240 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLCGIST. 
deep green, and the fruits are large, full, rounded, ancl slightly corrugated. 
It grows from 2 to 2£ feet in height, and is tolerably prolific, but it is very 
late, and is only suited for cultivation in this country in exceptionally warm 
seasons. 
The Whortleberry Tomato proved to be nothing more than one of the forms 
of the little black-fruited Solanum nigrum, a weed of our gardens. 
A. F. B. 
IXIAS AXD TRITONIAS. 
We so seldom see these beautiful flowers in cultivation, that it is almost 
impossible to believe they are known to the majority of flower-lovers, or 
they surely would not be so much neglected. They are easily grown, and of 
the most striking beauty. Messrs. Hooper & Co. generally produce a stand of 
cut blooms at one or other of the summer metropolitan exhibitions, and that 
is nearly all that is seen of them in public. The bulbs of numerous choice 
and gaily-coloured varieties may be had at from 2 s. to 7s. the dozen; 
viridiflora and crateroides, two of the cheapest amongst them, being also 
among the finest. We strongly recommend some of our amateur readers 
to devote a portion of their space to a selection of these and the allied Cape 
bulbs, of which such things as Sparaxis grandiflora, Tritonia crocata, 
Schizostylis coccinea, &c., are hardly surpassed in beauty by any flowers in 
cultivation. Messrs. Hooper give the following directions for growing them 
in the open border, and in pots :— 
“ To grow them in the open borders, the beds should be prepared in 
October or the end of September, by well digging a spit deep, and burying 
a stratum of good rotten manure at the bottom. The surface soil should 
be rendered open by mixing sand with it, and by being well broken in the 
digging. The bulbs should be planted in clumps or rows, from 2% to 4 inches 
deep, according to size and sort, the largest bulbs being placed deepest, and 
each should be covered with sand an inch deep, previous to being re-covered 
with mould. Give the bed a southern inclination if possible ; keep it free 
from weeds, and stir the surface occasionally with a fork. In the case of 
severe frosty weather, the bed should be covered 8 inches deep with dry litter, 
cocoa-nut refuse, sea sand, or ashes. Under such treatment they will 
flower at different times, from May till August. 
“ To grow them in pots, either for flowering in pots or for turning out in 
the borders in spring—which is, perhaps, a safer method to adopt with these 
half-hardy plants than the former, let the bulbs be potted in October, in 
light turfy loam and sand, with good drainage. A frame should be pre¬ 
pared for the pots by placing in it a bed of old dry tan and litter from the 
stable; into this let the pots be plunged. Give plenty of air in fine 
weather, and withhold water until the bulbs have made root and the leaves 
begin to appear ; it should then be carefully given when there is no danger 
of frost. If the winter should be very severe, the frame may be banked 
up with manure or litter, and the lights covered with straw and mats. 
The pots may be brought into the greenhouse during February, March, or 
April, according to the season for blooming, or if for out-doors they may be 
turned out in March, sooner or later, according to circumstances—that is, 
so as not to be endangered by severe frosts. Under such treatment the 
Sparaxis will flower in April, the Ixias, Babianas, and Tritonias succeeding 
each other. After blooming, the watering should be continued until the 
leaves begin to fade, when it must be gradually withheld.” 
