30 



during winter in boxes of dry sand, and planted out in the open garden at the 

 end of April, or beginning of May, in a rich sandy loam, where they will bloom 

 with the utmost splendor. The different species of Zephyranthes, Crinum, and 

 Pancratium, will succeed admirably by the same course of culture. In planting 

 the above-named roots, place the bulb so that one -third of its diameter will be 

 above the surface of the ground. This is to apply to all, except the Amar^'llis 

 Formossissima or Jacobean Lily, which should have the bulb covered, leaving 

 the neck only to project above the surface of the ground. Tuberoses, and the 

 Feraria tygridia, or Tiger flower, should be planted at the depth of one inch, the 

 numerous offsets on the former being first broken off' to prevent their impoverish- 

 ing the main root and arresting the bloom. The double and striped leaved 

 Tuberoses are greatly admired ; the latter of these, and the Common Single 

 flowering, are more certain in their bloom than the double variety. The species 

 of Feraria are exceedingly beautiful, and therefore much admired. 



Hyacinths and other Bulbs in pots or glasses for ivinter blooming. — For this 

 purpose Single Hyacinths, and those designated as earliest among the double, 

 are to be preferred. The Polyanthus Narcissus, Italian, or Roman Narcissus, 

 Double Narcissus, Double and Single Jonquils, Persian Iris, Crocus, the winter 

 and spring flowering varieties of the Cyclamen, and the Double and Single Duke 

 : van Thol Tulips, make also a fine appearance during the winter season. _ Bulbs 

 intended for blooming in pots during the winter, should be planted during the 

 months of October and November, and left exposed to the open air until the 

 ground begins to freeze, vrhen they should be removed to the Greenhouse or to 

 a warm room. They will need occasionally moderate waterings before they 

 begin to vegetate, and when they attain to a growing state should receive a 

 plentiful supply by pouring it into the saucers. They should at all times be 

 •exposed as much as possible to the sun, air, and light, to prevent their foliage 

 from growing too long, or becoming of a yellow hue. Bulbs cultivated after 

 this manner will mostly bloom in January, and next to the Hyacinth, the 

 Polyanthus Narcissus, and Double Italian, or Eoman Narcissus, may be ranked 

 among the most desirable for beauty, fragrance, and easy culture. 



Those intended for glasses should be placed in them about the middle of 

 November, the glasses being previously filled with pure water, so that the bottom 

 of the1)ulb may just touch the v/ater; then place them for the first ten days in 

 a dark room, to promote the shooting of the roots, after which expcse them to 

 the sun and light as much as possible. They will bloom, hov.-ever, with little 

 or no sun, but the flowers will be inferior" in color. The water should be 

 changed as often as it becomes impure, at which period the roots ought to be 

 drawn entirely out of the glasses and rinsed in clean water, the glasses being at 

 the same time well washed inside. Rain or soft water is preferable to that 

 rtermed hard, but either will answer the purpose, provided it be perfectly clear. 

 Bulbs that have been forced are of but little value, and require a considerable 

 period to regain their natural vigor. When removed frcni the pets or glasses, 

 they should be immersed in water for a week, and then planted in a soil properly 

 prepared, where they will usually commence flowering again the second year. 



Dahlia, or Gcor^ina.—Few of our most itistic plants exact less care than this 

 splendid native of^ Mexico. Indeed, so simple is itrs culture, that it is already 

 widely disseminated in every part of Europe, as well as in the "West Indies, 

 :South America, &c., in all of which it has been found to taicceed. It will thrive 

 in any good. soil, but as is the case with other plants held in great estimation, 

 amateurs bestow more care on its culture than is absolutely required, and have 

 .adopted particular rules for that object. The roots are tuberous, and towards 

 the last of April they begin to push out young shoots at the base of the stem of 

 the previous year. At this period, or in May, they should be planted ; they will, 

 however, succeed perfectly well if this is deferred till June, but will not come so 

 soon into flowering. In England they_ usually, from choice, plant the Dahlia in 

 poor, gravelly soil, in order to render it more dwarf in stature, and this course 

 may have its advantage in a humid atmosphere. In our own country, however, 

 where the heat of summer is excessive, and where we are sometimes visited by 

 severe drought, the Dahlia would often be absolutely blighted, unless the soil 

 were sufficiently rich and retinitive of moisture. AVlien jjlanted in a generous 

 soil, our climate is so extreiTit-ly ccngenial to its habits, that it expands with the 

 •utmost luxuriance, attaining a degree of beauty in its development, if not 

 unequalled, at least not to be sui-passed. 



The course we have adopted for its culture, although extremely simple, has 

 been eminently successful, and the directions we shall now give are in accordance 

 therewith. Make the ground mellow to the depth of eighteen inches, digging ii; 



