r>6 



PROCBBDINOS OF THE 



W hen the llowcr i< ihoroiii^hly withortHl, and the stalk drit'd, the 

 htat and flryntss nm>t hv >u\\ continued, to ripen the tubers. I 

 havehtid the s(»il,in whicli the !ulK*rs remained, heated bytlie sun 

 (// the surfitcv to l lo" and upwards, and Jis dry as mere dust, and 

 this state of thint^^s lasts a montli, at le;ist, after the flowering:. 



" 2. Satyrxum papillosum, (pink flowers, in the natural climate 

 rich crimson). I have never found this in the sandy flats about 

 the Cape. My roots were all taken from clay, baked by the 

 sun nearly t(» the consistence of a brick, at * De Koch's,' a 

 \)\j\fc about -10 miles east of Ca|)e Town, in the district of * Hot- 

 tentot's Holland.' They were then in flower, rather past their 

 maximum. Nevertheless they g-rew well enough in the peaty- 

 sand of which my trarden consisted, and to admiration in a fine 

 black sand enriched with vegretablc matter, from the shrubby 

 hills in the neii^hbourhood. Plenty of water and moderate tem- 

 perature while leafing-, diminished supply of W'et and increased 

 heat as the flower rises, and total dryness uith heat, when all is 

 withered, seem to be the conditions, 



" 3. Satifrium candidum ; (white flower, with very long spurs, and 

 rich orgeat-like odour). This delicious plant, when dried, leaves, 

 stalk, and all, preserves apparently ad infinitum, a rich and 

 powerful flavour of the tonquin bean, or sweet woodrofFe, a 

 flavour common to many flowers, and dried plants, and depending, 

 I have little doubt, on some peculiar vegetable principle not in 

 the nature of an essential oil, but less volatile. Its habitat at 

 the Cape is in deep sand, in flat exposures, but so drained as 

 never to be decidedly inundated in the wettest season, and per- 

 fectly dry in the hot months. It does not seem in this country 

 to require much heat. It has flowered freely in boxes and pots 

 of bog earth, exposed while leafing, (only matted in very cold 

 clear nights,) and taken in doors, when the flowers began to 

 app)ear and kept very dry. But I have now^ several flowering in the 

 open air, under a south wall in a rich garden mould. Like all 

 the Cape plants, however, I presume that not only perfect dryness, 

 but, (at least for a time, at the commencement of the dormant 

 state,) increased heat, will be needed to ripen the tubers. The 

 scent is finer here than at the Cape. Specimens of the Satyrium 

 candidum are now in full flower in the open air, in spite of the 

 bad weather and very sharp frosty nights, we have had this 

 month ; a light mat, at night, has been their only defence. 



" 4. Satyrium cucullatum ; (green flower, with an intense odour 

 of pepper ; the scent here is also stronger, I think, than in the 

 native cUmate). Its habitat is nearly the same as that of the 

 S. candidum, and they are sometimes, (not commonly,) found 

 mixed. If anything it delights in moister sand ; it flowers 

 rather earher j 1 find here, that they continue to demand a little 

 water, even while in flower. My specimens, however, are few 

 and sickly. 



