32 



On the Cultivation of the Oxalis Deppei, 



Professor Morren states that Oxalis Deppei " will not thrive in 

 loam, still less in calcareous earth ; that it always suffers in heavy 

 land, and often will not produce its tap-roots ; but in a sandy soil, 

 light, and mixed with decayed vegetable matter, the plant acquires 

 a large size. The aspect in which it is grown is immaterial, 

 although a southern exposure is to be preferred when not dry." He 

 plants the bulbs on the 15th of April, when he no longer fears 

 frost, an inch deep and five inches apart, in rows which are seven 

 inches asunder. Three or four are put into the same hole, taking 

 care to arrange them in quincunx. The beds are kept clean and 

 in the month of May are watered with liquid cow-dung. As has 

 been already observed, the above mode was adopted in the Society's 

 Garden ; but it has been found that the plants do better when the 

 bulbs are planted, singly, six inches apart, in rows a foot asunder. 



The soil in the Society's Garden is not naturally well adapted 

 for the growth of some tap-rooted vegetables ; the carrot in parti- 

 cular may be instanced as never producing very fine roots in the 

 usual way of cultivation. This being the case, holes are sometimes 

 made and filled with prepared soil for this crop, in order to encou- 

 rage the tap-roots to extend downwards without subdivision. A 

 similar plan was tried with the Oxalis, and found to answer better 

 than where the whole bed was composed of prepared soil ; and the 

 expense was of course comparatively little.* 



The bulbs were planted about the middle of April, so shallow 

 as to admit of their being just covered ; for thus they occupy a 

 position with regard to the surface similar to that in which they are 

 produced, and this seems indispensable if fine sorts are to be 

 obtained. They have been observed, indeed, to spring up from a 

 considerable depth ; but in this case tap-roots were not formed. 

 During summer the soil must be kept moist in dry weather ; 



* The plant from which the accompanying figure was made was grown by this 

 method. It would have doubtless been even finer had the summer been more 

 congenial. 



