HARDY BULBS AND TUBERS. 
283 
covering of bracken or dry leaves as a protection from frost. 
It is not advisable to disturb the bulbs oftener than once in 
three years; indeed, where they grow and flower well leave 
them alone. Increased by offsets removed when the foliage is 
quite dead. 
Tecophilaoa (Chilian Crocus). — T. cyanocrocus, the 
only species, is a native of Chili, has fibrous-coated corms, 
grows 6 to gin. high, and bears fragrant, gentian-blue flowers 
with a white eye in March and April. Leitchlinii is a variety 
with flowers of a deeper shade of blue. The flowers are 
crocus-like in shape, and the perfume is similar to that of the 
violet. Unfortunately, this beautiful plant, which belongs to 
the Snake’s Beard order (Hremodoraceae), is only hardy in the 
south and west. The best position for growing the bulbs is 
a well-drained raised border at the foot of a south wall. Here 
plant the bulbs about 4in. deep in sandy peat and leaf-mould 
early in August. Protect in severe weather by a covering 
of bracken or dried leaves. Increased by offsets when the 
foliage has died. 
Tigridia. (Tiger Flower). — A showy and very handsome 
genus of Mexican bulbous plants, belonging to the Iris order 
(Iridaceae). T. Pavonia grows i to 2ft. high, and bears large 
flowers variegated with violet, yellow and purple tints in sum- 
mer. There are several varieties of it which are gorgeously 
beautiful and more brilliant in their colours than the parent 
species. These are alba, with ivory or pearly-white petals 
blotched with carmine at the base ; grandiflora, flowers large 
and very brilliant in colour; conchiflora, yellow and red 
spotted; aurea, old gold, spotted with chocolate; lilacina, 
crimson-magenta, white centre, and spotted with chocolate ; 
rosea, white, suffused with rose, and maroon centre ; immacu- 
lata, pure white. T. Pringlei, brilliant scarlet, blotched with 
crimson, is the only other species. T. Pavonia and its varieties 
are charming plants to grow in groups in sunny borders or 
beds. The gorgeously-coloured flowers are seen to their best 
advantage in the middle of the day. They last in perfection 
for one day only, but strong bulbs yield a succession of 
blooms during the summer. They like a deep, rich soil, a 
sandy loam enriched with plenty of leaf-mould and well-rotted 
manure. The bulbs should be planted early in April 3m. 
deep and 6in. apart. In dry weather mulch the soil with 
decayed manure, and give copious supplies of water. Lift 
the bulbs at the end of October, dry thoroughly, and store in 
a cool frost-proof place. Some growers store the bulbs in 
dry sand. »In very warm districts the bulbs may remain per- 
