THE CHILIAN BELL-FLOWER. 



22 I 



heaps of mines, while it is said to flourish 

 nearer the crater's mouth than any other 

 plant found in those volcanic regions. 

 Though in a genus apart, this climbing 

 Lily (for such is its character) comes 



THE WHITE CHILIAN BELL-FLOWER 

 (LAPAGERIA ALBA). 



very near the Smilax and the Asparagus 

 with the same fleshy root and manner 

 of growth ; by the natives these roots are 

 used as a substitute for sarsaparilla. 



Where grown under glass 



Under Glass. , . to . f 



in this country it should be 



in a cool and airy house, the plant be- 

 ing so nearly hardy that perfect success 

 may be secured with no more warmth 

 than is needed to keep out frost. It is 

 best in a border which should be given 

 up to the plant, drained by a bed of 

 stones or clinker, and not too deep, as 

 it is a shallow rooter ; in starting small 

 plants it is well to extend the border 

 by degrees, for if much soil is given 



at the outset it is 

 apt to spoil. Being 

 averse to change, 

 the plant should 

 not be moved when 

 once planted, and 

 the roots should 

 on no account be 

 injured during the 

 annual top-dress- 

 ing. When moving 

 is necessary, au- 

 tumn is the best 

 time. The soil 

 should be a mixture 

 of coarse granite, 

 sand and peat, kept 

 open by lumps of charcoal, stone clip- 

 pings, broken sandstone, or small clink- 

 ers, the rootlets netting closely round 

 such porous matter. Though a place is 

 often found on a back wall or in partial 

 shade, this is less important where there 

 is abundant air and moisture, and with 

 this care fully exposed plants may be 

 seen in fine health. When in active 

 growth frequent syringing keeps the 

 foliage clean and healthy, but from 

 August, when the plants begin to 

 flower, the amount of moisture may 

 be reduced or the blooms (especially of 



