THE BLETIA TANKERVILM^. t>37 
ARTICLE Vlir. 
ON THE CULTURE OF THE IXIA TRIBE, 
BY MR. R. STAFFORD, 
Under Gardener at G. B. Strutts, Esq. Helper, near Derby. 
1 HAVE sent ycu a very successful metliotl of flowering the Ixia, 
which has been practised by my father at Willersley for many years. 
In the first week in September take the bulbs out of the paper bags, 
and plant about twelve of the largest in each quart pot (32s.) in a 
mixture of sand and peat, about equal parts covering them about an 
inch d-eep ; then place them in the open air where they are to remain 
until the winter frosts render it advisable to place them in the window 
of a gi'eenhouse, where they should remain until the first week in 
February, at which time place them in the front of a vinery or some 
other house, where they will have about sixty degress of heat, giving 
them a regular supply of water. In May they will be in full blow, 
and may be removed to furnish the flower stand, &c. after which 
place them in the open air, where they should be attended to with 
water so long as there exists in any part of them a disjjosition to 
generate sap. When the roots appear to be perfectly matured, take 
them out of the pots, clean them, and put them in paper bags, until 
the planting season in September. Few plants repay us with a pro- 
fusion of more brilliant flowers than this tribe of bulbous plants. 
The chief object is the successful culture of bulbs seems to be that 
of keeping them in a perfectly torpid state until the time you wish 
to excite them, at which time and during the whole period of their 
growth they should be kept in as free a growing state as possible. I 
have no doubt but most of the cape bulbs will blow well under this 
simple mode of treatment. 
R. Stafford. 
Belper,June 13, ia32. 
ARTICLE IX. 
ON THE CULTURE OF THE BL'ETIA TANKERVILLI^. 
The Bletia Tankervilliee flowered for the first time in this country in 
the stove of Mrs. Hird, at Apperley Bridge, near Bradford, York- 
shire, to whom it had been sent by Dr. Fothergill, her uncle, in 
1776. It is very easy of culture, and will flower freely if potted in 
