96 
CULTURE OF THE BLETIA TANKERVILLIJE. 
The Bletia T cinkervillice flowered for the first time in this country, in the stove 
of Mrs. Hird, at Apperley-bridge, near Bradford, Yorkshire, to whom it had been 
sent by Dr. Fothergill, her uncle, in 1766. It is very easy of culture, and will 
flower freely if potted in a soil composed of equal parts of light sandy loam, peat, 
and river sand. Let the pots be plunged up to the rim in a bark-bed, or other brisk 
heat, during the time the roots are in a growing state, and give a good supply of 
water. When out of flower, and the roots become dormant, take up the pots and 
place them in a shady situation ; allow the soil to become rather dry, until they 
begin to grow again : as soon as this is observed, repot them, and plunge as before 
directed. They are readily propagated by parting the roots, and treated in the same 
way as the flowering plants. 
ISMENE AMANCAES SULPHUREA. 
(new SULPHUR-COLOURED ISMENE.) 
This very ornamental bulb was raised four years ago from a seed of Ismene 
Amancaes, which had been fertilised by the pollen of Ismene Calathina. The colour 
of the flower is greenish yellow, and the scent, though very powerful, is not so delight- 
fully fragrant as in Calathina , nor so disagreeable as that of Amancaes. The consti- 
tution is vigorous, like that of the former species, from which it inherits also a more 
robust stature, and less attenuated leaves. Ismene Calathina thrives vigorously out 
of doors, in a border of sand and peat mixed, and flowers in July and August, if the 
bulbs are planted out in April, and taken up when the leaves decay in November or 
October. The soil being loose and light, it is easy to avoid breaking their strong 
fleshy fibres, which should not be injured. The bulbs so taken up should be put 
all together in a large pot or small tub, according to their size and number; and 
some light soil being poured over them, they should be placed at the back of 
a greenhouse, or in any shed where they will be preserved from frost, and must 
have no water. I. Amancaes requires a much more sandy soil, and less moisture; 
if planted out of doors, a large potful of soil should be taken out of the border 
where it is set, and the hole filled with pure white sand; and unless the summer is 
very wet it will succeed well. If kept in the greenhouse it should be potted in 
very sandy compost, and. be watered sparingly, and should be left quite dry from 
the time the leaves decay till May. Peat and too much water have caused many 
cultivators to lose this plant, which is not difficult to preserve.— Rev. W. Herbert, 
in Botanical Register , 1665, where a beautiful figure of the plant is given. 
