58 



THE FLORIST AND NOMOLOGIST. 



Iridca?, and many other small African bulbs, if we desire to keep them in 

 permanent cultivation, should he planted in the autumn in a bed of arti- 

 ficial soil, and protected absolutely from frost in those parts of England 

 where strong frosts are the rule in the winter. I am not now writing for 

 the south of England and mild seaside localities, where many of them will 

 thrive with very little trouble bestowed upon them. The bed' should consist 

 of a sandy, a very sandy, compost of loam and sand, or of peat and sand, 

 or of both mixed ; any other admixture being more or less prejudicial. I 

 cannot find any special superiority of peat over loam, and always nse the 

 latter. Peat, however, is said to be specific for some sorts. The soil 

 must be thoroughly drained. I will not take up your time now in. describing 

 construction for this purpose, but will give some hints hereafter if requested. 

 For the protective structure, probably a strong well-made Melon-frame, high 

 enough at the back for the taller sorts, will be as good as anything else, 

 always remembering that frost must be absolutely kept out. A rough straw 

 casing round the outer sides will do this, the lights, when necessary, being 

 covered with a thick piece of carpeting or other material of the kind always at 

 hand and kept for this purpose alone. Air must be given largely in open 

 weather, and the frame finally removed when the soft weather of late spring 

 comes on. Slight morning frosts will not affect them. As soon as the foliage 

 of the majority of them begins to fade the frame should be replaced so as for 

 some -weeks to keep -off rain, and ripen the bulbs. When the foliage is 

 withered, or nearly so (for the old flowering-stems will often remain green for 

 some time after the bulbs have ripened), let them all be taken up and examined 

 whether the soil is to be renewed or no : this is an important point as will be 

 seen presently. On examination some of the bulbs will be found multiplied by 

 splitting into two or three, others merely increased in size, and all surrounded 

 with innumerable small offsets. If you find you have four or five good-sized 

 bulbs, these had better be destroyed. If the sort is valuable, plant a ring of 

 them round the main patch, they will flower often after one season's growth, 

 and always make the finest bulbs. Having lifted all your plants put each sort 

 separately into a garden-pot of sand or light earth, and place them anywhere 

 out of doors, or under glass, so that they be perfectly protected from rain and 

 the attacks of mice. During September and October occasionally examine 

 them, some will begin to start sooner than others. The little circle of protu- 

 berances round the base of the bulb will show the commencement of root-form- 

 ation, and point the necessity for immediate planting. The whole, however, 

 had better be got in by the end of October. I conclude this part of my notes 

 by observing that fresh soil every year is the grand secret in growing these, 

 and, indeed, all bulbs. 



One of the causes of failure with Cape Irids, is the fact that they are 

 received by amateurs in the spring and summer time ; the few that are kept 

 by the large bulb-sellers are received, however, and for sale with Hyacinths, &c, 

 at the proper planting time. Your correspondents are lucky to have received 

 them as early as this. As the case now stands they should be planted at once 

 in such a bed as I have described ; they will all flower, but the evil of the late 

 spring planting will appear in after-cultivation. They will start very late next 

 year, some even remaining entirely dormant ; some will attempt to flower in 

 the winter, and will not mature their bulbs till the following spring, when they 

 ought to be beginning their proper period of growth. When this has occurred 

 the most skilful attention will be required to bring them round. As the season 

 is now creeping on, and it might take some time to prepare the bed and frame, 

 I see no objection to growing them for this season in Mignonette-boxes, or 

 planted pretty thickly in pots to be grown in the greenhouse ; they will require 



