diff options
Diffstat (limited to '37362.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 37362.txt | 4239 |
1 files changed, 4239 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/37362.txt b/37362.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1fb2c38 --- /dev/null +++ b/37362.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4239 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Beautiful Bulbous Plants, by John Weathers + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Beautiful Bulbous Plants + For the Open Air + +Author: John Weathers + +Release Date: September 9, 2011 [EBook #37362] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BEAUTIFUL BULBOUS PLANTS *** + + + + +Produced by Chris Curnow, Hazel Batey, Lindy Walsh and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + BEAUTIFUL BULBOUS PLANTS FOR THE OPEN AIR. + + _________________________________________ + | | + | The "Beautiful" Series. | + | By JOHN WEATHERS, F.R.H.S., N.R.S. | + | | + | _With 33 Coloured Plates by John Allen, | + | Large Crown 8vo., Cloth Gilt, 6/-each._ | + | | + | =Beautiful Roses= for Garden and | + | Greenhouse. Culture, Propagation, | + | Pruning. | + | | + | =Beautiful Flowering Trees and | + | Shrubs= for British and Irish | + | Gardens. | + | | + | =Beautiful Garden Flowers= for | + | Town and Country. | + |_________________________________________| + + +PLATE 1. _FRONTISPIECE._ IXIAS (1-6) + + + + + BEAUTIFUL BULBOUS PLANTS + + FOR THE OPEN AIR. + + BY JOHN WEATHERS, F.R.H.S., N.R.S., + + LECTURER ON HORTICULTURE TO THE MIDDLESEX COUNTY COUNCIL + FORMERLY OF THE ROYAL GARDENS, KEW: ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, &C. + AUTHOR OF "A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO GARDEN PLANTS." "BEAUTIFUL ROSES." + "BEAUTIFUL FLOWERING TREES AND SHRUBS," "BEAUTIFUL GARDEN FLOWERS." + + With 33 full page Coloured Plates by Mrs. Philip Hensley. + + LONDON: SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, HAMILTON, KENT, & CO., Ltd. + + DAY & SON (25 YEARS LITHOGRAPHERS TO THE QUEEN AND THE PRINCE OF + WALES), 32, WESTMINSTER MANSIONS, S.W. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +Although many articles have appeared from time to time in the +horticultural newspapers and periodicals dealing with various aspects of +the subject, it cannot be said that Bulbous Plants have hitherto +received the attention they deserve in gardening literature. This volume +therefore appears at an opportune moment to meet a recognised want, and +in fulfilment of the promise made in the preface to "BEAUTIFUL GARDEN +FLOWERS." + +While Bulbous Plants as a class have been somewhat neglected, it may be +noted that one or two families have been dealt with specially in years +gone by. In this connection mention may be made of the magnificent +"Monograph of the Genus Lilium," by Mr. H. J. Elwes; the "Narcissus, its +History and Culture," by Mr. F. W. Burbidge, M.A., and Mr. J. G. Baker, +F.R.S.; a "History of the Genus Crocus," by the Hon. and Rev. Dean +Herbert, whose original drawings and MS. notes are preserved in the +Lindley Library. Mr. Geo. Maw has also dealt specially with the +"Crocus"; and more recently the Rev. Eugene Bourne with the "Daffodil"; +Miss Jekyle and Mr. Goldring with "Lilies," &c. + +A glance at the coloured plates will perhaps be sufficient to give the +reader a good idea as to the numerous kinds of Bulbous Plants now grown +in gardens, and of the marvellous range of colour to be found in their +blossoms. It has not been considered advisable