72 BULBS AND TUBEROUS-BOOTED PLANTS. 



ing in July or August. The flowers are something like 

 those of the Ixia, but smaller, and are produced in clus- 

 ters of ten or twelve, on long pedicels spreading widely 

 from the main stem. The bulbs do best when left in 

 the ground during winter, but they must be protected 

 against frost, or water, by a cold frame, or liberal 

 mulching. 



CYCLAMEN. 



When well managed, there are few winter flowering 

 bulbs more pleasing or attractive than the Cyclamen. 

 They are not classed among popular plants, from the 

 fact that thejr blooms have no commercial value. But 

 for objects of interest, they have but few rivals in the 

 greenhouse or conservatory. When brought from the 

 greenhouse to the window garden they continue to pro- 

 duce their charming flowers longer than most other 

 plants. The genus Cyclamen contains but few species, 

 just how many it is difficult to say, as it is a question 

 upon which authorities differ, from the fact that many 

 varieties are included in the list of so-called species. It 

 is, however, to C. Persicum that we are indebted for the 

 many types and varieties that are commercially known 

 and sold under the generic name Cyclamen. 



The genus has long been under cultivation as a flow- 

 ering plant, as we find it beautifully illustrated as early 

 as 1612, and from the drawings then made we can recog- 

 nize the most improved varieties of the present day. 

 The origin of one common name, Sowbread, is so old 

 that it is past finding out. Pliny said the roots poisoned 

 swine, whence the name Sowbread, or poison, was given 

 it. The more general, as well as the more reasonable, 

 inference is that it derived this name from the fact of 

 swine being fond of the roots, and that they are whole- 

 some, rather than injurious. 



The only practicable way of growing the Cyclamen 

 is from seed, which is produced freely. It germinates 



