14 



HENDERSON'S BULB CULTURE. 



DODECATHEON. American 

 Cowslip. 



A genus of native hardy perennials that deserves 

 extensive cultivation. Many of the species are 

 exceedingly effective in rockwork, and all are 

 beautiful dwarf border plants. They thrive best 

 in a peaty or light loamy soil, well drained, and 

 like a shady as well as a sheltered situation. 



ERANTHIS. Winter Aconite. 



One of the earliest and most hardy of early 

 spring flowers, growing well in any soil or situa- 

 tion, sending up its pretty yellow blossoms long 

 before the snow disappears, and continuing in 

 flower for several weeks. The tubers may be 

 taken up when the leaves have perished, or they 

 may be left in the ground for several years. Dor- 

 mant tubers may be procured from September to 

 December. 



ERYTHRONIUM. 



Violet. 



Dog's-tooth 



One of the hardiest of early flowering bulbous 

 plants, succeeding well in almost any light soil, but 

 preferring a mixture of loam and leaf-mould. 

 They have a much better effect when planted in 

 groups, than if placed in small quantities separate- 

 ly. The bulbs should be planted about three 

 inches deep, and if left untouched afterwards, an 

 annual top dressing of good soil will be advanta- 

 geous. The flowers appear in April and May and 

 are very attractive at that early season. Dormant 

 bulbs may be had from September to December, 

 but should be planted as soon as they can be pro- 

 cured. 



EUCHARIS. Lily of the Amazon. 



A small genus of free flowering tropical bulbs, 

 with beautiful wavy-white flowers of delicious fra- 

 grance. To grow them well, the soil should be 

 composed of turfy loam, leaf-mould, sand, and 

 well rotted manure, in about equal proportions, 

 and the pots liberally drained. While they are 

 growing freely, they should have plenty of water, 

 and weak liquid manure twice a week. The tem- 

 perature of the house should not fall below 70 de- 

 crees during winter, and they should have a good 

 share of sunshine. If wanted to flower during 

 the winter months, water should be used sparingly 

 from August to October. The bulbs should be 

 disturbed as little as possible, repotting when 

 necessary without division. 



FERRARIA. Tiger Iris. 



A genus of interesting half-hardy dwarf bulbous 

 plants, succeeding well in a cold frame or in pots 

 in the greenhouse. For indoors they should be 

 potted in November, in sandy loam and leaf-mould, 

 and watered sparingly until they commence to grow, 

 when they should have abundance of air, sunlight 

 and water. They will flower from April to June, 

 and when gradually rested should be kept perfect- 

 ly dry until started again. 



TREESIAS. 



These are amongst the most beautiful of all 

 Cape bulbs, growing about nine inches in height, 

 and producing six to eight flowers upon a stem. 

 They are very handsome, possessing a peculiar 



grace of form, and their fragrance is most delight- 

 ful. As cut flowers, they are extremely valuable ; 

 the unexpanded flowers opening in water fill the 

 air with a most delicate perfume, and their endur- 

 ance is really remarkable. They force very easily 

 and should be potted in succession from the end of 

 July, putting about six bulbs in a five inch pot. 

 They succeed best in a mixture of good fibrous loam , 

 leaf-mould and well rotted manure, in equal pro- 

 portions, with the addition of a fair sprinkling of 

 sand to ensure drainage. After potting, place in 

 a cold frame, and water very sparingly until the 

 bulbs start into growth. As soon as the foliage 

 appears, plenty of water may be given, and they 

 can be removed to the house or a cold greenhouse 

 as occasion demands, giving them as much light 

 as possible. As the flower-spikes appear, weak 

 manure water can be given. Dormant bulbs may 

 be procured from August to Janua r y. 



FRITILLARIA. Crown Imperial. 



Very showy early flowering bulbs, mostly at- 

 taining a height of from two to three feet, though 

 K Melvagris, the Guinea-hen flower and its va- 

 rieties, are dwarf. F. imperialis, the Crown Im- 

 perial, is a handsome plant of stately growth, 

 producing its pendant bell-shaped flowers in clus- 

 ters. The bulbs should be planted four or five 

 inches deep early in fall, and are greatly bene- 

 fited by a mulch of leaves or coarse manure just 

 before the ground freezes up. They bear forcing 

 well and form very bold and handsome subjects 

 when placed in the conservatory in company with 

 dwarf growing plants. Dormant bulbs may be 

 procured from September to January. 



GALANTHUS- Snowdrop. 



A beautiful, early spring-flowering bulbous 

 plant, too well known to need any description. It 

 thrives in any good garden soil, and should be 

 planted in September or October very closely to- 

 gether in groups or masses, where they can be 

 left undisturbed for years to appear suddenly in 

 flower with the earliest approach of spring. Dor- 

 mant bulbs may be procured from September to 

 January. 



GALTONIA. (Hyacinthus.) CAN- 

 DICANS. Cape Hyacinth. 



A most beautiful and noble plant for flower beds 

 or for planting in groups for lawn decoration. 

 The creamy- white flowers, one to two inches 

 across, are borne on spikes often four to five 

 feet long, giving it the appearance of a monster 

 Hyacinth. It is quite hardy, and can be left in 

 the open ground without any misgivings as to its 

 safety if given a protection of leaves or rough 

 manure during winter. A strong 'root will pro- 

 duce a succession of flower spikes, and this ten- 

 dency w T ill be assisted by cutting off each spike 

 immediately after it has ceased to be attractive. 

 Dry bulbs should be planted in April or May, and 

 if taken up in fall should be looked to after the 

 first severe frost, dried off, and wintered over like 

 a Gladiolus. Dormant bulbs may be procured 

 from December to June. 



GESNERA. 



An extensive genus of greenhouse tuberous- 

 rooted plants from Mexico and South America, 

 remarkable for the beauty of their foliage, which 