to include in this volume +such hothouse bulbous plants as Eucharis, Crinum, Hymenocallis, +Pancratium, but only those kinds that are most likely to give general, +if not universal, satisfaction when grown in the open air according to +the cultural instructions to be found under the heads of the various +genera. + +In the preparation of this work I have to acknowledge my indebtedness to +the Director of the Royal Gardens, Kew, through whose kindness I have +had opportunities for examining the bulbs or corms of the rarer plants +referred to in the letterpress. + +I also owe my best thanks for the specimens kindly supplied to +illustrate the work by A. Worsley, Esq., of Isleworth; Messrs. Barr and +Son, of Covent Garden; Messrs. Wallace and Company, of Colchester; +Messrs. Ware, of Feltham; and Mr. Perry, of Winchmore Hill. + +JOHN WEATHERS. + + + + +LIST OF PLATES. + + + PLATE. FIG. PLATE. FIG. + + 1. IXIAS (_Frontispiece_) 1-6 18. CAMASSIA CUSICKI 70 + LILIUM PYRENAICUM 71 + 2. SCILLA SIBIRICA MULTIFLORA 7 ALLIUM ERDELII 72 + GALANTHUS NIVALIS 8 IXIOLIRION PALLASI 73 + CHIONODOXA LUCILIAE 9 + HYACINTHUS AZUREUS 10 19. ORNITHOGALUM PYRAMIDALE 74 + BREVOORTIA IDA-MAIA 75 + 3. BULBOUS IRISES: BRODIAEA LAXA 76 + I. HISTRIO 11 BRODIAEA IXIOIDES 77 + I. BAKERIANA 12 + I. KOLPAKOWSKYANA 13 20. GALTONIA CANDICANS 78 + I. DANFORDIAE 14 SISYRINCHIUM GRANDIFLORUM 79 + I. PERSICA 15 BRODIAEA HOWELLI LILACINA 80 + 4. DAFFODILS: 21. EARLY-FLOWERING + ELLEN WILLMOTT 16 GLADIOLI 81-83 + MDME. DE GRAAFF 17 22. CALOCHORTUS VENUSTUS 84 + HORSFIELDI 18 CALOCHORTUS ALBUS 85 + CALOCHORTUS PULCHELLUS 86 + 5. DAFFODILS + CYCLAMINEUS 19 23. GLADIOLUS OPPOSITIFLORUS 87 + TRIANDRUS ALBUS 20 LILIUM CANADENSE, VARS. 88-89 + PRINCESS MARY OF CAMBRIDGE 21 + GLORIA MUNDI 22 24. LILIUM TIGRINUM 90 + SIR WATKIN 23 BRODIAEA BRIDGESI 91 + + 6. DAFFODILS: 25. LILIUM TENUIFOLIUM 92 + GRAND MONARQUE 24 LILIUM HANSONI 93 + SOLEIL D'OR 25 LILIUM LONGIFLORUM 94 + WEARDALE PERFECTION 26 + LULWORTH 27 26. LILIUM MARTAGON ALBUM 95 + WATSONIA ARDERNEI 96 + 7. GARDENIA NARCISSUS 28 LILIUM RUBELLUM 97 + POET'S NARCISSUS 29 LILIUM COLCHICUM 98 + HYACINTHUS AMETHYSTINUS 30 + 27. WATSONIA MERIANA 99 + 8. FRITILLARIAS: WATSONIA ALBA 100 + F. MOGGRIDGEI 31 WATSONIA ANGUSTA 101 + F. WALUJEWI 32 MONTBRETIA + F. MELEAGRIS ALBA 33 CROCOSMIAEFLORA 102 + F. RECURVA 34 + 28. GLADIOLUS NANCEIANUS 103 + GLADIOLUS LEMOINEI 104 + 9. TULIPS 35-38 GLADIOLUS CHILDSI 105 + + 10. TULIPS 39-42 29. ZEPHYRANTHES ATAMASCO 106 + ORNITHOGALUM ARABICUM 107 + 11. HYACINTHS 43-46 ORNITHOGALUM NUTANS 108 + + 12. LEUCOJUM VERNUM 47 30. CRINUM MOOREI 109 + MUSCARI CONICUM 48 TIGRIDIA LILACEA 110 + ERYTHRONIUM JOHNSONI 49 + TECOPHILAEA CYANOCROCUS 50 31. BELLADONNA LILY 111 + DIERAMA PULCHERRIMA 112 + 13. BRODIAEA UNIFLORA 51-52 + CHIONODOXA SARDENSIS 53 32. TULBAGHIA VIOLACEA 113 + ERYTHRONIUM DENS-CANIS 54-55 ZEPHYRANTHES CANDIDA 114 + CRINUM POWELLI ALBUM 115 + 14. ENGLISH IRISES 56-59 LYCORIS SQUAMIGERA 116 + + 15. SPANISH IRISES 60-63 33. CROCUS MEDIUS 117 + COLCHICUM SPECIOSUM 118 + 16. MADONNA LILY 64 STERNBERGIA LUTEA 119 + FRITILLARIA IMPERIALIS, STERNBERGIA MACRANTHA 120 + VARS. 65-66 CROCUS OCHROLEUCUS 121 + CROCUS SPECIOSUS 122 + 17. LILIUM CROCEUM 67 + ALLIUM MOLY 68 + SCILLA PERUVIANA ALBA 69 + + + + + CONTENTS. PAGE + + Preface v + + List of Plates viii + + Index ix + + Introduction 1 + + Geographical Distribution 6 + + Something about Bulbs and Corms 7 + + Soil for Bulbous Plants 16 + + Hints to Beginners 18 + + How Deep should Bulbs be Planted? 