Illustrated Catalogue of Dutch Flower Roots. 
Remarks on Cultivation, &c. (continued). 
Eucharis. 
A magnificent plant for tlie warm pit or stove, bearing large, 
pure white, wax-like flowers of beautiful form and delicious 
fragrance. It is undoubtedly the finest of all flowers for 
Winter bouquets, and by judicious forcing may be had in bloom 
at almost any season. Hough fibrous loam with peat and 
sharp sand is the most suitable, and ample drainage should 
be provided ; the plants delight in plenty of moisture and 
a high temperature, and it is found that when they are kept 
somewhat pot-bound, and occasionally supplied with liquid 
manure, they bloom much more freely than when disturbed 
by frequent re-pottings. Where a succession of bloom is 
required, a portion of the plants should be rested whilst the 
others are being grown or brought forward by progressive stages. 
A few plants at a time should be plunged in a good bottom-beat 
in a warm pit or stove, and liberally supplied with tepid water, 
and after flowering placed in a cool position in a greenhouse 
and but moderately supplied with moisture. As the plants, 
however, are evergreen, water should not be withheld to an 
extent that will injure the foliage. By alternate growing and 
resting in this way, an almost constant supply of these 
oharmiug flowers may be had. 
Gladioli--Early-flowering. 
The early-flowering section of Gladioli — blooming in June 
and July— are amongst tho most graceful in growth and 
beautiful in colouring of any plants we possess. They are 
not only admirably suited for garden decoration, but grown in 
pots and gently forced, form charming subjects in the green- 
house in April and May, whilst their blooms are almost 
invaluable where an abundance of cut flowers is desired. The 
plants, which are very free-flowering, are of a somewhat dwarf 
branching habit of growth, and the blooms vary in colour from 
intense crimson through all the shades of rose, scarlet, carmine, 
purple, pink, to the pure white “ Bride.” The lower petals of most 
sorts are marked by a distinct and conspicuous blotch surrounded 
by a baud of a different colour, giving the flowers a strikingly 
handsome appearance. They will thrive in almost any soil or 
situation, but out of doors should for preference be planted in 
a warm sunny position. October and November are the best 
mouths for planting, and the bulbs should bo planted in clumps 
or patches of six or eight, and at a depth of four or five inches, 
covering them over in Winter with some short manure to 
prevent injury from frost. For growing in pots, they' should 
be potted five in a six-inch pot, using a light rich compost and 
covering the crowns about half an inch deep. Place the pots 
on a cool shelf or under tho stage in the greenhouse, and give 
but little water till they start into growth, when they should 
be placed ou the stage, or as near the light as convenient. 
Here, with a fair supply of water, and ventilation on fine warm 
days, they will soon grow on into beautiful flowers. 
Ixias and Sparaxis. 
These beautiful free-flowering Cape bulbs are deserving of 
much greater attention than they have hitherto received from 
the horticultural public, as they afford with but very little 
cultural skill, an abundance of strikingly brilliant and' richly 
coloured flowers, which apart from their elegance of form, are 
exceedingly valuable to cut for the decoration of tho drawing- 
room, bouquets, &c. In the south and western districts of 
England they may fairly' be considered as hardy', but in most 
other parts of the British Isles they require to be planted 
deeply so as to be out of reach of severe frosts, or to have the 
protection of a cool pit or frame in Winter. They delight in 
a deep, rich, sandy soil, and when planted out of doors, a warm, 
sunny, well-sheltered border should always bo selected. They 
thrive well in pots of light rich, sandy soil, planted five or six 
in a five-inch pot, placing the pots in a cool pit or frame, and 
giving plenty of air on all favourable occasions. Ixias do not 
require so much water when growing as most plants of a 
similar class, and watering may be discontinued when the 
plants have done flowering. If planted in six or seven-inch 
pots, several in a pot, they may be bloomed a second year 
without re-potting. 
Irises. 
