CROCOSMIA AUEEA, AND TRITONIAS. 
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interesting varieties. It is of interest more from an historical point of 
view than from that of its practical use to amateurs ; indeed, its chief 
object is to show the progress made from year to year with this particular 
family of plants. 
To those who wish to plant extensively for the purpose of either 
forming beds or securing abundance of cut flowers I should recommerid 
the following as being vigorous, easy of cultivation and of increase, and 
producing an abundant succession of flov/ers : — ' Etoile de Feu,' ' Eldo- 
rado,' ' Transcendant,' ' Soleil Couchant,' 'Feu d'Artifice,' ' Auricule,' 
' Fantaisie,' ' Fleuve Jaune,' and ' Volcan.' 
But for those who desire to collect into their gardens beautiful plants 
which are not to be found everywhere I should recommend ' Aurore,' 
' Flore Pleno,' ' Turban,' ' Martagon,' ' Oriflamme,' ' Brilliant,' 
' Globe d'Or,' ' Tete Couronnee,' 'Aureole,' and ' Messidor,' but not for- 
getting Crocosmia aurea maculata and C. aurea imperialis. 
The culture of Montbretias is of the simplest. They delight in light 
and sandy soils exposed to the sun, but they also do very well in heavy 
and clay land. The dry corms may be planted in March or April, or 
they may preferably be started in frames and planted out when partly 
grown. During the flowering season, which lasts from July to September, 
they should be watered in case of drought. After the flowering is over 
they may be left in the open air if they are covered with a layer of dry 
leaves, at least in climates like ours at Nancy, where the winters are 
often very severe. We prefer, however, to take up the corms in autumn, 
storing them in layers during the winter in sand, or in any other material 
holding a little moisture, to protect them against frost or heat. They 
must not be allowed to become quite dry, as in that case the multitude of 
oftsets which surround each corm are in danger of being entirely dried 
up and the increase of the plants is very much hindered. In the case of 
C. maculata and C. imperialis it is absolutely necessary to store them 
in flat layers, as the stolons, which in their case are much longer and 
fewer in number, are much more easily destroyed, and the corms them- 
selves also sometimes refuse to start. 
The disease which I have already mentioned as occurring amongst my 
seedlings has also been remarked by others. Whilst the plants are in 
full and vigorous growth a few of the leaves suddenly turn yellow and 
dry up. Then the flower spike does the same and the plant is rapidly 
destroyed. If you cut the corm in halves you see that most of the woody 
fibres have turned black. It is necessary to at once discard and burn all 
the aflected corms and only to keep those which are absolutely free from 
the disease. Moreover, we advise that whilst the corms are out of the 
ground they should be dipped two or three times during the winter in 
some " Bouillie Bordelaise." It is a precaution which has rendered us 
the greatest service. Another precaution consists in not planting Mont- 
bretias for several years in the same soil or place where the disease 
has existed. 
K 2 