22 + + Natural Sinking of Bulbs and Corms 25 + + Bulbs without Contractile Roots 27 + + Propagation of Bulbous Plants:-- + By Offsets, Bulbils, Leaf-Scales, Division, Seeds. 29-36 + + Lifting and Storing Bulbs 36 + + Combinations of Bulbous and Non-Bulbous Plants 38 + + Naturalising Bulbous Plants in the Grass 41 + + Bulbous Plants under Trees and Shrubs 43 + + Bulbous Plants for Cut Flowers 43 + + Bulbous Plants for Cold Greenhouses 46 + + Bulbous Plants for Window Boxes 48 + + Descriptions, Culture, Propagation, &c., + of the Best Bulbous Plants for the Open Air 50 + + Enemies of Bulbous Plants 141 + + Manuring Bulbous Plants 148 + + + + + INDEX + + _________________________________________________________________ + | Acis, 96 | Combinations with | Greenhouses, | + | Ajax Daffodils, 111 | Bulbs, 38 | bulbs for, 46 | + | Allium, 50 | Contractile | Grubs, 141 | + | Amaryllis, 51 | Roots, 27 | | + | Angel's Tears, 116 | Corbularia, 114 | Habranthus, 81 | + | Anomatheca, 92 | Corms, 12 | Homeria, 55 | + | Antholyza, 53 | Corn Flag, 78 | Hyacinth, Grape, 106| + | | Corn Lily, 89 | " Musk, 108 | + | Babiana, 53 | Crinum, 66 | " Ostrich | + | Baboon Root, 53 | Crocosma, 67 | feather, 107 | + | Basal rot, 147 | Crocus, 68 | " Star, 122 | + | Basic Slag, 148 | " Autumn, 70, 65 | " Wood, 121 | + | Beginners, | " Chilian, 126 | Hyacinths | + | Hints to, 18| " Cloth of Gold, 70| " in glasses, 84 | + | Belladonna Lily, 51 | " " Silver, 69| " in pots, 85 | + | Bessera, 54 | Cut Flowers, | Hyacinthus, 82 | + | Bicolor | bulbs for, 43 | | + | Daffodils, 112 | Cyclobothra, 59 | Iris, 86 | + | Bloomeria, 55 | | " English, 87 | + | Bluebell, 121 | Daffodils, 108 | " Spanish, 87 | + | " Spanish, 121 | Daffodils, Ajax, 111| Ixia, 89 | + | Bobartia, 55 | " Bicolor, 112 | Ixiolirion, 91 | + | Bravoa, 55 | " Hooped | | + | Brevoortia, 56 | Petticoat, 114 | Jacobaea Lily, 124 | + | Brodiaea, 56 | " Star, 112 | Jonquil, 116 | + | Bulbils, 32, 95 | " in Scilly Isles,4| " Queen Anne's, 116| + | Bulbocodium, 58 | " Tenby, 111 | Joss Flower, 115 | + | Bulbs, buying, 19 | Dierama, 71 | | + | " and corms, 7 | Dog's Tooth | Kainit, 142, 149 | + | " in grass, 41 | Violet, 72 | | + | " lifting, 36 | | Lapeyrousia, 92 | + | " sinking of, 25 | Enemies of bulbous | Leaf-scales, 31 | + | " storing, 37 | plants, 141 | Leaves, | + | Butter and Eggs, 113| Erythronium, 72 | importance of, 13 | + | | Eucomis, 73 | Lent Lily, 111 | + | Calochortus, 58 | | Leopard Lily, 102 | + | Calliprora lutea, 57| Ferraria, 74 | Leucojum, 92 | + | Camassia, 62 | Fire Cracker, | LILIUM, 93 | + | Camass Root, 62 | Californian, 56 | Alexandrae, 97 | + | Chionodoxa, 63 | Flag, Corn, 78 | auratum, 99 | + | Chiono-Scilla, 63 | Flowers, | Batemanniae, 97 | + | Chlorogalum, 64 | when to pick, 45 | Bloomerianum, 101 | + | Cloves, 30 | Fritillaria, 75 | Browni, 100 | + | Codlins and | Fungoid diseases,146| bulbiferum, 97 | + | Cream, 113 | | Burbanki, 103 | + | Colchicum, 64 | Gagea, 76 | canadense, 103 | + | | Galanthus, 77 | candidum, 97 | + | | Galtonia, 78 | Catesbaei, 103 | + | | Ganymede's Cup, 116 | chalcedonicum, 98 | + | | Gladiolus, 78 | colchicum, 102 | + | | Glory of the Snow,63| | + | | Grass, | | + | | bulbs in the, 41 | | + | | Green leaves, | | + | | value of, 13 | | + |_____________________|_____________________|_____________________| + _________________________________________________________________ + | concolor, 100 | " Madonna, 97, 146 | Seed sowing, 36 | + | cordifolium, 104 | " Mariposa, 58 | Sisyrinchium, 123 | + | croceum, 98 | " Orange, 98 | Snowdrop, 77 | + | Dalhansoni, 98 | " Sacred, 115 | Snowflake, 92 | + | dauricum, 98 | " Swamp, 104 | Soap Plant, 64 | + | elegans, 100 | " Tiger, 103 | Soil for bulbs, 16 | + | excelsum, 99 | " Turk's Cap, 102 | Soot, 142 | + | giganteum, 100 | Lime, 142 | Sparaxis, 124 | + | Grayi, 104 | Liver | Sparrows, 144 | + | Hansoni, 101 | of Sulphur, 146 | Spawn, 30 | + | Henryi, 98 | Lycoris, 105 | Sprekelia, 124 | + | Humboldti, 101 | | Squill, 120 | + | japonicum, 101 | Madonna Lily,97,146 | Star of | + | kewense, 101 | Manures | Bethlehem, 117 | + | Krameri, 101 | for Bulbs, 148 | " " yellow, 76 | + | lancifolium, 102 | Meadow Saffron, 64 | Sternbergia, 125 | + | Leichtlini, 101 | Merendera, 105 | Storing bulbs, 37 | + | Loddigesianum, 102| Merodon, 144 | Superphosphate, 148 | + | longiflorum, 101 | Milla, 106 | Swamp Lily, 104 | + | maritimum, 104 | Montbretia, 128 | Sword Lily, 78 | + | Marhan, 98 | Muscari, 106 | | + | Martagon, 102 | | Tecophilaea, 126 | + | monadelphum, 102 | Narcissus, 108 | Tiger Flower, 127 | + | pardalinum, 102 | " Fly, 144 | Tiger Lily, 103 | + | pomponium, 98 | " Poet's, 110 | Tigridia, 127 | + | Parryi, 104 | " Polyantha, 114 | Trees and Shrubs, | + | pyrenaicum, 99 | " Tazetta, 114 | bulbs under, 43 | + | Roezli, 102 | " When to plant,109 | Tritonia, 128 | + | rubellum, 99 | Naturalising | Tuberose, 119 | + | speciosum, 102 | bulbs, 41 | Tulbaghia, 130 | + | superbum, 104 | Nitrate of soda, 142| Tulip, 131 | + | Szovitsianum, 102 | Nothoscordum, 117 | Tulip, Cottage, 137 | + | tenuifolium, 102 | | " Darwin, 136 | + | testaceum, 99 | Offsets, 29 | " Dragon, 136 | + | Thunbergianum, 100| Orange Lily, 98 | " Mayflowering, 137| + | tigrinum, 103 | Ornithogalum, 117 | " Parrot, 136 | + | umbellatum, 99 | | " Seedling, 134 | + | Washingtonianum,99| Pancratium, 118 | " Star, 59 | + | Lilies, | Planting bulbs, 22 | " Wild, 2 | + | distribution of, 95| Polianthes, 119 | Turk's Cap Lily,102| + | " planting, 96 | Poor Men's | | + | "for damp soils,103| Orchids, 87 | Watsonia, 138 | + | Lily Disease, 146 | Propagation, 29 | Window boxes, | + | Lily | Puschkinia, 119 | bulbs for, 48 | + | " of the Field, 126| | Winter Daffodil, 125| + | " Jacobaea, 124 | Quamash, 62 | Wireworms, 141 | + | " Leopard, 102 | | | + | | Roots, | Zephyranthes, 140 | + | | contractile, 27 | Zephyr Flower, 140 | + | | | | + | | Sacred Lily, 115 | | + | | Salicylic Acid, 147 | | + | | Salt, 143 | | + | | Schizostylis, 120 | | + | | Scilla, 120 | | + |_____________________|_____________________|_____________________| + + + + +BEAUTIFUL BULBOUS PLANTS. + +INTRODUCTION. + + +The cultivation of Bulbous Plants has reached a point of popularity at +the present day that it has never before attained. And there is every +reason to believe that this popularity is increasing from year to year +as more people become better acquainted with these plants, and the ease +with which the great majority of them may be grown in almost any garden. +Indeed there are now so many kinds of bulbous plants that there is no +difficulty in making a selection to suit the smallest garden or the most +modest purse. + +Of course, some kinds, such as Tulips, Daffodils and Narcissi, +Hyacinths, Crocuses, Snowdrops, Scillas, Bluebells, Chionodoxas, Grape +Hyacinths, Lilies, Colchicums, Gladioli, and Montbretias, will be always +probably amongst the first favourites with garden lovers. But there is +no reason why the Mariposa Lilies and Star Tulips, the Brodiaeas and +Millas, the Sternbergias and Fritillarias, and many others should not in +the course of time become almost