THE IXIA. 



Xijtf crateroides. 



lIAS and sparaxis differ by small 

 tokens, but both require 

 the same kind of cultiva- 

 tion. They are natives of 

 South Africa, and require 

 more sunshine than we 

 can order for them, even 

 if we devote the best of our 

 time to tapping the baro- 

 meter. It has been the 

 custom to speak of these 

 flowers in a hushed sort of 

 manner or in whispers, but 

 there is nothing gained in 

 that. It is as easy to 

 insure a fine bloom of 

 them as of hyacinths or 

 tulips, but, generally speak- 

 ing, they do not succeed 

 as hardy bulbs in any part 

 of Great Britain, but are hardy and prosperous in the 

 Channel Islands, and more particularly in Guernsey. It 

 fol]o\\s, therefore, that they are better adapted for pot 

 culture than for the open ground ; and the surest way to 



