[WATSONIA.]—Although popularly called "Bugle Lilies" the Watsonias really belong to the Iris family. They have fibrous-coated corms, stiffish, ribbed, sword-like leaves, and more or less funnel-shaped flowers. They are indigenous to South Africa, and may be grown in the open air under much the same conditions as Ixias, viz., warm, sheltered spots, and in light sandy soil. In the mildest parts of the kingdom the corms may be left in the ground during the winter, if necessary, but they should be protected in severe weather with litter, &c. In less favoured spots, it is safer to lift the corms in autumn when the leaves have withered, and store them in dry soil or sand until the spring.
The varieties depicted on [Plate 27], figs. 99 to 101, show some of the most graceful kinds. W. Meriana, fig. 99 (also known as Antholyza) has several varieties including a scarlet one (coccinea), a white one (fig. 100), and a pink and white one (rosea-alba), which bear their blossoms during the summer months on stems 2 to 3 feet high. W. rosea resembles a Gladiolus in appearance, and indeed was once known as G. pyramidatus. It has several forms, including angusta, shown in the plate (fig. 101). Perhaps the most charming variety of all, however, is the beautiful Ardernei, the large pure white blossoms of which always attract attention owing to their purity and delicacy ([Plate 26], fig. 96).
As a pot plant for conservatory decoration, W. Ardernei is very valuable, owing to its graceful appearance. In the open air it requires warm, sheltered, and sunny positions, and a rich sandy soil.
[ZEPHYRANTHES] (Zephyr Flower).—Beautiful plants with small brown-coated bulbs about an inch in diameter, from which spring narrow leaves and rather large funnel-shaped flowers, only one, however, on each stem. There are only a few species that may be grown in the open air in the mildest parts of the kingdom. The soil cannot be too well drained, and should consist of a rich sandy loam, while the position should be the warmest and most sheltered in the garden. The kinds most likely to succeed are Atamasco, a native of the damp woods and fields of Virginia. The flowers shown on [Plate 29], fig. 106, are at first pure white, but become tinted with pink or purple. Z. candida, the "Swamp Lily" of La Plata, has pure white blossoms, as shown on [Plate 32], fig. 114, as have also Treatiæ and tubispatha, while carinata and rosea both have rose-coloured flowers. The average height of these kinds is about a foot, and they may be increased from offsets or from seeds. At one time the Zephyr Flowers were grown in warm greenhouses, but experience has proved that they are much hardier than was at first supposed.
TULBAGHIA VIOLACEA (113) ZEPHYRANTHES CANDIDA (114) CRINUM POWELLI ALBUM (115) LYCORIS SQUAMIGERA (116)
[ENEMIES OF BULBOUS PLANTS.]
Bulbous plants are subject to the attacks of various insect and fungoid pests in the same way as other plants are, and steps should be taken to free the plants from them whenever they appear, or to prevent them appearing at all.
It is easier to carry out the latter recommendation when insect enemies only are to be dreaded, but it is quite another matter with fungoid diseases, the presence of which is only revealed when they have reached the "fruiting" or spore stage, and have already done a certain amount of mischief.