equally popular when they become better +known. + +Some kinds of bulbous plants have been known in British Gardens--and no +doubt in continental ones also--ever since such a thing as gardening +proper came to be distinguished from mere agriculture. Our native or +naturalised bulbs--such as the Snake's Head Fritillary (_Fritillaria +Meleagris_), the Yellow Star of Bethlehem (_Gagea lutea_), as well as +the white ones (_Ornithogalum nutans_, _pyrenaicum_, and _umbellatum_), +the Autumn Crocus (_Colchicum autumnale_), the Lent Lily or Daffodil +(_Narcissus Pseudo-Narcissus_), the Snowdrop (_Galanthus nivalis_), the +Snowflake (_Leucojum vernum_), the Grape Hyacinth (_Muscari racemosum_), +the Squill (_Scilla verna_), and the Bluebell (_S. festalis_), the +Martagon Lily (_Lilium Martagon_), and the Wild Tulip (_Tulipa +sylvestris_) have been grown as garden plants for 400 years or more. + +The great monastic establishments were the seats of gardening as of +learning, and it is in connection with them we find the first traces of +bulbous or any other plants being intelligently cultivated. Besides the +plants mentioned, our earliest garden records show that such bulbous +plants as the Dog's Tooth Violet (_Erythronium Dens-Canis_), the Crown +Imperial (_Fritillaria imperialis_), _Gladiolus communis_, the Garden +Hyacinth (_Hyacinthus orientalis_), the Madonna Lily (_Lilium +candidum_), the Poet's Narcissus and the Jonquil (_N. poeticus_ and _N. +Jonquilla_), the Star Hyacinth (_Scilla amoena_), the Lily of the Field +(_Sternbergia lutea_), and Gesner's Tulip (_T. Gesneriana_), were among +the first kinds cultivated from the beginning of the 16th century, and +they are all more popular to-day than ever. Following these we find such +Tulips as _suaveolens_ and _Clusiana_, the yellow-flowered Onion +(_Allium Moly_), the Cloth of Gold Crocus (_C. Susianus_), the Byzantine +Gladiolus (_G. byzantinus_), and others in the 17th century. The +beginning of the 18th century saw the introduction to our gardens of the +Belladonna Lily (_Amaryllis Belladonna_), and later on the Babianas, +Ixias, and other Gladioli like _blandus_, _cuspidatus_, and +_cardinalis_. + +It is to the 19th century, however, that we owe not only many +introductions of new kinds, but also the development of the great +enterprise that has been shown in their extensive cultivation, and the +natural methods of using them in the garden. + +To this period, and especially to the latter half of it, belong most of +our fine Lilies, Bulbous Irises, Mariposa Lilies and Star Tulips, +Brodiaeas, Chionodoxas, Scillas, and American Dog's Tooth Violets. It has +also been the age when the florist's varieties of Gladiolus, Daffodils, +Tulips, Hyacinths, and Crocuses have been brought almost, if not quite, +to the acme of perfection by intelligent cultivation and careful +selection. + +All this has led to the growth of many kinds of bulbous plants having +become a huge industry. Dutch bulbs have for many generations been +famous, and many kinds will, no doubt, continue to retain their hold +upon the public owing to the undoubted advantage of the climate under +which they are grown. But experience has proved that such bulbous plants +as Tulips and Daffodils at least can be grown equally well in some parts +of the British Islands, notably in Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire, the +Scilly Isles, and parts of Ireland. It has been stated that over five +hundred millions of bulbs are used for decorative purposes in Great +Britain alone every year, and