GREENHOUSE AND STOVE BULBS
Lachenalias--Nerines and Lycorises--Pancratiums and Hymenocallises
--Richardias--Sprekelias--Tuberoses--Vallotas--Watsonias--Zephyranthes
LACHENALIAS
Were the beauty and usefulness of the Lachenalias better known, they
would soon become very popular plants for the amateur's greenhouse and
window. They may be said to lie on the border-line between greenhouse
and frame plants, as only sufficient heat is needed to keep out frost.
The popular name of "Cape Cowslips" gives some indication of the
appearance of the spikes of drooping flowers, but hardly expresses the
singularly pretty colouring, which lies in the yellow or white grounds
and the shadings of green, red, or purple, which make such pretty
combinations. The Lachenalia, which can be had in bloom from February
to May, requires a period of rest, and after flowering the pots should
either be placed on a sunny shelf or other dry place, and water
gradually withheld as the leaves become yellow. Pot in August in loam,
leaf-soil, or peat, and a little manure and sand. Some grow Lachenalias
in hanging baskets lined with moss and filled with soil. A good
selection may be made from the following, but the newer varieties are
well worth having also, although a little more expensive. A
selection:--fragrans, lilacina, Nelsoni (hybrid), pendula, tricolor,
tricolor lutea (syn. L. aurea). New varieties are Aldborough Beauty,
Cawston Gem, and Rector of Cawston.
NERINES AND LYCORISES
The best known of the Nerines is N. sarniensis, the Guernsey Lily,
which is imported in great numbers in autumn with the flower buds set,
and is potted at once to bloom almost immediately. It has been grown by
some as a hardy or half-hardy bulb, but its true place in most gardens
is in a greenhouse in pots. This is advisable so that it may perfect
its foliage. It likes a rich, yet light, soil and careful watering.
It is unfortunate that some of the other Nerines are not more grown, as
their brilliant flowers possess all the beauty of the better known
sarniensis. The handsome scarlet curvifolia, with its even finer form,
known as Fothergilli major, are worth more than the room and care
they need. Then the rose-coloured flexuosa; the rosy carmine humilis
splendens; the white and red pudica; the rosy-purple undulata; and
the hybrid or seedling forms, amabilis, carmine rose; the charming
roseo-crispa, pink; and excellens, bright rose, are all of much beauty.
These should have little water from May to August. The Lycorises should
be cultivated in a similar manner.
PANCRATIUMS AND HYMENOCALLISES
These closely allied plants require similar treatment, and may be
suitably mentioned together. The connection is so close indeed that
several of the species of either bear in gardens the generic name of
the other. The stove species should always be kept moist, while the
plants which do with greenhouse temperature need to be kept dry while
at rest in winter. The pots must be large and filled with good loam and
leaf-mould, with a dash of silver sand. The bulbs should be just below
the surface. A few, which have been also known as Ismenes, are
understood to be hardy in favoured places. Ordinary stove heat will
suit the following:--Hymenocallises:--andreana, Choretis, expansa,
lacera, ovata, macrostephana, maculata, speciosa; and Pancratiums
verecundum and zeylanicum. For the greenhouse there are:--H. Amancaes,
calathina, harrisiana, littoralis (syn. adnata), macleana (the
hardiest), tenuifolia. In looking over catalogues to order these,
Pancratium, Hymenocallis, and Ismene should all be referred to on
account of the uncertainty about the nursery names.
RICHARDIAS
These are best known because of the popular R. africana, often called
Calla æthiopica, the Arum Lily, or Lily of the Nile. All the species
like a very rich soil, and a plentiful supply of water while growing.
R. africana can be grown as a hardy aquatic in some warm districts in
these islands if the crowns are well below the depth to which the water
is frozen. It is, however, most grown as a greenhouse or window plant,
especially when white flowers are wanted early. After flowering, it may
either be planted out in trenches in the garden, or dried off and
started in the same pots. Potting may be done about September, and
the plants grown in ordinary greenhouse temperature. Albo-maculata,
hastata, and melanoleuca are less beautiful. Adlami, elliotiana,
Pentlandi, and Rehmanni are all newer and of much beauty, the second
and third having yellowish flowers.
