ON GREENHOUSE PLANTS. 



741 



eighteen months after sowing. Do not keep them more than 

 three years, as young ones give the best results. 



To flower the plants in autumn and winter sow in June in pans, 

 and place in the warm pit ; prick off, and when the roots are the 

 size of Peas, shift singly into 3in. pots. Always allow plenty of 

 room between each plant, and keep them near the glass during 

 the whole period of grow^th. Pot so that the corms are only 

 half buried, and keep the material on which they stand constantly 

 moist. Give air whenever it can be managed w^ithout low^ering 

 the temperature. In the follow^ing May or June shift into 6in. 

 pots, and give more air; also syringe gently overhead. In 



Fig. 488. — Freesia refeacta alba. 



September remove to the cool pit and give plenty of air. After 

 blossoming, place again in the cool pit, and in spring shift to 

 a cold frame to rest ; there they may be shaded, and must never 

 be allowed to become quite dry. Start again in July, and after 

 a little growth has been made shift into pots a size larger. Treat 

 the same as before, but admit more air. 



For flowering in spring, sow in November, prick off, and place 

 in a cool pit. Keep in pans through the winter, and pot in summer. 

 Grow in frames, but near the glass during summer, and in the 

 cool pit during winter, shifting to the warm pit in February to 

 open the flowers. Rest in a shaded frame, and start again in 

 October. For soil use light fibrous loam, leaf-mould, and sand. 



