246 
THE CYCLAMEN. 
to this the seed will have arrested attention, for the footstalks are 
among the most remarkable of vegetable phenomena. When the 
flowers are set, as it is called, either by natural or artificial im¬ 
pregnation, the seed soon begins to swell, the petals fall off, and 
in a short time the pericarpium stands prominent on the erect 
stalk ; it ultimately arrives at the size of a small marble, and as 
maturity comes on the footstalk begins to coil itself in a spiral 
direction, till it resembles a bell-spring, and as this motion com¬ 
mences at its base, the seed-pod is gradually lowered, and by 
degrees is brought in contact with the earth, which never happens 
till it is nearly or quite ripe, and affords a most striking instance 
of the wonderful means which exist in nature for the preservation 
of species. The Cyclamen loves shade, and thus the seed is 
deposited where it will be certain to receive the shelter of its 
parent’s leaves, and in the kind of soil that has been the means 
of its support. This seed affords a ready method of increasing 
the stock of plants ; it should be sown in March, in shallow pans 
of light peat soil, and if placed in a gentle heat will speedily 
vegetate ; the young plants should be pricked out into other pans 
to afford the requisite space, and if encouraged in a frame through 
the spring and early summer, will form nice little tubers by 
autumn, when they may be separated, and kept with the older 
plants ; they bloom in the second spring after sowing. In the 
borders, Cyclamen should, if possible, be planted nearly together, 
to facilitate the preparation of suitable soil, and also that they 
may readily be covered in case of very early or severe frosts 
occurring when the ground is bare or the blooms rising. They 
do not require any nursing, but the protection of a handglass 
will sometimes be the means of preserving a fine head of flowers. 
A rather shaded border suits them best, and if introduced in the 
front of American clumps, the soil will be appropriate, and the 
progress of the plants satisfactory. In such a position the heats 
of summer are always sufficient to ensure their complete rest, 
but that it may not be disturbed, no other plants that may 
require to be watered at that time should be allowed near them. 
As there seems to be some confusion in the names of some of 
the species, in the nurseries, where I have bought one kind 
for another, I will attempt a brief description of the genus. 
Coum. Leaves round, smooth at the edges, deeply cleft next 
