POLIANTHES TUBEROSA. 



145 



GENERAL TREATMENT. 



The Tuberose flowers but once, therefore the old 

 bulb should be thrown away after removing the 

 offsets. The failure of this plant to bloom, has 

 been a frequent source of disappointment. The 

 cause has been discovered to be that the flower- 

 germ was destroyed by keeping the bulbs in too 

 low a temperature. Select only those which show 

 signs of germination from the centre of the bulbs. 



The Tuberose is a tropical plant and where sum- 

 mers are short does not always flower before the 

 approach of frost. In such latitudes bulbs may be 

 planted early in spring, in the house, where they 

 should have the warmest location and but little 

 water. Remove them to the garden when the 

 weather is warm and settled. They may be 

 flowered in early winter, by planting the dry bulbs 

 in July or August, using seven-inch pots. Set 

 the bulb firmly in the soil, half an inch below the 

 surface, and sink the pots to the rim in the garden, 

 where they may remain until the cool nights of 

 autumn. When removed to the house give them 

 plenty of water, and never allow them to get dry 

 while the buds are developing, as this will cause 

 them to blast. 



BOTTOM HEAT AND VARIETIES. 



One of the essential points of succcess in forcing 



the Tuberose is to keep the soil a few degrees 



warmer than the surrounding atmosphere. This is 

 7 .10 



