66 



riCTOEIAL PRACTICAL BULB GROWIXG. 



to scrape off the top soil and give an annual top-dressing 

 of fresh, rich soil ; liciuid manure is valuable to well established 

 plants. In other respects the different requirements of the two 

 sections are only questions of heat and moisture. A free use of 

 the syringe throughout the summer, and frequent sponging of the 

 foliage to ensure cleanliness, are two important items in Crinum 

 culture. 



Coming; to those that have proved hardy in many parts of the 

 kingdom, it is vvorth Avhile remembering that bitmg winds and 

 frost following wet weather are the chief causes of trouble, for 

 while the bulbs are hardy enough the large leaves are not infre- 

 quently damaged, and the plant is thereby weakened to the 

 extent of materially reducing the crop of bloom. For this division 

 a sunny border, sheltered from strong vrinp\s, is desirable as a 

 position ; and the soil should be deep and rich, without containing 

 any fresh manure ; it must also be retentive of moisture, but not 

 in any sense approaching stagnation. If the selected spot is ia 

 front of a stove or greenhouse, the chances of success are much 

 improved. Plant the bulbs not less than 8 inches deep. 



Selection of Crinums. 



amabile, rose purple; 

 stove. 



Americauum, white, frag- 

 rant ; greenhouse or 

 hardy. 



augustum, red : stove. 



campanula turn, red 

 purple ; greenhouse. 



erubescens, white and 

 purple ; stove. 



giganteum, ivory white, 

 very sweet scented ; 

 stove. 



Kirkii, white, striped red ; 

 stove. 



longif olium (C a p e n s e) , 

 pink ; hardy. There is 

 also a white form. 



Moorei. rose ; greenhouse 

 or hardy. 



Powellii, rose ; hardy, or 

 greenhouse in cold lo- 

 caUties. There are fine 

 white and red varieties 

 of this handsome hybrid. 



Chapter XXI IK— Crocuses. 



There are among gardeners many who study and delight in 

 l)ird life, doing all in their power to preserve our feathered friends. 

 There is, however, one bird against wliich we all wage incessant 

 warfare, especially in the spring, when the yellow Crocuses are m 

 flower. The ubiquitous sparrow^ is the garclener's most inveterate 

 enemj^, for of good in the garden he cToes little or none, while 

 of irreparable damage he annually does much. Sparrows strip our 

 yellow Crocuses of their petals. 



Notwithstanding the possibility of much of the beauty being 

 destroyed by these marauders, it is indefensible to omit Crocuses 



