26 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 



were in large, long beds, and mixed with them were lilies, 

 and the outer boundary was made up with agapanthus, 

 which, as a hardy plant, flowers at the same time as the 

 tritoma, and, when established, flowers as freely. 



The flame or torch lily will thrive in any good soil, but 

 a deep sandy loam is certainly the best for it. Occasionally 

 it produces seed freely, but we must confess we never took 

 the trouble to sow any, because we could always obtain 

 as many plants as were required by the simple process of 

 division, which not only multiplies the stock, but insures 

 flowering plants at once, without the necessity for nursing. 

 It has been our rule, in dividing tritomas, agapanthuses, 

 crinums, and other such plants, to pot the divisions in the 

 smallest pots possible with sandy soil, and so keep them 

 until growing freely, when, the pots being filled with roots, 

 they may be planted out with safety. In places where the 

 climate is genial and the soil dry, the divisions may be 

 planted where they are to remain, for there will be but 

 little risk of failure. These fine plants are thirsty subjects, 

 and if it be possible to supply them with abundance of 

 water during hot, dry, summer weather, they will repay 

 such attention with liberal interest. But it is of the very 

 first importance that the ground they occupy should be 

 reasonably dry during winter. A boggy or sour situation 

 will insure the death of many in a severe winter, but on 

 well-drained land these plants are perfectly hardy ; and if 

 killed down in spring, as will sometimes happen, they will 

 in due time renew themselves from the roots, if left undis- 

 turbed and kept free from encroaching plants that might 

 spread over and injure them. 



Tritomas are natives of South Africa, and members of 

 the great order of Lilies. There are not many species, and 



