156 



THE BULB HOUSE. 



(luring the autumn ; the requisites being, warmth enough to excite them, 

 and ventilation sufficient to jjrevent their being drawn up weak. During 

 the winter, their foliage must be protected against frost and drouth. 

 About May they should be gradually ripened, by withholding water from 

 them ; and in August or the beginning of September, their groTNth should 

 be promoted by its application. N. lucida appears to differ from the rest, by 

 continuing to grow all the year. 



BRUXSVIGIA. 



In this genus, we have another instance of the absurchty of keeping such 

 plants in the stove temperature ; and, as a consequence, it is seldom they 

 produce their bloom, — at least, the most splendid of the genus. The soil 

 they seem to prefer, is a rich, light, tmfy loam, with a mixture of peat, sand, 

 and completely decomposed dung. As the roots of the bulbs grow to a 

 large size, it is proper that they should have large pots, because large 

 bulbs always send down numerous strong roots to collect sufficient food 

 for the flowers and foliage. Some cultivators, in planting tliis genus, make 

 a hole in the mould, into wliich they lay a little white sand, on which the 

 bulb is to be set, and also round its sides, to keep it from coming in con- 

 tact with the mould ; but this we think is superfluous ; we would rather 

 plant the bulb high, that is, set it almost on the suiface of the mould, 

 for they are often injured by being too deeply planted. Give little water 

 at first, but after vegetation has commenced, water should be given in great 

 abundance, and continued while the fohage is making, and while the 

 plants are in flower. After that period, they must be kept dry till the 

 returning season. It is better to keep the bulbs of this genus in the pots 

 dming the season of rest, than to take them out, and the best situation 

 for them dining that period wiU be under the platform, recommended in 

 the early part of tliis article. 



H-EMAXTHTJS. 



This is a very show^- genus when in flower, a state in which they are 

 seldom seen, principally in consequence of being kept in a continual 

 stove heat. Pew bulbous-rooted plants are more hardy, requiring only 

 the temperatm'e of a pit, frame, or ordinary greenhouse. It appears that 

 of this genus the species rotundifolius, 7naculatus, pumilio, hyalocay^uSj and 



