Spanish kinds should be planted out in the 

 garden in autumn. The others may be retained in pots 

 permanently, repotting every two or three years. The 

 English and Spanish kinds do not force well. Increased 

 by offsets. 



Ixias. Ixias are decidedly pretty spring-flowering bul- 

 bous-rooted plants, and easily grown in pots in a cold 

 house. Especially interesting is the green-flowered viridi- 

 flora. Other pretty kinds will be found on p. 182. 

 Natives of South Africa. 



Ixias require to be potted in October, placing five or six 

 bulbs in a 5in. pot, in a compost of two pails loam and 



