148 



THE BrLB HOUSE. 



genus is in general kept, it has been found to flower much better when 

 planted in the open borders of an ordinary garden. A soil composed of 

 light, sandy loam, peat, and leaf-mould, has been found to answer every 

 expectation. During their season of rest, the roots must be kept dry in 

 the pots, but not taken out of them. "\Mien they are just beginning to 

 grow, shake them out of the old ball of mould, and re-pot them, when 

 they will be found to flower in great perfection. "WTiile growing, and par- 

 ticularly while in flower, they should have plenty of water. They are 

 increased both by oflfsets and seeds, which, in well-grown plants, ai'e pro- 

 duced in abundance. 



Of the culture of this genus, ^Ir. Herbert says, that it is altogether 

 difficult, the bulbs being more disposed to dwindle and rot, than to in- 

 crease in bulk. A common greenhouse, he says, is too damp for it in win- 

 ter, and the au- of a stove too confined. On Mr. Herbert's authority, we 

 are informed, that Mr. Griffin cultivated C. ohliquiis very successfully by 

 keeping the bulbs on a shelf very near the glass in his stove, where the heat 

 was never great. " Ahght soil," says Mr. Herbert, ''which is not retentive 

 of water, mil be fomid to suit the whole genus ; and [he thinks] that the 

 use of peat vrill always be dangerous to them. Those with persistent 

 leaves should be cautiously watered in winter, the deciduous species not at 

 all. C. carneus is one of the most difficult to manage : I lost it twice," 

 says Mr, Herbert, ''notwithstanding the greatest care, and have at last 

 succeeded in establishing one with better hopes, by giving it water very 

 seldom the first year, and rather more after it had formed a strong leaf, 

 keeping it as much as possible in a di'aft of ah' in the greenhouse. It is 

 planted in a mixture of white sand, with a httle hght loam, Tsith an open 

 drain under. With respect to the other species, there is some peculiarity 

 in the soil congenial to them, which is veiy difficult to analyze." 



In the soil of ]\Iitcham common, wMch is a hght brown earth, with a 

 little admixtm-e of dead fmze leaves, on a gravelly substratmn, they grew 

 admn-ably, while the soils to which lie had afterwards access in York- 

 shire, were altogether unsuitable to them. He concludes that Hght soils 

 are less favourable to this family than those that are more disposed to set 

 firm, and not fall to pieces when tm-ned out of the pot, and that good 

 drainage and cautious watering should be strictly attended to. 



EUCOMIS. 



This is a veiy hardy genus of ]}ulbs, although not unfrequently found 

 placed in the stove. It stands the most severe winters vnx have had of 



