274 GREEN-HOUSE — REPOTTING, ETC. . ^August. 



rot from moisture. Keep them during the summer months 

 in partial shade. The best time for potting either of the 

 sorts is when the crown of the bulb begins to protrude. If 

 the pots are becoming large, every alternate year they may 

 be cleared from the old soil, and put in smaller pots with 

 the crown entirely above the ground. When the flowers 

 fade, the pedicles twist up like a screw, enclosing the germen 

 in the centre, lying close to the ground until the seeds ripen, 

 from which plants can be grown, and will flower the third 

 year. 



LaclienaUa^ a genus of about forty species of bulbs, all 

 natives of the Cape of Good Hope, and grow well in our 

 collections. The most common is L. tricolor. L. quaclri- 

 coJor and its varieties are all fine ) the colors yellow, scarlet, 

 orange and green, very pure and distinct; L. ruhida, L. 

 punctata, L. orclioides and L. nervosa are all fine species. 

 The flowers are on a stem from half to one foot high, and 

 much in the character of a hyacinth. The end of the month 

 is about the time of planting. Five-inch pots are . large 

 enough, and they must get very little water till they begin 

 to grow. 



Oxalis, above one hundred species of Cape bulbs, and, 

 like all other bulbs of that country, they do exceedingly well 

 in our collections, in which they are only comparatively a few 

 species, not exceeding twenty. 0. idrtaj branching, of a ver- 

 milion color; 0. flabili/dlia, yellow; 0. elongdta, striped; 

 and ameenaj are those that require potting this month. 

 The first of September is the most proper period for the 

 others. (Soil No. 11.) 



This genus of plants is so varied in the construction of its 

 roots that the same treatment will not do for all. The root 

 is commonly bulbous, and these will keep a few weeks or 

 months out of the soil, according to their size. Several are 

 only thick and fleshy; these ought not to be taken out of the 

 pots, but kept in them, while dormant; and about the end of 

 this month give them gentle waterings. When they begin 

 to grow, take the earth from the roots, and put them in fresh 

 soil. In a few months the bulbs are curiously produced, the 

 original bulb 'near the surface striking a radical fibre down- 

 right from its base, at the extremity of which is produced a 

 new bulb for* the next year's plant, the old one perishing. 



Ovnitl^ inh>m^ Star of Bethlehem, about sixty species of 



