746 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



together in loin. pots. Start into growth under the stages of 

 the cool pit. After they are well started in early spring, shift 

 into a deep frame, and give plenty of air. As soon as they get 

 big, plunge in ashes in the open ; and when the blossoms begin 



to show (about June or July), place 

 in a cool pit to open. After flower- 

 ing, stand in a shady spot outside 

 to ripen, and pot as before. Soil ; 

 good loam, leaf-soil, rotten manure, 

 and sand. Pot firmly, and give plenty 

 of moisture and liquid manure whilst 

 growing. L. aiiratum should have 

 half peat. Propagate by offsets at 

 times of potting, and plant in a bed 

 in frames or in the open. The best 

 sorts for pot-culture, are : L. auratiiniy 

 L. longifioruvi^ L. /. Wallichianum 

 (creamy-white, sweet scented), L. 

 eximium^ L. Hansoni (Fig. 493), 

 L. speciosiim alburn^ L. s. rubriuUy 

 L. s. Krcetzeri, and L. s. Melpomene. 



RiCHARDIA AFRICANA {cetMopicd) 



(Arum Lily). — This good old plant 

 (Fig. 494) is of great value in the 

 greenhouse. Propagate by division 

 in spring, pot in good rich loam and 

 sand, and place in the warm pit, 

 giving plenty of water. Later shift 

 to the cool pit, giving very little 

 shade, and transfer to larger pots in 

 June, when the plants will flower. 

 After flowering, place out in the 

 open, but remove inside before 

 frost comes, and keep in cool pit. 

 They may be brought into flower in 

 succession by placing in the \varm 

 pit as required. R. ElUottiana (Fig. 

 495) has yellow spathes and leaves 

 spotted with white ; it requires to be 

 grown in the warm pit during the 

 winter and in the cool pit in sum- 

 mer. Then there is R. Peiitlandii^ 

 with deep green foliage and golden-yellow spathes. 



Strelitzia (Bird of Paradise Flower) is a very beautiful plant. 

 Propagate by division in spring, and grow in Sin. pots in rich 

 loam and sand in the cool pit in summer and the warm pit in 

 winter. The flowers are produced in April and May. Sorts : 

 S. Augusta and S. Regince (Fig. 496). 



Fig. 493. — LiLiUM Hansoni. 



