THE TUBEROSE AND CYCLAMEN. 



151 



POLYANTHUS. 



This is the well-known and fragrant tuberose ; a plant, it appears, cul- 

 tivated since 1629. It is seldom that its culture succeeds with us so as to 

 exist for many years ; but the loss is the less, as we have an annual supply 

 of roots imported from the south of Europe, and the warmer parts of 

 North America, where the climate is better suited to it than the artificial 

 one of our gardens. 



The tuberose was cultivated very successfully for many years in the 

 open air of this country, among others, by the late Mr. Sahsbury, who 

 has detailed his practice in a very excellent communication to the Hort 

 Soc, and published in their Transactions, Vol. I. p. 53 ; the rationale of 

 which is (and that is equally appUcable to its culture under glass,) to ob» 

 tain a sufficient degree of heat during summer, to bring their leaves out 

 to the full magnitude, that of the roots following of course.'^ He also 

 recommends that the roots be kept growing as "sdgourously as possible 

 from May to October, but in a state of complete rest and drought for the 

 remainder of the year. 



The usual mode of flowering this plant is, after procming strong bulbs, 

 to pot them in March or April, in rich, turfy loam, and to place them in 

 a pit, or frame, in a strong humid heat, where they are kept, till they 

 how the flower stems, after which they are placed in the hot house to 

 perfect their flowers. But another, and much better mode, is to excite 

 them in a moderate temperature in a pit, or frame, and when their flower 

 stems appear, to remove them to a cool greenhouse, or bulb house, when 

 they will flower in perfection, and, from being in a low temperature, will 

 last much longer in bloom than if placed in a plant stove. The tuberose 

 is one of the few plants that will accommodate itself to a long absence 

 from fresh air, and an excess of light ; and hence, we find it last in 

 flower, giving out its delightful perfume for a long period when kept in 

 close rooms, halls, and similar situations. 



' CYCLAMEN. 



The roots or bulbs should be placed ow, not m, the mould; for all 

 the species of this genus, C. coum excepted, which prefers a peaty soil, the 

 mould should consist of equal parts of sandy loam, leaf-mould, and very 

 rotten cow-dung ; the pots should be well drained, and not much larger 

 than about twice the diameter of the bulb. They should be placed in a 