SPREKELIAS
Although Sprekelia formosissima, known also as Amaryllis formosissima,
the "Jacobea Lily," is sometimes recommended as a half-hardy bulb, this
is of doubtful expediency, and it is better to treat it as a cool
greenhouse bulb and to grow it in pots. It is sometimes planted out on
a sunny border below a wall in April and lifted in September, but we
recommend planting it in turfy loam, well-decayed manure and a little
sand, in pots, and treating it like the Hippeastrum, but in a rather
lower temperature. It grows about two feet high, and has crimson or
white flowers about June. There is another named S. Cybister, which has
red flowers about April.
TUBEROSES
The botanical name of the Tuberose--Polianthes Tuberosa--is so little
used by those who grow it that it will be more convenient to speak of
this most fragrant flower under its popular title. It is everywhere
prized, especially when its pure white flowers are produced in winter,
when few of similar character for buttonholes and bouquets are readily
procurable. Although a plant which can be flowered in the open border
if the bulbs are started and grown on for some time under glass, it
requires a considerable amount of heat to flower it properly at other
seasons. The bulbs should be potted three together in a five or six
inch pot in a soil composed of loam and manure or some leaf-soil. The
soil should be slightly moist, so as to obviate the necessity of
watering before the bulbs begin to make growth. Some plunge in a cold
frame until growth begins, but a preferable plan is to plunge in a
bottom heat of from sixty to seventy degrees if early bloom is
required. Plenty of water should be given when growth has fairly begun,
and it can hardly be too strongly emphasised that this and a
temperature such as that named for the bottom heat should be maintained
for winter-blooming. Potting may begin in November, and may be
continued at intervals for two or three months. Old bulbs are not worth
keeping. The double form is the more appreciated, and the double
African, American, and Italian grown bulbs are all good. The Pearl is
dwarf in habit.
VALLOTAS
The Vallota, or Scarborough Lily (V. purpurea), is a general favourite
for its brightly coloured flowers in autumn, and because of the ease
with which it can be grown in a greenhouse or window. It is hardy in a
few favoured places, and in some is grown as a frame bulb, but for the
greater number of British gardens it is best when grown in a house from
which frost is excluded in winter. It should be repotted as seldom as
possible, and then the roots should be little disturbed and the plants
transferred to a larger pot with the ball attached, only removing some
of the soil on the surface to allow of top dressing. The offsets may be
removed with a stick. It likes a rich, light soil, and may be potted
towards the end of spring. The roots should never become dry. Some give
a little liquid manure during summer, and when well grown few plants
look more ornamental, with its heads of deep scarlet flowers. There is
a larger-flowered variety named major.
WATSONIAS
Although the Watsonias will do if planted out on a warm south border in
favoured places in this country, and treated as half-hardy bulbs,
intending growers are advised to grow them in pots as greenhouse
plants. They have fine branching stems of a height of from two to three
feet, and pretty blooms somewhat resembling those of the Freesia in
form. The corms should be planted in spring, and treated like Gladioli
in pots. After flowering, water should be gradually reduced when the
leaves begin to turn yellow, and the corms either kept dry in the pots
or taken out and stored like those of the Gladiolus. The most
appreciated of the Watsonias are the varieties of W. Meriana, the type
form having rose-red flowers. The white varieties of this, such as
alba, Ardernei, and O'Brieni are all much admired, that called
Ardernei, which some consider the same as O'Brieni, being a special
favourite. W. M. iridifolia and W. M. roseo-alba are also good
varieties. Other desirable species procurable are:--aletroides, scarlet
or pink; angusta, scarlet; coccinea, crimson; humilis, rose-red; and
rosea, rose-red.
ZEPHYRANTHES
All the Zephyranthes mentioned in the chapters regarding hardy and
half-hardy bulbs can be grown in the greenhouse, and there are also a
few which ought to have a little additional heat, such as that of a
stove. Citrina, yellow, about six inches high, and blooming in August,
is one. Others are concolor, sulphur-yellow and blooming in April on
stems a foot high; pumila, also known as Habranthus pumilus, blooming
about September, and having rose coloured flowers; robusta (syn.
