44 



PICTORIAL PEACTICAL BULB GROWING. 



strong smell of Onions, and for this reason cannot be grown. But 

 in some, notably in A. Neapolitanum, this is not apparent unless the 

 flov/er is handled, and few persons are likely to do that when they know 

 the consequences. The bulbs are all strongly impregnated with the 

 Onion odour, but it can be readily removed from the hands upon 

 the completion of planting with the aid of plenty of water and 

 soap. Economically the genus is of immense value, as it com- 

 prises the Onion, Shallot, and Garlic. 



Selection of Alliums. 



acuminatum, deep rose, 

 ceruleum, sky blue. 

 *Hermettii grandiflorum; 



white. 

 Karataviense, white. 

 Macnabianum, white. 

 Moly, yellow, handsome. 



narcissiflorum, rose. 

 ■^Neapolitanum, white. 

 Ostrowskianum, rose, 

 roseum, rose, 

 sphere cephalum, purple, 

 triquetrum, white. 



All the species that are included in the foregoing brief list 

 are perfectly hardy in our gardens, and the same may be said of the 

 few others that receive occasional notice for the sake of their 

 distinctness in the border of mixed plants. It should, however, 

 be remembered that at least tw^o are extremely useful for forcing in 

 pots, and these are indicated by an asterisk. 



Cbapkr X — ^llstromerias. 



"Ah!" someone may say, "It is all very well to recommend 

 Alstromerias, but they will not gro^v in my garden." Well, let us ask, 

 " Is that the fault of the garden, the grower, or the Alstromerias ? " 

 The Chilian Herb Lilies are certainly not a success on heavy, cold 

 soils, or in water-logged gardens, but in a fairly warm position 

 and well drained soil they can be induced to thrive amazingly 

 without any other trouble than the mere planting, a good dose of 

 water in dry summers, (liquid manure if it can be spared), and a 

 little dry litter spread over the roots in the winter. Surely this 

 is not too much to ask for one of the choicest of border plants. 

 The finest clump we have seen was in the master's tiny garden 

 behind a Surrey village school. 



The quaint little sausage-shaped tubers, so quaintly strung 

 together, need to be planted from 6 inches to 9 inches deep, in the 

 autumn. If the staple soil is not suitable, it must be made so 

 by the addition of leaf mould and sand, for it is well worth while 



