Page:The Amateur's Greenhouse and Conservatory.djvu/78

72 foliage will sometimes remain fresh and plump for a couple of months without water. So long as the plants are thoroughly at rest, it matters not whether the foliage dies away altogether or a few leaves remain green throughout the winter. Bulbs preserved in the way suggested will flower with double the strength of others wintering in a high temperature.

When first started, one good watering to wet the soil thoroughly will be required, and then no more must be given until it is nearly dry again. From this stage increase the supply according to the progress of the plants; when in full growth more liberal supplies will be necessary, but over-watering must be carefully guarded against in all stages. After the first year regular supplies of weak manure water will be of great assistance in promoting a vigorous growth. When the full growth is made the water must be given at longer intervals, but must not be entirely withheld, that the foliage may die off in a gradual and natural manner.

.&mdash;A. cruenta is grown in every garden in Europe, and is esteemed one of the choicest gems of Flora’s garland. There are two ways of treating it: one is, to flower it in pots in the greenhouse or frame; the other is, to put it in pots to grow for a time, and then plant it out in the front of a border. A mixture of loam or leaf-mould, or peat with plenty of sand, will grow it to perfection. When grown in pots, they must be kept quite dry in the pots till the time for potting them in fresh soil. If wanted to bloom early, pot them after the leaves have been withered a fortnight, keeping the pots during that period on a hot shelf; then pot them, and place in a gentle warmth. The Aromatheca cruenta may be multiplied by sowing the seeds in spring on a gentle hotbed, and by dividing the bulbs at the time of planting. It is a great favourite as a window flower.

belong rather to the flower-garden than the greenhouse; but as they are valuable when well grown in pots, they must have a place here. We must assume that the reader has obtained a pinch of good seed, and having sown it in a cold frame in April, is in possession of a nice lot of young plants ready for planting out. Select from these a sufficient number of the healthiest plants, no matter how small, and put them in pots for the conservatory.