IXIA PLOWER. 
IXIAS. 
The Ixias are not destitute of beauty; indeed, some of them have strong claims to our regard 
on account of their good looks, but there are few flowers that attract more attention by their curi- 
ous forms and strange coloring. Some of them, and, indeed, 
nearly all, showing three or more colors. They make a nice 
addition and give variety to the larger bulbs, as Hya- 
cinths, &c., more commonly used in house culture, 
and seldom fail to please. Several may be planted 
in a small pot, and the treatment is the same as we 
have recommended for other bulbs in pots. The 
Ixias are all natives of the Cape of Good Hope and 
portions of South Africa, The bulbs exude a viscid 
gum when cut, and hence the name, from a Greek 
word which means to fix. Our engraving shows the 
form of flower and habit of plant, though there is a 
greater difference in the form and color of Ixias than 
with almost any other class of plants. The variety 
we figure is Viridifiora, and the prevailing color is ^^^^ plant 
green, the center being purple and pink, but the Ixias are of almost all imaginable diverse colors. 
OTHER WINTER DECORATIONS. 
In this department, so fruitful of subjects for winter flowers, it maybe well to call attention 
to the Everlastings, or Immortelles, and Grasses, so desirable for Winter Decorations. 
Many of them, like the Acroclinium and Helichrysum, are grown 
in this country, and they will be found described on pages 95, 96 and 
97 ; but large quantities are im- 
ported from Europe, especially of 
the Gnaphalium, which is gener- 
ally known as the Immortelle, 
The natural color is yellow, but 
they are bleached white, and dyed 
of almost any color, by the ingenuity of French growers. 
The Everlastings, with the Feather and other Grasses, 
make up nicely in bouquets and Floral Baskets. For mak- 
ing ornamental letters, by attaching them to pasteboard forms, 
the little Everlastings are excellent. With a little skill 
and taste and a good deal of patience, great things can 
be accomplished in this way. The Grasses and Everlast- 
ings are sold by the bunch, pound or hundred by most florists, and are in great demand about 
the Holidays for decorative purposes. Our engravings give some idea of this work. 
139 
