HENDERSON'S BULB CULTURE. 



13 



elsewhere. As, however, the new corm forms 

 yearly above the old one, they will in the course of 

 a few years push themselves too near the surface, 

 necessitating their being taken up and replanted 

 at least every three or four years. The flowers of 

 the selected named varieties are much larger and 

 are useful and very ornamental when flowered in 

 pots. Six or eight roots should be planted in a 

 pot of about five inches diameter filled with light 

 rich soil, and the pot plunged or buried to the 

 depth of two or three inches in sand or some other 

 material, till the crowns begin to show signs of 

 pushing through, when they should be placed near 

 the glass and well supplied with water. They 

 will not flower if exposed to fire heat, nor must 

 severe forcing be attempted. A few planted in 

 shallow boxes of rich soil will be found very use- 

 ful to lift when coming into bloom for planting in 

 hanging baskets, etc. Crocuses are often grown 

 in fancy designs, such as Beehives, Hedge-hog 

 pots, Columns, etc., made for the purpose, and 

 are curious and attractive when so grown. The 

 stronger growing sorts also succeed well in water 

 if treated like Hyacinths. Dormant roots may be 

 procured from September to January. 



The autumn Crocuses differ from the spring 

 Crocuses, not only in their time of flowering but 

 also in their mode of growth, the purple flowers 

 appearing in profusion from September to Novem- 

 ber, while the leaves and seed pods seldom appear 

 above the surface till the following spring. 



CUMMINGIA. 



Half-hardy bulbous plants from Chili, with light 

 blue bell-shaped flowers, which succeed in a light, 

 rich sandy soil, and which should have the pro- 

 tection of a frame or greenhouse. They flower 

 naturally in July. 



CYANELLA. 



Pretty greenhouse bulbs, with white, blue, or 

 yellow flowers. They grow readily in sandy loam, 

 and like all other plants of the same order require 

 to have a resting season. They bloom in July, 

 and succeed well in a cold frame or pit. 



CYCLAMEN. 



Cyclamens are among the most beautiful and 

 interesting winter and spring flowering bulbs for 

 the window and greenhouse. Not only are the 

 flowers of striking beauty but the foliage is also 

 highly ornamental, consequently they are very 

 decorative even when not in bloom. They thrive 

 well in a compost of loam, leaf -mould, and sand, 

 to which may be added a little well rotted cow- 

 manure. The pots should be well drained and 

 the bulbs placed at such a depth that the crown 

 be even with the rim of the pot. When well 

 established they should have a good supply of 

 water, and plenty of light and air, to prevent their 

 becoming drawn and spindly. Some of them may 

 require shifting into larger pots, and they will all 

 be much benefited by some clear liquid manure 

 once or twice a week as soon as they begin to blos- 

 som. ' When through blooming, water may be 

 gradually withheld, though they must never be 

 allowed to become quite dry and shrivelled. Thev 

 are best kept in pots plunged in a shady cold frame 

 during summer. Dormant bulbs may be procured 

 from September to January. 



CYCLOBOTHRA. Star Tulip. 



Fritillaria-like drooping flowered bulbous plants, 

 white, yellow and purple in color. They are close- 

 ly allied to Calocnortus, and require the same 

 general treatment. Dormant bulbs may be pro- 

 cured from November to Ma)'. 



CYPELLA. 



Very pretty little half-hardy bulbous plants with 

 yellow flowers, suitable both' for cold frame and 

 greenhouse culture. They prefer a light sandy 

 soil, and if planted out in May and lifted in Octo- 

 ber, will flower all summer, and will be found 

 quite handsome and interesting. 



CYRTANTHUS. 



Very handsome greenhouse bulbs from the Cape 

 of Good Hope, succeeding well in sandy loam and 

 leaf-mould. The flowers, which are borne in um- 

 bels, on a slender scape, are red, crimson and 

 orange, produced in summer. They require to be 

 grown in pots in the greenhouse, and to be liber- 

 ally watered when in a growing state. 



DAHLIA. 



These most showy plants are of easy culture, 

 requiring a deep rich soil with frequent waterings 

 during summer, to bring them to perfection. The 

 various sections — Double large-flowered and 

 Pompone, Single and Cactus flowered, should be 

 planted out in May, about three feet apart, and 

 tied to strong stakes as they advance in growth. 

 At the end of the flowering season, after the first 

 frost, they should be taken up and stored in a dry 

 frost-free place, till spring, when they may be di- 

 vided and placed in frames for propagation, or 

 planted at once where they are desired to remain. 

 Dormant roots (pot grown) may be procured from 

 December to May. 



DIELYTRA SPECTABILIS. 



Bleeding Heart, 



One of the most ornamental of spring flowering 

 plants, with elegant green foliage and long droop- 

 ing racemes of bright pink and white heart-shaped 

 flowers. This is deemed one of the finest of all 

 hardy garden plants, and is frequently forced for 

 greenhouse, or conservatory decoration. As it is 

 perfectly hardy, it only requires to be planted in 

 spring where it is to remain. If potted in Novem- 

 ber, left outside till it has formed new roots, and 

 then brought into a gentle heat, it may be had in 

 flower in February and March. Dormant roots 

 may be procured from November to May. 



DIOSCOREA BATATAS. 



namon Vine. 



Cin- 



A beautiful rapid growing summer climber, with 

 bright green flossy foliage and spikes of delicious- 

 ly cinnamon-scented white flowers. It is perfectly 

 hardy, the stem dying down in winter, but grow- 

 ing with great rapidity in the spring, so as to 

 cover any trellis or arbor very early in the season. 

 It has no insect enemies, and is little affected by 

 drought. Dormant tubers may be procured from 

 November to June. 



