GALTONIA 



THE BULB BOOK 



GALTONIA 



Grown in pots, the bulbs should be- Although closely related to the 



planted in a mixture of sandy peat 

 and fibrous loam in equal proportions. 

 They usually flower in summer about 

 July and August, and during the 

 winter season the bulbs remain 

 dormant. Propagation is effected by 

 offsets in spring. 



G. gramlnea. — Introduced from the 

 Cape in 1799. Almost a stemless 

 plant with oblong or linear convolute 

 leaves 1 to 2 ins. long, often bearing 

 bulblets in the axils. The flowers are 

 deep yellow or tinted with lilac, borne 

 singly on very short stems. {Bot. 

 Mag. t. 1292.) 



G. ovata. — A somewhat similar 

 species, introduced in 1795, having 

 linear thread-like leaves, dilated at 

 base, distinctly channelled, and with 

 cartilaginous margins. Flowers 

 bright yellow, about 1 in. across. 

 The variety grandiflora has larger 

 flowers {Bot. Mag. t. 1208; And. 

 Bot. Rep. tt. 94, 164) ; and versicolor 

 has purple blossoms. 



G-ALTONIA (after Francis Galton, 

 author of " A Narrative of an Explorer 

 in S. Africa "). Nat. Ord. Liliaceae. — 

 This genus contains two species of 

 graceful South African herbaceous 



Fig. 166.- Uaitonia cunOicaus. bulb and section 

 of same. (^.) 



plants with roundish tunicated bulbs, 

 long strap-shaped pointed leaves, and 

 tall leafless scapes from which droop 

 numerous bell-shaped flowers. 



238 



Hyacinths proper, and indeed are 

 often known as such, the Galtonias 

 are much larger-growing and more 

 conspicuous plants. They flourish in 

 good garden soil of a rich and gritty 

 nature, and become quite luxuriant 

 in a really rich mould. To secure a 

 bold effect several bulbs should be 

 planted about 12 to 18 ins. apart and 

 5 to 6 ins. deep ; in the first case in 

 spring at the same time as the 

 Gladioli, in warm sunny borders or 

 beds, as the plants delight in plenty of 

 sunshine. Once well established the 

 plants are best left undisturbed for 

 a few years, in which case they should 

 receive a thin mulching of well- 

 decayed manure in autumn. 



Propagation is effected by detach- 

 ing the offsets from the older bulbs 

 and replanting in spring. Galtonias 

 may also be raised from seeds sown 

 under glass in spring in rich gritty 

 soil. It takes two or three seasons 

 for the young bulbs to reach the 

 flowering stage, the young plants in 

 the meantime being cultivated in pots 

 in a cool greenhouse or cold frame. 



G. candicans {Hyacinthus candi- 

 cans). — A splendid bulbous plant, 

 having large round bulbs and strap- 

 shaped lanceolate leaves about 2J ft. 

 long. It produces stout, erect, glau- 

 cous scapes shooting up for 4 ft. or 

 more from the centre of the foliage in 

 summer, and bearing at the top a 

 raceme of twenty or more large, 

 sweet-scented, drooping, pure white 

 flowers like white bells. {Ref. Bot. 

 t. 174; Rev. Hort. 1882, 32.) 



G. clavata is similar in appear- 

 ance, but is not so showy. It differs 

 in having smaller greenish - white 

 flowers with shorter segments, and 

 lance-shaped filaments to the stamens. 

 It is not quite so hardy as O. candi- 

 cans, and requires protection in severe 

 winters. {Bot. Mag. t. 6885.) 



