On the Cultivation of Rare Plants. 



given. It encreases slowly at the root, but ripens seeds 

 abundantly, if the stigma is fecundated. 



Roche a Venusta. MSS. Ixia Rochensis u. Ker in Bot. 

 Mag. n. 59S. cum Ic. 



One of the most beautiful plants in this Natural Order, 

 and not difficult to cultivate, if treated like the Galaxias. It 

 encreases so slowly by offsets, that attention should be paid 

 to fecundate the stigma, and obtain seeds. I have named 

 the genus after Mr. De La Roche, who has written upon 

 some of the plants allied to it. 



Acaste Venusta. MSS. Ixia Rubro-cyanea. Curt. in Bot. 

 Mag. n. 410. cum Ic.—Jacq. Ic. v. 2. t. 285. Collect, v. 3. 

 />. 268. 



Of this extensive genus I have cultivated at least thirty 

 distinct species, all of which live and encreaie with very little 

 care ; but to make them flower in perfection requires a good 

 deal. Their bulbs, without exception, only send out three 

 or four very strong fibres, which strike deep into the sand, 

 and they should be planted in rather longer pots than usual, 

 so near the top as to be hardly covered, cutting off the foot- 

 stalks of the last year's leaves, which do not soon wither away, 

 about half an inch long. During winter, and till the middle 

 of February, let them vegetate as slowly as they can in our cold 

 climate, giving plenty of air when there is no frost ; but from 

 that period they should have gradually more water and arti- 

 ficial heat, keeping the frame or house very hot after the 

 equinox. This species, if so treated, often produces eight 

 or nine flowers in a spike, and sometimes a side branch. 

 The generic name, derived from the Greek verb <*cu°> 



