IXIA AXD GLADIOLrS. 



149 



iate years, with impunity, vrhen planted in a warm and dry border. It is 

 increased by offsets, which are produced in abundance. We believe it 

 rarely seeds. 



GALAXIA, LAPEYROUSIA, AND BRODI^A, 



All succeed in a Hght, tm'fy, rather rich soil. They should be planted 

 in large pots, and not more than two or three bulbs, at the most, placed in 

 each. They require water regularly while in a growing state, but com- 

 paratively little compared to the foregoing genera. They should be placed 

 near the glass, and in a situation where the fullest ventilation can be ad- 

 mitted to them. Indeed, they succeed better in a warm border, or turf-pit, 

 than they do under the ordinary mode of management, by which they are 

 one day deluged in water, and for several others are kept quite dry. Such 

 extremes are bad for any plants : but for the more slender and weak-grow- 

 ing bulbs it is certain destruction, for the foliage is prevented from attain- 

 ing its full perfection, and without that be fully developed, no flowers 

 need be looked for, and in the course of a year or two the bulbs will 

 cease to exist. 



IXIA AND GLADIOLUS. 



These two charming genera of Cape bulbs deserve to be much more 

 generally cultivated than they are at present. They breed freely by offset 

 bulbs, are very hardy, and even succeed when planted in a warm border in 

 the open air. Some species produce seeds, from which plants may be 

 obtained ; but unless the process of artificial fecundation has taken place, 

 and the expectation of hybrid varieties be the object in view, we should 

 say that it was not worth the trouble of originating fi'om seeds, plants that 

 propagate so freely by the root. Seedhng plants would require the culti- 

 vation of three or four years to bring them to a flowering state, while 

 young offset bulbs will flower, in many cases, the year following. In 

 planting both these genera, if planted in pots for house culture, they 

 should be set very shallow in the mould. When the season of flowering is 

 past, and the bulbs ripe, they should be taken out of the pots and kept dry- 

 in paper bags, or drawers, until the season of planting again retiu-ns. The 

 bulbs at this time should also be arranged ; the larger and fidl-grown ones 

 set apart for flowering, and the smaller ones kept to be planted in store 

 pots, or in nursery beds, until they attain their full size. 



