54 THE BOOK OF THE GREENHOUSE 



least attention. The primary cause of this is that it 

 does not like root disturbance after once being estab- 

 lished. Equal parts of loam, leaf-mould, and road grit 

 or sand will suit the plants ; half the sand should be 

 mixed with the soil and the other half distributed im- 

 mediately round the bulbs. Vallotas being evergreen 

 must not be dried off nor kept without water at any 

 time, but care is necessary not to overwet the new soil 

 and so turn it sour before being occupied with roots. 

 Pot very deeply, entirely covering the bulb. Established 

 plants must be watered freely during the growing 

 season, which is during autumn and winter, and they 

 like occasional doses of liquid manure. Vallotas are 

 mostly increased by off-sets, but seeds germinate freely 

 in a greenhouse temperature. Seedlings take some years 

 to reach flowering size, but they then make excellent 

 and generally very healthy plants. They should be 

 potted four or five together in a small pot while 

 young, and, afterwards, the clump so formed should be 

 potted on intact. 