that the value of imported bulbs ranges +from L5,000,000 to L8,000,000 annually. + +The growth of Daffodils and Narcissi alone in the Scilly Isles within +the past forty years has been nothing less than phenomenal. Mr. T. A. +Dorrien-Smith, of Tresco Abbey, has stated that the first lot of flowers +was sent to Covent Garden Market about 1865, and realised L1. It was +not, however, until about 1880 that Daffodil growing in these Islands +became at all remunerative, and some idea of their growth since then may +be gained from the fact (vouched for by the same authority) that 65 tons +of flowers were exported from the Scilly Isles in 1885, 85 tons in 1886, +100 tons in 1887, 188 tons in 1888, and 198 tons in 1889; and on one day +alone--the 25th February, 1896--30-1/2 tons of Narcissi, comprising +3,258,000 blooms in 4,849 boxes, were shipped to Penzance for market. +Cultivation on such an extensive scale, of course, means a considerable +reduction in price, and, from a commercial point of view, ordinary +Daffodil growing may be said to have reached bedrock prices a long time +ago. + +However, of late years, our American cousins have taken a keen interest +in the importation of bulbs from Europe, and as gardening is a +comparatively new industry in that extensive country, we may expect that +it will afford a good market for many years to come. Not many years ago +certain kinds of Tulips, Daffodils, Hyacinths, &c., were a drug in the +English markets, and could be had at a very low price. Since, however, +the Americans have become fond of bulb-growing, these particular kinds +have advanced considerably in price, in some cases 100 to 150 per cent., +because it so happened they were just the sorts that were liked on the +other side of the Atlantic. + + + + +GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. + + +It is curious to note in this respect that almost every part of the +temperate and sub-tropical regions of the globe have contributed some +class of bulbous plants now to be found in cultivation. Central and +Southern Europe and Northern Africa have supplied us with various +Daffodils and Narcissi, Tulips, &c. From Asia Minor and Turkestan, the +Chionodoxas, and many bulbous Irises and Fritillarias have been +introduced. California and other parts of North America have produced +the Mariposa Lilies, all the Dog's Tooth Violets, except the common +British one, the Brodiaeas, &c., while South Africa has given us the +Gladiolus, Montbretias, and Tritonias, Crocosma, and other beautiful +plants. And the Lilies, which form a large group in themselves, are to +be found in almost every temperate clime north of the equator (see page +95). + +When these facts are borne in mind, the reader will readily understand +the necessity of trying to imitate, as far as possible, in our own +climate the various natural conditions under which these plants are +found. + +PLATE 2. SCILLA SIBIRICA MULTIFLORA (7) GALANTHUS NIVALIS (8) CHIONODOXA +LUCILIAE (9) HYACINTHUS AZUREUS (10) + + + + +SOMETHING ABOUT BULBS AND CORMS. + + +There is so much confusion of thought as to what a "bulbous" plant +really is, that it may be as well at the beginning of this volume to +endeavour to clear up the haziness that exists in regard to the matter. +It seems to be taken for granted that any plant with a swollen or +thickened stem or rootstock is a "bulbous" one. And this impression is +no doubt confirmed when one consults the bulb catalogues issued by +nurserymen. In these publications--chiefly, no doubt, for the sake of +convenience