The varieties contained in our list embrace almost as wide a 
diversity of nationality as of distinctive character and individual 
peculiarity. Collected as they are from so many parts, and 
from so many different habitats, it is only natural to surmise 
that the Iris in its various species is adapted for a great variety' 
of ornamental purposes in connection with the garden ; and 
such is really' the fact; for there is no garden, however 
peculiarly situated, but may grow, and well, some few varieties 
of these beautiful iridaceous plants. For light or stony' soils, 
and indeed we may' say almost anywhere, the English and 
Spanish in their beautiful kinds, Pavonia major, Susiana, 
Kcempferii, Oermanica, tho latter class being admirably suited 
to all descriptions of mixed beds in light or heavy' soil, and 
will thrive in any damp spot, or water-margin, and to which 
they' always give a fresh and pleasing appearance. A sandy 
loam is, however, perhaps the best soil for Irises generally, 
although many of the varieties, especially' those of the 
Kcempferii type, will grow splendidly in peat. Tho culture of 
all is simple in the extreme, as they merely' require to be 
planted to ensure tho most pleasing results. The varieties, one 
and all, are highly' ornamental as decorative plants, and as cut- 
flowers for placing in vases, &c,.tho Iris has few equals; the 
white and pale blue being especially valuable for this purpose. 
The Kcempferii varieties are by far the most splendid, producing 
handsomely-formed flowers of enormous size and of the most 
charming colours, ranging through all the shades of dark 
purple, blue, yellow*, silvery-grey, and satiny-rose, to the most 
pure and lovely* white; whilst the mai'kings or pencilliugs of 
the flowers are in many instances exquisitely beautiful. We 
know of no class of flowers finer than these to cut for decorative 
purposes. 
Lilies. 
In their far distant native habitats Lilies are generally* found 
growing in such sheltered spots as margins of woodsor plantations, 
rocky ravines, amongst long grass, shrubs, &c., and mostly w'here 
for a long period of the year their bulbs are in a comparatively 
dry state. This fact points out the necessity of good drainage, 
and partial shade or shelter, and shows at a glance the great 
suitability of Lilies for planting in such places as ou mixed beds 
or borders in front of shrubs, or amongst evergreens and roses, 
on Bhododendron beds, &c., and where indeed, when planted in 
groups of three or five, such fine varieties as Auratum, Chalce- 
donicum, Spedosvm, &c., are matchless in their beauty, and 
produce a splendid and imposing effect. Planting out may 
take place any time during tho Autumn, Winter, or Spring, 
when the bulbs are in a dormant state, or growth has but just 
commenced ; but generally speaking, Autumn is the best time; 
and the bulbs should be planted at a depth of from six to eight 
inches according to size, so as to admit of their remaining in tho 
ground for several years, if possible without being disturbed. 
Lilies generally are fond of a rich soil, mulchings, &c., and 
whether grown in-doors in pots, or on the open border, will 
amply repay with an abundance of fine flowers for a plentiful 
supply of liquid manure once or twice a w r eek during the growing 
period, and before the plants come into bloom. 
Cultivation in Pots.— For growing Lilies in pots, &c., 
a compost of about equal parts of sandy* loam, leaf-mould, and 
peat, will generally answer admirably ; but we have seen some 
of the finest Auratums ever exhibited grown in pure leaf-mould. 
It is also worthy of note that this fine variety will succeed 
equally well out of doors in peat, loam, or indeed any good light 
soil, and is consequently unrivalled for planting on Rhododen- 
dron beds, &c. Single specimens in pots of about six inches 
diameter form beautiful objects for the drawing-room, &t\, but 
pots of eight or ten inches diameter, with five or seven bulbs in 
each, are truly magnificent when in bloom, and produce an effect 
of “ flower anil fragrance” that is not soon forgotten. In potting 
provide ample drainage and pot firmly, placing the bulbs about 
two inches below the surface ; after which, select some sheltered 
place out of doors that is exposed as little as possible to.tho direct 
rays of the sun, as the north side of a wall or fence, &c., and 
plunge the pots with their rims about six inches below the 
surface in cocoa-nut refuse, ashes, or any light material, in the 
way recommended for Hyacinths. Here they should remain 
