BULBOUS PLANTS. 



345 



placing their Vallota-pots in saucers of rain-water, 

 and exposing them to the full sunshine. Unlike 

 most other bulbs, Vallotas do not require to be dried 

 off during winter, and so doing is often the cause 

 of failure. The soil for Vallotas is turfy loam, a little 

 peat, sand, and cow-manure. If large specimens 

 are required, place a dozen bulbs in a 12-inch pot. 

 Re-potting is best done in autumn ; at the same time 

 the small bulbs should be separated from the large 

 for increasing the stock. In subsequent pottings, 

 however, the bulbs must not be separated, but the 

 whole mass placed intact in a larger pot if need 

 be. It blooms about August, but flowering bulbs may- 

 be had in March by forcing them in gentle heat. 

 There are four so-called varieties of V. purpurea, 

 named major, minor, magnificat, and eximia. The two 

 first-named vary in size of the flower ; the others 

 have the colour brighter than that of the type. A 

 native of the Cape. 



Veltheimia. — The two species, V. glauca and 

 V. viridifolia, are both old-fashioned green-house 

 evergreen bulbs from the Cape, and are related to 

 the Lachenalia, and much resemble each other. As 

 they generally flower in September and October, 

 when there is a comparative dearth of flowers, they 

 are valuable for the conservatory. They are easily- 

 managed plants if grown in pots of sandy loam. 



Vieusseuxia Pavonia (Peacock Iris). — A 

 beautiful Iris-like plant from the Cape of Good 

 Hope, producing blossoms about two inches across, 

 pure white, with a large blotch of brilliant blue 

 on each petal. It requires the same treatment as 

 other Cape bulbs. Known also as Vieusseuxia glau- 

 copis, Iris Pavonia, I. tricuspis, I. tricuspiclata, and 

 as a Morcea. 



Waehendorfia. — A small genus of Cape bulbs 

 requiring the treatment of Ixias. The species are 

 vanicidata, thyrsi flora, and hirsuta. These produce 

 tall spikes of small yellow flowers in early summer. 



Watsonia. — This beautiful genus of Irids are 

 GladioIus-]ike in growth, but their flowers are long 

 and tubular. The spikes are tall, and the blossoms 

 are arranged on the upper parts in a graceful way. 

 There are only about a dozen species in the genus, 

 but a good number of varieties have been raised by 

 intercrossing the showiest species. The names are in 

 a confused state in bulb lists, and no attempt is made, 

 as a rule, to give the names of the species correctly. 

 The varieties are generally sold in " mixtures," and 

 these are stated to represent " all colours," so that 

 often in a " mixture " one may select several of the 

 original species. The most attractive species are : 



W. alctrokles, bright red ; W. angusta, also called 

 j'algens and atrosanguinca, deep scarlet ; W. Meriana, 

 bright rose-purple ; coccinca is bright scarlet, and 

 the finest of all ; rosea alba is rose-pink and white ; 

 iridifolia is red; and alba, pure white, is one of 

 the loveliest of all bulbous plants. The sorts 

 mentioned in bulb catalogues under the names 

 of Louis XIV., speciosa, marginata, &c, may be 

 identified with the above varieties. There is another 

 group of Watsonia species of different growth and 

 with smaller flowers. These are less important, but 

 W. rosea is a pretty plant, but scarce in cultivation. 

 They require the same treatment as early-flowering 

 Gladioli. 



Xiphion (Bulbous Iris). — Unlike ordinary Irises, 

 these have bulbs, not creeping root- stocks ; and 

 instead of the foliage being flat, it is usually nar- 

 row and rounded. The flowers of true Irises and 

 those of the bulbous species are similar. In 

 trade catalogues, the name Xiphion is seldom used, 

 because the kinds of Bulbous Irises consist mainly 

 of what are popularly called English and Spanish 

 Irises, although English is a misnomer, as both it 

 and the Spanish race are natives "of Spain and 

 Portugal. 



The Xiphions possess a wealth of tints in their 

 flowers, combined in all manner of subtle hues. 

 There are fifteen distinct species of Xiphion known. 

 They are natives chiefly of the warm parts of 

 South Europe, North Africa, and Asia Minor. 

 Among them the following most merit the attention 

 of cultivators : — 



X. alatum, also called pla- 

 nifolitim— a dwarf plant, 

 with broad leaves, and 

 large purple flowers, pro- 

 duced in early spring ; 

 hardy, but best when 

 protected by a frame or 

 hand-light. Sometimes 

 flowers in autumn, then 

 again in early spring. 



X. Caucasicum— dwarf spe- 

 cies ; flowers rather small, 

 pale yellow ; not so de- 

 sirable as others, and 

 difficult to manage. 



X. Histrio— a lovely plant 

 from Palestine ; flowers 

 large, lilac-blue, blotched 

 with purple; blooms in 

 early spring ; requires 

 protection of a frame or 

 hand-light when in bloom. 



X. junceum— flowers bright 



canary-yellow, produced 

 about midsummer; rather 

 delicate in constitution, 

 and requires careful cul- 

 ture. 



X. reticulatum (Netted Iris) 

 — one of the prettiestof the 

 genus, and an indispens- 

 able plant. It is slender 

 in growth, grows about a 

 foot high, and produces 

 in early spring, often as 

 early as February, most 

 beautiful, sweet - scented 

 blossoms, of a rich violet- 

 purple,blotched withgold. 

 There are several varieties 

 of it now, differing chiefly 

 in colour. Krelagei is 

 more violet in colour than 

 the type, flowers a fort- 

 night earlier, and ccerulea 

 has flowers of a clear blue. 



X. vulgare (English Iris), also called Iris Anglica, 

 is the origin of the varieties that are known as 

 English Irises. There are a few distinct wild 

 varieties, viz., Lusitanicum, sordidum, serotinum, and 

 spectabile, and these may all be found in collections 

 of varieties, such as are sold by bulb dealers. There 



