Bulbs: a treatise on hardy and tender bulbs and tubers

Front matter

Glass

J3t/-z,J

Rnnt JT/t

Introduction

The plants of which the present volume treats are among the most beautiful in the floral kingdom. While comparatively few are indigenous to Northern climes, and many are natives of the torrid zone, most of them may be grown with but a slight outlay ; and the garden, frame, and greenhouse may be gay at every season of the year with their gorgeous blossoms.

Many of them are also admirably suited for windowculture, and, though generally not ornamental in foliage, flower freely in the parlor, and stand well the heat of furnaces, and the poisonous gas which impregnates the air wherever gas is used for lighting. During their period of growth, which is the season at which they are generally in the parlor, they will bear any quantity of water ; and therefore one of the great mistakes in parlor-culture — over-watering — cannot be committed.

Most of those ordinarily grown in the parlor bloom

6 INTRODUCTION.

in winter, and, in summer, need only to be dried off in a cellar or on a closet-shelf.

They are subject to few diseases, and insects seldom attack them. All these are great recommendations ; and when we add that the blossoms are not only very showy, but, in many species, also delightfully fragrant, we have said enough to cause them to be generally cultivated.

In the garden, also, they play an important part ; beginning to bloom with the early snowdrop, which looks out with timid eyes upon the storms of February ; and ending only with the adventurous colchicum, which, heedless of fading leaves and frowning skies, thrusts up its delicate blossoms of purple or white in the short November days, as if to bid a farewell to the dying year.

The culture of bulbs is yet in its infancy. As a class, these plants are every year attracting more attention ; and the time is not far distant when the skill of the hybridist and the researches of collectors will greatly increase our number of species and varieties.

If we may take the hyacinth for an instance, where, from a single original species, all the numberless forms now in cultivation have been derived, or, what

INTRODUCTION. 7

are, perhaps, better examples, the amaryllis and gladiolus, where a few species have produced countless varieties, most of which excel any of the parents in beauty, we see how wide a field is open ; while, at the same time, it is impossible to predict the result, or to imagine the improvements, which the future may witness, or the beauty which may be born under the skilful application of systematic culture. Perhaps the most remarkable discovery in this class of plants within the last few years is the golden-banded lily (Lilium auratum), the beauty of which it would be difficult to describe ; but we see no reason to doubt that future explorations may give us equally valuable additions, though perhaps not in the lily family. This same lily family offers a most tempting opportunity for hybridization, both from the facility with which it may be performed, and the beauty of the subjects ; and in this field we may hope for great results in the future.

We must also bear in mind that many of the regions most prolific in bulbs are, as yet, imperfectly explored by botanists, and that scientific research may lead to great developments.

South Africa has probably many valuable discoveries yet to yield, and the rich fields of California and

INTRODUCTION.

the Pacific coast are prolific of other treasures than golden ore.

The want of a volume on this subject has long been felt by culturists. The elaborate work of Mrs. Loudon was useful in its day, though wanting in practical directions ; but it has long been out of print, and its cost Avould render it inaccessible to the masses.

The learned treatises of Herbert can never be excelled in elaboration of detail ; but they are too scientific for the popular mind, and only cover a small portion of the immeDse field upon which instruction is required.

It is to meet this want that the present volume has been undertaken. Its aim is to give a book of popular culture, botanically correct as far as the science of botany is within its scope, but generally adapted to popular use, and intelligible to the large class who are ardent culturists, but have little time for the study of botany ; to make the culture of flowers a necessity, feeling that the inquiring mind will turn from the growing plant to study how it grows.

This volume is the third of a series of works on popular gardening ; of which, two, " Flowers for the Parlor and Garden/' and " Garden Flowers," are already before the public. A volume of " Orchid Culture "

INTRODUCTION. 9

is already in press ; and the other volumes on " Greenhouse Flowers," " Wild Flowers," and " Ferns, Lichens, and Mosses," are in preparation.

The whole, when completed, will form a library of practical culture, which the author trusts may be the means of advancing the cause of floriculture, and prove a practical benefit to horticultural science.

Many of the bulbs described as tender, and for which greenhouse treatment is directed, may prove hardy in the Middle States, and undoubtedly would in all States south of the latitude of Washington. The volume is written for the latitude of Massachusetts, and due allowance must be made by readers living either North or South. As we have often had occasion to observe, the proper application of the word " hardy " is a source of great difficulty to the horticultural writer, as the hardiness of a plant is regulated by so many circumstances other than mere temperature. In many cases, the fact can only be determined by experiment, and each must be his own judge. A volume can lay down only general rules, to which each reader may, perchance, find his own exceptions.

There is no prettier culture than that of bulbs. To watch the foliage and flower gradually developing

10 INTRODUCTION.

from the bulb is pleasing and instructive, and cannot fail to direct the thinking mind to the Author of all, who, in so many diverse and yet ever-beautiful and wondrous ways, has caused the earth to bring forth abundantly all that can minister to the wants or the gratification of man.

Glen Ridge, August, 18(56.

PAGE

The Achimenes. — The Gloxinia. — The Gesnera . . ..259