128 PIGTOBIAL PBAGTIGAL BULB GROWING, 



accommodating ] " The only answer is to point to sucli fine specimens 

 as Mr. Allen grows at Gunton Park, Norwich, or those cultivated at 

 the Glasnevin Botanic Gardens at Dublin. If you have hitherto seen 

 nothing but mediocrity in Lachenalia culture, and are wishful to 

 discover the possibilities of these charming flowers, then let us 

 ask you as a personal favour to carefully follow out the course 

 of procedure here briefly stated, and you will presently be anxious 

 to shower blessings upon the advisers. 



First of all, let it be said that the Lachenalias have small bulbs ; 

 their leaves are green, often spotted with purple ; their spikes are 

 stout, rising from 6 inches to 1 foot in height, according to the 

 cultural skill attained by the grower and the habit of the species 

 or hybrid grown. Thus, penclula will not grow so high as Nelsoni 

 or tricolor, and neither is likely to be as tall as viola cea. 



No plant objects to coddling more than the Lachenalia, but it 

 must always be kept out of the reach of frost. Hence, although 

 a cold frame could not be improved upon for the newly potted bulbs, 

 they must be taken into the greenhouse as soon as growth 

 commences, so that neither check nor harm comes to them. One 

 frequent and almost irrevocable mistake is made by both 

 professional and amateur cultivators ; they delay the potting of the 

 bulbs too long. This is a mistake, because by the middle of 

 August new roots have le^^un to form on bulbs wintered in the 

 soil in which they were grown the previous year, while stock 

 procured from the bulb dealer ought by this time to be in a position 

 to make new roots. It is useless venting your wrath upon the 

 bulb dealer, for he has no option but to send the goods as soon 

 as possible after they are ordered, and if this is delayed until mid- 

 autumn, when every other body is ordering, then there is likely to be 

 still further delay, and meantime the bulbs are not improving. 

 Order in July, so that potting may be commenced early in 

 August. Remember that Lachenalias delight in plenty of fresh 

 air, but detest draughts ; they love a little warmth, but abhor much 

 fire heat; and though they must never suffer from drought while 

 growing, neither must water be given them at any and every 

 opportunity. Do not let your watering or thinking, as far as 

 Lachenalias are concerned, be done by proxy. 



Do not imagine there are great difficulties to surmount in the 

 culture of these Liliaceous plants ; it is rather a question of 

 " stick-at-iveness." Try 5-inch pots, as they will be quite large 

 enough in a general way ; provide ample drainage material, then fill 

 up the pots with a mixture of loam, leaf soil, and dried cow 

 manure, using 2 parts of the former to 1 part of each of the latter, 

 and adding a good sprinkling of sand ; place half a dozen bulbs into 

 each pot, make the soil firm around them, and leave them with their 

 tops just i inch below the surface. 



When you have a good stock of bulbs, some should be potted in 

 July and others at short intervals until the end of August, to permit 

 of as great an extension of the flowering season as possible ; 



