rats, 
TIGRIDIA. 
The Tigridia, or Mexican Tiger Flower, is one of the most curious and beautiful flowers that 
this earth produces. T. Pavonia is of the richest scarlet, with a center of golden yellow spotted 
with black, T. conchiflora, orange, variegated with yel- 
low and spotted with black. The flowers are from three 
to four inches in diameter, and, though short-lived, are pro- 
duced in succession during the whole season, so that a 
little bed is never without flowers. The blossoms appear 
X'--*^^^^^* ^^^-^ early in the morning, and in dull weather will be 
^ '"■'^^^S^^^m ^^^^^ nearly all day, but a few hours of sunshine destroy 
'^^PHI^^'''^^^^^^'*'-^^^^^ their beauty. The next morning, however, a new lot 
appear, and the bed is gay as ever. The flower stems are 
from twelve to eighteen inches in height, the bulbs are 
small. Plant about the middle of May in this latitude, 
and take them up in October, dry for a fcM^ days in the 
air, and then pack them away in dry sand or sawdust in 
any room free from fVost, and out of the reach of mice and 
as these animals consider them a great luxury. 
AMARYLLIS VALOTTA PURPUREA. 
This is becoming a very popular plant for summer blooming, and for a pot-plant for the dec- 
oration of porches, piazzas, etc., there is nothing prettier. It throws 
up a strong j'^ower-stem, in August, about eighteen inches in height, bear- 
ing from fou. to eight brilliant, purplish scarlet flowers, two to three 
inches in diameter, and as these flowers open in succession, the plant 
continues in blossom a long time, and therefore makes a very durable as 
well as beautiful ornament. It flowers most surely and freely in a small 
pot; indeed, a pot a little more than sufficient to hold the bulb is, -11 
that is necessary, and this is an advantage, because any of the little orna- 
mental pots may be employed for this bulb, and they are charmingly in 
keeping with the neat habit of the plant, and the honorable position it is 
destined to occupy on the entrance porch, or the verandah in front of the 
parlor windows. Bulbs may be potted any time in the spring, or even as 
late as June. After flowering, the bulb may remain in the pot until the 
following spring, and should be kept pretty cool and not over moist. In 
May next the bulb will probably need more room, and should be re-pot- 
ted for flowering. In a year or two a number of bulbs will form, giving several flower stems. 
ERYTHRINA CRISTA-GALLI. 
The Erythrina is a fine, robust plant, with bi'oad leaves and large red flowers, somewhat pea- 
formed, an inch or so in length, and growing in long racemes, some- 
times ten or twelve inches in length. There is great substance in the 
flower, giving it a leathery appearance. The roots are thick and fleshy, 
but not exactly tuberous, and may be kept in a pit or cellar during the 
winter. Plants put out in the spring will flower du- 
ring the summer, and before hard frosts should be 
taken up, the main branches cut back to within four 
or five inches of the root, and then stowed away in 
winter quarters until spring. It is a very fine plant, 
and those who have never grown it will derive a good 
deal of pleasure from its culture. It is a native of 
Brazil, and in the more Southern States and Pacific 
coast would prove hardy. In giving direction for cul- 
ture we are apt to furnish those suited to our latitude, 
diversified climate of our countiy, though we have endeavored to 
Readers, however, are always ready to take advantage of any 
forgetting the great extent and 
be particular on this point, 
climatic favors that will save trouble. 
114 
