. Cassell's popular gardening. Gardening. TUBEROUS - BOOTED PLANTS. 303 the species being fleshy and tuberous, somewhat resembling the tubers of the Potato. It is a numerous genus, and there is scarcely a species that is not showy ; but only a few are in cultivation, and these, unfortunately, are peculiarly constituted as regards their hardiness. They are natives of the western part of South America, particularly in the Andes of Peru and Chili, consequently they require a somewhat warmer climate than ours. This diffi- culty would be overcome if the plants were amenable to pot-culture, which th
. Cassell's popular gardening. Gardening. TUBEROUS - BOOTED PLANTS. 303 the species being fleshy and tuberous, somewhat resembling the tubers of the Potato. It is a numerous genus, and there is scarcely a species that is not showy ; but only a few are in cultivation, and these, unfortunately, are peculiarly constituted as regards their hardiness. They are natives of the western part of South America, particularly in the Andes of Peru and Chili, consequently they require a somewhat warmer climate than ours. This diffi- culty would be overcome if the plants were amenable to pot-culture, which they are not, on account of the widely-spreading roots, which abhor being cramped for space. Consequently we can only grow the few species that are either hardy enough to be grown in the ordinary border, or those that flourish if planted in a light soil at the foot of a south wall. Happily one of the finest is perfectly hardy in light soils, and is no trouble to cultivate. This is A. au- rantiaca, a plant inhabit- ing the island of Chiloe, whence it was introduced to this country many years ago. It is, indeed, a beautiful plant, and to- tally different from all other hardy herbaceous perennials. Its average height, when full-grown, is about three feet, the erect, slender stems being clothed with glaucous foliage. It flowers from June to August, almost continuously, in large, broad clusters on the top of the stems. The flowers vary from a clear yellow to a warm orange-red, and invariably are marked by transverse bars of dark brown on the petals. There is a variety bearing larger flowers than those of the ordinary kind, and this is the one to select when obtainable. Though this plant is perfectly hardy in light soils about London, it is not so in stiff soils in the Midland and Northern counties, except the roots are protected in winter by a covering of dead leaves or ashes. It thrives best in a deep sandy loam in a warm spot, the sunnier the better ; a mulching of manure now and th
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