Habranthus robustus), about ten inches high and blooming in June;
sessilis, white and red, with its flowers in April; striata is a
striped variety of this; tubispatha likes stove heat. They grow best in
turfy loam, with the addition of some decayed manure or peat and sand.
TURNBULL AND SPEARS, PRINTERS, EDINBURGH.
BOOKS FOR COUNTRY HOUSES
The Natural History of Selborne. By GILBERT WHITE. Edited, with
Introduction, by GRANT ALLEN. With upwards of 200 Illustrations by
EDMUND H. NEW. Crown 8vo. Price 5s. net. _New Edition._
"The attraction lies chiefly in finding the masterpiece so
admirably illustrated by Mr Edmund H. New. In black and white line
work of this class he has no equal." (_Country Life._)
"Mr Edmund New's drawings are not merely artistic, but full of the
poetry of association." (_Speaker._)
The Compleat Angler. By IZAAK WALTON and CHARLES COTTON. Edited, with
an Introduction, by RICHARD LE GALLIENNE. With Photogravure Portraits
of Walton and Cotton, and over 250 Illustrations and Cover-design by
EDMUND H. NEW. Fcap. 4to. Price 15s. net.
"A delightful edition, charmingly illustrated." (_Punch._)
"Of Mr Edmund H. New's illustrations we cannot speak too highly. We
have never seen better." (_Spectator._)
"One of the best editions; one, we cannot help thinking, that
Walton himself would have preferred." (_Daily Chronicle._)
All About Dogs. A Book for Doggy People. By CHARLES HENRY LANE. With 85
Full-page Illustrations (including nearly 70 champions) by R. H. MOORE.
Gilt top. Demy 8vo. Price 7s. 6d. net.
"One of the most interesting contributions to the literature of the
day." (_Daily Chronicle._)
"Mr Lane's book is worthy of a place on the shelves of any sporting
library." (_Outlook._)
"A most interesting, indeed, an entirely fascinating book." (_St
James's Gazette._)
ORDER FROM YOUR BOOKSELLER
Flowers of Parnassus
_A Series of Famous Poems Illustrated_
Under the General Editorship of
F. B. MONEY-COUTTS
Demy 16mo (5-3/4 × 4-1/2 inches). Gilt top
Bound in Cloth Price 1s. net
Bound in Leather Price 1s. 6d. net
Vol. I.--GRAY'S ELEGY AND ODE ON A DISTANT PROSPECT OF ETON COLLEGE.
With Twelve Illustrations by J. T. FRIEDENSON.
Vol. II.--THE STATUE AND THE BUST. By ROBERT BROWNING. With Nine
Illustrations by PHILIP CONNARD.
Vol. III.--MARPESSA. By STEPHEN PHILLIPS. With Seven Illustrations by
PHILIP CONNARD.
Vol. IV.--THE BLESSED DAMOZEL. By DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI. With Eight
Illustrations by PERCY BULCOCK.
Vol. V.--THE NUT-BROWN MAID. A New Version by F. B. MONEY-COUTTS. With
Nine Illustrations by HERBERT COLE.
Vol. VI.--A DREAM OF FAIR WOMEN. By ALFRED TENNYSON. With Nine
Illustrations by PERCY BULCOCK.
Vol. VII.--THE DAY DREAM. By ALFRED TENNYSON. With Eight Illustrations
by AMELIA BAUERLE.
Vol. VIII.--A BALLADE UPON A WEDDING. By Sir JOHN SUCKLING. With Nine
Illustrations by HERBERT COLE.
Vol. IX.--RUBÁIYÁT OF OMAR KHAYYÁM. Rendered into English Verse by
EDWARD FITZGERALD. With Nine Illustrations by HERBERT COLE.
Vol. X.--THE RAPE OF THE LOCK. By ALEXANDER POPE. With Nine
Illustrations by AUBREY BEARDSLEY.
Vol. XI.--CHRISTMAS AT THE MERMAID. By THEODORE WATTS-DUNTON. With Nine
Illustrations by HERBERT COLE.
Vol. XII.--SONGS OF INNOCENCE. By WILLIAM BLAKE. With Eight
Illustrations by GERALDINE MORRIS.
_Other Volumes in Preparation_
JOHN LANE: LONDON: VIGO STREET, W.
NEW YORK: 67 FIFTH AVENUE.