VRCEOLINA—VALL OTA . 



243 



condition. Failures have been attributed to the attack of mites which feed on the 

 roots and paralyse their action, but if the plants had not previously been enfeebled by 

 faulty treatment, much less mischief would have been done. 



Vallotas must not bo dried off like amaryllises ; they are evergreen, and do not of 

 necessity require to be re- 

 potted every year; on the 

 contrary, once in three or 

 four years is often enough 

 if the plants are in good 

 health. Vallotas can be 

 rapidly increased by offsets 

 which form round the older 

 bulbs. These should be de- 

 tached with roots in June, 

 which is a suitable time for 

 repotting. Dry bulbs may 

 be potted in the autumn. 

 These should be graded. 

 Three or four of the small 

 size may be started in a 3- 

 inch pot, the same number 

 of medium-sized bulbs, or 

 one large one with side 

 bulbs intact, in a 6 -inch pot, 

 and three of the largest size 

 suffice for a 7 -inch pot. The 

 pots must be clean and well 

 drained. Suitable soil con- 

 sists of a mixture of equal 



parts of sound fibrous loam and leaf soil, with a free sprinkling of sand. Dry bulbs 

 should be embedded in sand, and all ought to be buried to their full depth, only the 

 points showing above the soil, instead of being nearly exposed, as frequently happens ; 

 and the soil must be made firm about them. 



The plants may be grown in a greenhouse or frame during the summer. Too much 



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Tig. 112. Ueceolina pendula. 



