BULBOUS PLANTS. 



337 



single species in each, case, and although they have 

 been cultivated for a considerable number of years 

 in the gardens of this country, the progress made by 

 selection was slow until their improvement was 

 taken in hand by the London nurserymen, who, 

 by the judicious intercrossing of selected varieties, 

 have rendered the original types of at least Primula 

 Chinensis and Cyclamen Persicum no longer worthy 

 of cultivation alongside their more favoured off- 

 spring. 



BULBOUS PLANTS. 



By William G-oldring. 



Wemastylus. — These are lovely North American 

 Irids, but as they belong only to the warmer re- 

 gions, they re- 

 quire protec- 

 tion and care. 

 There are 

 three species, 

 the best 

 known being 

 X. a cut us, 

 called also X. 

 geminijlor a , 

 having large 

 lilac - blue 

 flowers ; the 

 others are N. 

 purpureas, and 

 the beautiful 

 X. ccelestinus, 

 which has 

 large sky-blue 

 flowers. 



Nerine, — 



A beautiful 

 genus com- 

 prising some 

 of the most desirable of all bulbous plants. There 

 are only about a dozen species, but the varieties are 

 numerous. They are all Cape of Good Hope plants, 

 therefore are tolerably hardy ; some, indeed, such as 

 the well-known Guernsey Lily (X. Sarniensis), may 

 be grown successfully in the open air in the warmest 

 parts of the country. One of the chief points of 

 value in the Xerincs is that they generally flower 

 throughout the autumn. The colour ranges from 

 the most brilliant scarlet through roses and pinks to 

 the most delicate blush tints. 



The Guernsey Lily (X. Sarniensis) is the type of 

 the numerous sorts grown in gardens. The foliage 

 is deciduous, and the flower-spikes are terminated by 

 94 



a dense head of erect flowers, varying a good deal 

 in colour, and on account of the difference in colour 

 they have received distinct names. In Sarniensis 

 itself the colour is a deep rose-pink. It flowers in 

 September, in company with the Belladonna Lily. 

 The following sorts, all varieties of Sarniensis, are the 

 best grown in gardens : —corusca, bright vermilion: 

 later than Sarniensis ; Fothergilli, bright crimson- 

 red, flowering in September; Plantii, cherry-crim- 

 son; ciirvifolia, atrosanguinea, and venusta, the latter 

 a splendid variety, which flowers after the others, 

 and extends into November. There are several others, 

 such as Meadoivbankensis, that are rarer, but none 

 the less beautiful. Then there is another group 

 less showy, but very pretty and of graceful growth. 

 Among these are X. amabilis, crispa,Jleo:uosa, humilis, 

 pulchella, all of which belong to a distinct group, 



having smaller 

 and differ- 

 ently - shaped 

 flowers from 

 the Sarniensis 

 type. 



Culture, — 

 One, at least, 

 of the species, 

 viz., X. Sar- 

 niensis, the 

 Guernsey 

 Lily, may be 

 grown and 

 flowered suc- 

 cessfully in 

 the open air, 

 in the south- 

 ern parts of 

 the country, 

 and it happens 

 that it re- 

 quires exactly 

 the same treat- 

 ment as the 

 Belladonna Lily (Amaryllis Belladonna), which has 

 been given in a previous chapter. The two plants 

 flower at the same time ; they make their growth 

 and ripen at the same time, and require to be planted 

 together. Pot-culture of Xerines in green-houses or 

 frames is simple, if a few rules are observed. Un- 

 like a good many bulbs, the majority of the species 

 make their growth during winter, when other bulbs 

 are resting ; consequently this leads some into error 

 who try to force the plants into rest, instead of 

 maintaining them in vigorous growth. The foliage 

 is developed fully by the spring, and after this 

 shows signs of decay, the plants should be kept 

 warm and dry until August or September, when the 



Nerine Fothergilli. 



