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.
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.
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._
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