186 
NOTES ON THE MANAGEMENT OF IIERBERTIA DRUMMONDII. 
plants do not thrive well if cramped at the roots or often shifted. Immediately 
after being placed in larger pots, it is advisable to subject them to an increase of 
temperature with considerable humidity, until they have begun to grow freely. 
They always require a good supply of water at the roots, but soon suffer if it 
stagnates ; therefore give plenty of drainage, and, during the season of growth, they 
should be freely syringed over-head every fine day; this will greatly facilitate their 
development. It is also very advantageous to water them, once a week, with thin 
liquid manure. 
Air is an indispensable requisite at the time the plants are in flower, for unless 
they are exposed in some degree to this, but few fruit will set. 
Propagation is effected by cuttings, layers, and seeds. 
Ripened cuttings are taken off any time of the year, except when the young 
wood is forming, and planted in pots of sand ; plunge in heat, and cover with a 
hand-glass. In six weeks or two months they will be rooted. 
When they are well rooted pot them off in the soil recommended before, but add 
one-fourth of heath-mould to it, on account of the plants being small, re-plunge them 
under glass, until they have again begun to grow, afterwards expose to a little air, 
by degrees, until they will, without drooping, stand amongst the ordinary plants in 
the stove. 
For layers — branches merely pegged beneath the surface of the soil, without 
any incision, will strike root ; but their emission is facilitated by an incision being 
made on the upper or under side of the branch ; this incision should be made half 
way through the branch, and an inch long, sloping upwards. 
Pots open on one side, from top to bottom, for the more ready introduction of a 
branch, filled with soil, and elevated on sticks to the desired height, are very con- 
venient for layers of both this and other plants. 
Seeds are sown in spring, and when up are potted off, and treated as recom- 
mended for cuttings. 
NOTES ON THE MANAGEMENT OF HERBERTIA DRUMMONDII. 
All the species of Herbertia are hardy greenhouse bulbous plants, and flower 
well in the open air during summer. H. Drummondii will endure the cold of our 
ordinary winters very tolerably, but is liable to perish from over moisture ; it is 
therefore always better to include it amongst pot plants, which in winter are sheltered. 
The proper season for potting is just before the bulbs begin to grow, after the 
season of rest. Turn them out of the pots, separate the bulbs from the soil, and 
after selecting the finest, replant them in small pots, four in each pot. The proper 
soil for their growth is equal parts of light sandy loam, heath-mould, and sand, 
mixed and broken together, but not sifted. After being potted, do not subject them 
to any heat, until they have grown considerably ; for if this be done, they often grow 
