804 GREENHOUSE PLANTS. 



erroneous ; indeed, we were led to this conclusion some few 

 years back, upon examining bulbs of L. speciosum ruhrum, 

 which were dug up from an open border in the month of 

 January. We found thick fleshy roots striking deep down 

 in the soil, and quite active, and it is evident that plants in 

 this condition, instead of having to make new roots to sup- 

 port the growth in spring, as they have to do under the 

 drying system, are at once in full working order, ready to 

 throw vigour into the upward growth as soon as the warmth 

 of the season induces activity. We therefore advise aU 

 growers of this magnificent family of plants to avoid drying 

 olf the bulbs, since we have seen this system carried out 

 in many places with great success. The basis of the 

 soil should be a mixture of good loam and peat, in equal 

 parts ; about one-fourth of the whole mass should be good 

 well-decomposed manure, and a little sharp sand should be 

 added. 



Some time in the month of February the plants should be 

 shifted into this compost, and placed in a cool house, in a 

 temperature that will just exclude frost and nothing more. 

 Water must be used very sparingly at first, and the quantity 

 gradually increased as the plants progress in size and 

 strength. After flowering, the plants should not, as is too 

 often the case with these and many other bulbous plants, be 

 cast on one side because their beauty is past, but the work 

 of maturing the bulbs for the following season's display 

 should be set about in good earnest. If the plants are 

 starved at this stage, it must naturally follow that the quality 

 and quantity both of growth and bloom from the bulbs so 

 treated must be inferior. Eather let double care be bestowed 

 upon them, especially in regard to the waterings, while a 

 little weak liquid manure, given occasionally, will be of the 

 greatest assistance. As the leaves and stems decay, and 



