48 THE BOOK OF THE GREENHOUSE 



to the want of ripeness. By proceeding on the following 

 lines success is practically certain. The bulbs should 

 be potted up in July or early in August, putting a dozen 

 in a five-inch pot or a proportionate number in a six-inch 

 pot. Drain the pots well, fill them to within two inches 

 of the top with soil composed of two-thirds loam and 

 one-sixtH each of sand and decayed cow manure. On 

 this put the bulbs and cover with an inch of the same 

 mixture. Stand on ashes in a cold frame and in a few 

 weeks the growth will appear. Keep close up to the 

 light and water lightly at first, but in increasing quantity 

 as growth increases. Move to the greenhouse shelf near 

 the glass before frosty nights come on, and do not per- 

 mit the plants to be in a draught. Use no forcing 

 tactics to bring the flowers on, as the flowers so pro- 

 duced will be flimsy. If a succession is wanted, this 

 may be gained by potting the bulbs in successional 

 batches beginning early in July and finishing in Septem- 

 ber. After flowering do not fail to water freely until 

 all the leaves have turned yellow, and then cease. By 

 this time the bulbs will have finished their growth, and 

 the next thing is to ripen them by standing them on the 

 hottest and sunniest part of the shelf until potting time 

 again comes round, giving not a drop of water during 

 this period. Bulbs so treated start freely into growth 

 directly they are potted, while half ripened ones, such 

 as are often found among home-grown bulbs, often 

 refuse to start at all. Freesias being frail in growth 

 require some support and this should be given early 

 and added to as they grow taller. Stock may be fast 

 increased by taking care of the small bulbils found in 

 the soil at potting time, and these come to flowering 

 size in a year. 



Hammithus. — This very attractive and easily grown 

 genus of bulbous plants, known also as the Blood 

 Flower, deserves to be more grown than it is, and 



