Dec. 6th, 1884. 
THE GARDENING WORLD, 
213 
flowered about June, were grown, as already mentioned, 
at first in the vinery, and about May were taken to a 
pit, where they were set close to the glass. In this pit 
they were subjected to liberal treatment as regards 
heat and moisture. They were shut up early, and 
every afternoon syringed or watered; weak liquid 
manure, diluted drainings from the manure-yard, and 
guano being also given them. Under this treatment 
flower-spikes here and there soon began to shoot up 
close to the glass, when I had them taken out and 
removed to the Azalea-house, which was slightly warm 
also, and where the spikes had room to grow up. The 
help there is no reason why they should not do fairly 
well under glass in England. 
I have only had experience with American roots, 
not yet having tried those obtained from Africa ; and 
I may say that I would rather continue to grow the 
American roots, unless I had to produce flowers 
exceptionally early, or in mid-winter, which would be 
accompanied with much risk, as the Tuberose seems 
very difficult to manage in the winter time, owing to the 
want of light and other conditions favourable to their 
growth, which it is impossible to afford them at that 
season. From too much humidity in the atmosphere 
Scale will also attack the plants, but by commencing 
with fresh bulbs, the liability to be infested with insects 
need not be dreaded. 
It is preferable to grow a single bulb in a pot, because 
all the plants will not flower exactly at the same time; 
and it is always desirable to procure good bulbs, such 
as can easily be obtained from any respectable 
nurseryman, but I have no misgivings if I receive a 
few small ones amongst my selection, so long as they 
are of the best double sort; as there is more likelihood 
of my having a longer succession of bloom .—Robert 
Mackellar, Abneij Hall, Cheaclle. 
Tuberose spikes should always be supported by stakes, 
as they are apt to be broken by their own weight at the 
collar. 
The plants in many cases bore over forty flowers on 
a spike, and they were of splendid quality, the variety 
being the American Pearl. Later on in the season 
(July), when the spikes were shooting up in the pit 
before mentioned, I had them placed in the Peach- 
house to flower, where they also succeeded very 
well, having plenty of light. During the flowering 
period the Tuberose seems to do perfectly well in a 
light airy place, with a little warmth, and is quite at 
home in the conservatory amongst other plants in the 
summer. We hear of them doing quite well out-of- 
doors in summer near New York, so that with a little 
m. lejioine’s double-flowered lilac. 
when in bloom, or from the plants being allowed to 
get dry at the roots, the flowers are apt to become flaccid, 
from which they never recover ; and in the winter, 
too, the plants in the stove are apt to drop their 
flowers, unless a particularly light and favourable 
place is provided for them. All through the season of 
growth I never allowed the pots to get dry, in this 
respect treating them more like ferns, by giving them 
plenty of water. 
A particular point to be attended to in the culture 
of the Tuberose is to keep the plants perfectly free 
from insects. Green fly and thrip, I need scarcely 
say, must be destroyed by fumigation, or some other 
means, and red spider, if it makes its appearance, by 
a liberal use of the syringe. 
NOTES ON HARDY PLANTS, 
“ Tue Winter Heliotrope,” Tusilago fragrans, is 
one of those common plants which seems to come in 
for more than a fair share of neglect. It is so 
common, indeed, that it is a great pest in many 
places where it grows in luxuriance, and for this 
reason it should never be planted among the better class 
of perennials. But while it cannot be trusted there, 
it should nevertheless find a home in many gardens, 
for it has greater claims upon our notice than appears 
at first sight. In any out of the way corner, whether 
the soil be light, stiff, or of a gravelly nature, it is 
sure to succeed, or under trees and shrubs, for 
naturalizing in the wild garden, or for a variety of 
