POPULAR GARDEN PLANTS. 



459 



K. TucHL — Nearly allied to K.pumila, but more robust 

 in habit. Leaves densely tufted, reflexed, 2 feet long, with 

 a serrulate margin. Raceme 6 inches long, densely packed 

 with deflexed sulphur-yellow flowers, tinged with red in 

 an early stage. 



The best of the hybrids and seedlings, raised 

 chiefly by Herr W. Pfitzer of Stuttgart, are:— 



Augustin Wilhelm, Director Grothe, Director Stoll, 

 Franz Buchner, George Bruant, Henry Cannell, Hof- 

 gartner Fiesser, Hofgartner Ehmann, Hofgartner Singer, 

 Jules Chretien, Victor Lemoine, W. E. Gambleton, Wil- 

 helm Pfitzer. 



Lachenalia. — A genus of South African 

 bulbous plants, closely related to Hyacinthus 

 and Muscari; indeed they are popularly known 

 as Cape Hyacinths. There are about forty 

 species, but only a few of these are worthy of 

 consideration as garden plants. These are de- 

 scribed below. They all have egg-shaped Scilla- 

 like bulbs, fleshy strap-shaped deciduous leaves, 

 and elegant, more or less erect scapes of tubular 

 flowers. Several hybrids and seedlings of gar- 

 den origin also add to the value of the genus 

 horticulturally. One of the best of these, L. 

 Nelsoni, was named after the raiser of the first 

 hybrid Lachenalia — viz. the Rev. John Nelson, 

 whose operations on the genus were commenced 

 about twenty-five years ago. Seedlings have 

 also been raised by Mr. Moore in the Botanic 

 Gardens, Glasnevin. 



Cultivation. — The bulbs require a season of 

 rest after the flowering season, which extends 

 from January to May, this rest being afforded 

 by placing the pots of bulbs in a sunny frame 

 or on a shelf in a greenhouse and withholding 

 water. Early in August the bulbs should be 

 shaken out, sorted, and repotted in a compost con- 

 sisting of loam two parts, leaf-mould one part, 

 a small quantity of well-rotted manure or bone- 

 dust, and some sand. If it be grown in pots, 

 5-inch is a convenient size, planting from six to 

 ten bulbs in each pot. The small bulbs may be 

 planted rather thickly in pans as stock. Baskets 

 are also suitable for Lachenalias (see fig. 567). 

 The baskets, about a foot in diameter, should 

 be lined with sphagnum, and the bulbs put in 

 as the soil is filled in. If properly planted 

 the bulbs need not be taken out of the baskets 

 for three or four years. After potting, they 

 may be placed in a frame or on a greenhouse 

 shelf, and the soil kept moist, but rather on the 

 dry side, until the leaves are well up. During 

 winter the ordinary greenhouse temperature, 

 minimum 45°, suits them.. Vigorous plants 

 should be fed with weak liquid manure, or a 

 weekly top-dressing of Clay's Fertilizer, until 



the leaves show signs of fading. In May the 

 pots may be replaced in the frame, and kept 

 dry until repotting-time in August. 



Seeds are readily matured by Lachenalias if 

 the flower-spikes are allowed to remain. They 

 should be sown as soon as ripe, when they are 

 shining black, and they germinate freely in a 

 temperature of about 60°. As soon as the seed- 

 lings can be handled they should be pricked out 



Fig. 566.— Lachenalia Nelsoni. 



in pans or boxes, and grown on in a sunny posi- 

 tion under glass. They usually flower when 

 three years old. 



The following are good garden plants: — 



L. _aurea. — The best form of this, named gigantea, 

 has stout, erect spikes, 18 inches high, bearing about 

 twenty-five flowers, each H inch long, rich golden-yellow 

 fading to a dull-purple colour: leaves 12 by 2 inches, 

 glaucous-green with blotches of a darker shade. The type 

 is a small plant with spikes 6 inches high. 



L. Cami. — Leaves 9 inches, shining green, mottled 

 dull-brown ; spike erect, a foot long, heavily blotched, 

 and bearing from twelve to twenty flowers, f inch long, 

 orange-yellow tinged with green: buds bright red. A 

 seedling of garden origin. 



L. glaucina. — Leaves a foot long, tapering, bright- 

 green heavily spotted with brown: spike erect, a foot or 



