BERMUDA LILY. 



193 



frame, and cover them with the same to the depth of one 

 or two inches, and over this a light covering of leaves or 

 fine hay, to prevent evaporation, and to keep the bulbs 

 moist and cool. They should be kept perfectly dark, 

 and away from the air, which would have a tendency to 

 stimulate leaf -growth, which is undesirable until the 

 bulbs have had ample time to make root-growth, after their 

 natural and desired rest, before the stem starts, which is 

 one of the most important considerations in bulb culture. 



For early flowers the pots can be brought into the 

 greenhouse by the middle of September, or as soon as 

 active growth has commenced, but never before the plant 

 has made a growth of, at least, an inch above the pot. 

 At this stage growth must be encouraged and steadily 

 maintained, a check is to them a serious matter, which 

 will be plainly shown by blight, some insect enemy and 

 the absence of flowers. For a healthful, vigorous growth, 

 a free circulation of air, even temperature and great 

 care in watering, are rules that must be strictly observed. 

 They do not require a high temperature, neither will 

 they submit to a low one. For general cultivation in 

 the greenhouse, a temperature of from 70° to 80° by day, 

 and from 60° to 70° by night, will produce the best 

 results. But to be sure of a crop of flowers for Christ- 

 mas, a temperature of, at least, 5° higher, should be 

 maintained after the first four weeks. .' 



For decorative purposes, where large specimen 

 plants are desired, the largest bulbs should be planted, 

 and if they have two or more divisions, all the better, as 

 a number of stems, with three or four flowers each, is a 

 more showy object than a single one can possibly be. 

 For this purpose it does not do to put several bulbs in 

 the same pot, because of the uncertainty of their coming 

 into flower at the same time. Specimen plants will not 

 bear crowding ; they must have plenty of room for a free 

 circulation of air around them, and a lower temperature 

 13 



