776 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



are best grown in a cool airy room, in which they will blossom 

 in late spring. 



All the Alliums make pretty little window-plants, though the 

 scent of them is unpleasant. A. neapolitanum (white), A. azureum 

 (blue), and A. Macnabianum (bright pink) are good kinds to 

 employ. They should be potted up in September and October. 

 Anomatheca cruenta is an uncommon bulb, under ift. high, that 

 looks well when numerously planted. The bright crimson flowers 

 and graceful, grassy foliage make a very pretty whole. Freesias 

 should always be grown, as they are beautifully white, and very 

 fragrant. F. refrada alba is the best kind to employ. This 

 should be potted in late summer, and afterwards plunged until 

 growth has made a good start. Beyond keeping them moist no 

 further treatment is required. The foliage must, however, be 

 allowed to mature, and then the bulbs may be separated from 

 the soil and stored in bags until potting time. 



Erythroniums also make good 

 pot-plants, and are desirable alike 

 for their flowers and foliage. They 

 should be potted in summer. De- 

 cided acquisitions when grown as 

 window-plants are the Lachenalias, 

 as they are very uncommon as to 

 flower. Sand, loam, and leaf-mould 

 in equal parts will grow them well. 

 L. pendula makes an excellent 

 basket-plant, while L. tricolor may be 

 utilised for pots. Another distinct bulbous 

 subject is Nerine sarniensis. The bulbs 

 should be inserted as soon as they arrive, 

 taking care to leave the top just above 

 the soil. They like a fair amount of 

 moisture when growing, but when at 

 rest the supply must be reduced. There 

 is a beautiful variety known as JY. Fother- 

 gilli (curvifolid) major, which is of a 

 rich scarlet. Many fail with these bulbs 

 as window-plants by disturbing them 

 too often. 



_ Tuberoses are always appreciated, and 

 they can be grown in windows. Early 

 in the year three bulbs should be planted in a well-drained 

 6in. pot, using three parts sandy loam and one part leaf-mould. 

 They should be plunged in cocoanut fibre, and drafted to the 

 window when growth is made. The Pearl is an excellent variety. 

 Tuberoses are not of any use after flowering. 



Lilies {Lilium) are perhaps the most appreciated of all plants 

 grown for window decoration, as they combine beautiful and 



Fig. 517.— Lilium longi 

 florum. 



