THE CYCLAMEN. 
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Cyclamen neapolitanum, Tenore (angular 
autumn-flowering Sow-bread). — A Lardy per- 
ennial species, the largest in size and the 
most hardy and vigorous of those known in 
cultivation. The tubers are large, rough, and 
flattish ; the leaves variously shaped, mostly 
five-angled, but sometimes triangular or has- 
tate, crenate, distinctly marked on the upper 
surface, and " having an irregular band of 
white and purple on tiie under surface." The 
flowers are large, rosy purple, scentless, the 
segments ovate obtuse. There is a white 
variety of this species. Native of Italy. 
Flowers in August and September. Intro- 
duced in 1824. According to Mr. Gordon, 
this bears the following names : — C.autumnale, 
C. purpurascens, C sub hast latum-, C. Poll, and 
C. hederifolium purpureum. The C. sub- 
hastatum of Reichenbach is by some thought 
distinct as a variety; it has cordate-triangular 
crenate leaves, and flowers with the segments 
broadly oval and acute ; it is also a Swiss 
plant. 
Cyclamen persicum, Miller (reniform spring- 
flowered Sow-bread). — A tender perennial, 
rather large compared with the majority of the 
species. The tubers are large and flattish ; 
the leaves large, reniform-cordate, crenate, 
marbled with white on the upper surface, and 
purple beneath. The flowers are large, the 
segments oblong-obtuse. There are many 
varieties as to colour, — albiflorum, which is 
entirely white ; Ydaclnum, which is pale 
purple ; punctatuin, white with lilac spots ; 
laciniatum, white with a red throat, the petals 
jagged ; odoratum, the common sweet kind, 
white with a red throat ; inodorum, white 
and red, but scentless ; Jlore-pleno, with 
double flowers. Native of the island of Cyprus. 
Flowers from February to May, according to 
its treatment. Introduced in 1731. It is 
called sometimes C. pyrolaefolium, C. 'uto- 
picum, and C. odoratum. 
Cyclamen repandum, Sibthorp (repand- 
leaved Sow-bread). — A somewhat tender per- 
ennial species. The bulbs are of moderate size, 
bearing thin cordate-marbled repand leaves, 
having the angles entire, and mucronate. The 
flowers are rose-coloured, with the segments 
oblong. Native of Greece. Flowers from 
March to May. Introduced in 1816. 
Cyclamen vernum, Reichenbach (round - 
leaved winter Sow-bread). — A hardy peren- 
nial species, of moderate size, " having the 
leaves of C. persicum, and the flowers of 
C count." The roots are larger than those of 
coum; the leaves double the size, quite round, 
entire, with the lobes at the base overlapping ; 
the upper surface is marked with an irregular 
band of white. The flowers bright reddish- 
purple, rather larger than those of coum, but 
of the same short form. Native of the south 
of Europe. FloAvers from November to Janu- 
ary. Introduced in 1814. It is often con- 
founded with C. coum, and is the C. vernale 
of Miller. 
These are all the species of which we find 
mention of the introduction to English gardens. 
There are others described in books, such as 
C. aleppicum, Fischer ; C. yrcccum, Link ; 
C. intermedium, Wenderoth ; C. indicum, 
Linnaeus. 
CULTURE. 
The Cyclamen is one of many modest yet 
beautiful plants belonging to the natural 
order Primulaceae to be met with in a cul- 
tivated state. It is somewhat surprising that 
it is not more generally cultivated either in 
private gardens for the sake of display, or 
commercially for the purpose of gain. It is a 
plant well suited for amateurs, as it takes but 
little space, and may be turned out of doors in 
a northern aspect, when it has done flower- 
ing, to make room for other plants. The 
treatment of these plants is not so difficult a 
matter, but that any one may grow them who 
has the convenience of a two or three-light 
frame, to protect them in the winter from 
frost and excessive rains, which latter do 
them more harm than slight frosts. Some 
who have grown, or attempted to grow 
cyclamens, have not met with the success 
they anticipated ; this disappointment is 
traceable in the beginning to the existence 
of disease, caused either by giving them too 
much or too little water at particular periods. 
These are the two main things in which in- 
experienced cultivators are liable to fail ; for 
they are plants that are soon seriously damaged 
by an over-dose of water when at all dormant 
on the one hand, and on the other hand, by 
being allowed to get too dry, in the growing 
season. 
RAISING FROM SEED. 
This is the best mode of propajDating the 
cyclamen, though it may seem a long and 
tedious way of getting flowering roots ; it is, 
however, the surest method, as you then know 
the constitution of your plants, which is of 
material consequence in plant-growing. For 
the sowing of cyclamen seeds, some persons 
recommend the period immediately after the 
ripening of the seed. Others defer the opera- 
tion until the spring. This latter is the best 
and safest way, those sown in autumn being 
apt to damp off in the dull winter season. 
The beginning of March is a good time for 
seed-sowing ; and the operation is performed 
in the following manner : — Prepare ordi- 
nary seed-pans, selecting those which are 
about four inches deep. They are prepared 
by filling them, first with about an inch of 
broken potsherds, then a layer of rough peat 
or moss, then a compost consisting of one- 
half peat made rather fine, one-fourth friable 
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