and to avoid unnecessary extra expense in printing--a large +number of plants are enumerated as if they were really bulbous. It is, +therefore, not at all unnatural that the amateur should come to the +conclusion that everything mentioned between the covers of a bulb +catalogue should be truly bulbous in nature. Even some publications on +bulbous plants have adopted the same loose nomenclature. Thus we find +such non-bulbous plants as Aconites, Anemones, Dahlias, Dicentras, +Day-Lilies, Hepaticas, Solomon's Seal, Astilbe japonica, Tropaeolums, +Lily of the Valley, Corydalis, Torch Lilies, Paeonies, Christmas Roses, +and many others described as "bulbous" plants, while some that are +really so, and worthy of cultivation, are not even mentioned. + +Some of the plants referred to above have thickened stems or roots, and +will be found described in their proper places in the companion volume +to this--"BEAUTIFUL GARDEN FLOWERS." They belong to several different +families of plants. True bulbous plants, however (with which we may +include those having "corms"), are confined to very few families. +Indeed, they are restricted to one of the two large groups of flowering +plants, viz., that in which the leaves usually have parallel veins, and +the flowers have their parts in circles of three or six. This group of +plants is known to botanists as "monocotyledons," and is still further +distinguished by having only _one_ seed-leaf, as may be seen when the +seeds of any of them sprout, as shown in the Tulip, p. 35. + +It is within the limits of this definition, therefore, that all the +plants described in this book come. They all have parallel-veined +leaves, and the parts of their flowers are in "threes" or "sixes," as +may be seen by consulting the coloured plates. + +PLATE 3. BULBOUS IRISES I. HISTRIO, (11) I. BAKERIANA, (12). I. +KOLPAKOWSKYANA, (13) I. DANFORDIAE, (14) I. PERSICA (15) + +There is an apparent contradiction to this rule in the Daffodils +(Narcissi) in which the "trumpet" or "corona" in the centre makes a +seventh organ. A similar growth may be seen in such bulbous plants as +the Eucharis, Hymenocallis, Pancratium, &c., that are usually grown +under glass. This corona is analogous to the ligules or scale-like +outgrowths so noticeable on the petals of the Campions (Lychnis), the +chief difference being that in the Narcissi the ligules are joined +together, become much larger, and often constitute the most attractive +feature of the flowers. + +=Definition of a "Bulb".=--Perhaps the very best-known example of a true +bulb is the common or garden Onion. Another example is shown in the +sketch of a Hyacinth and Tigridia. + +Illustration: TUNICATED BULB OF HYACINTH in section showing "Disc," and +Scale Leaves _s. l._ + +Illustration: TIGRIDIA BULB, Showing thick Contractile Roots. + +The bulbs of Daffodils, Tulips, Snowdrops, Scillas, &c., all conform +very closely to the Onion in structure. It will be noticed that at the +base of the Hyacinth, for example, is a flattish or deltoid mass of +tissue. This is called the "disc" and is really the stem portion of the +bulb. On the upper surface it bears a number of thick scaly leaves +packed very close together, and rolled round each other, with the +flower-spike in the centre; while from the under surface, the roots +emanate when growth takes place. It may be easily imagined by the reader +that if the "disc" were drawn out lengthwise, and if a space separated +one scale-leaf from another, that the bulb would be very similar in +appearance to an ordinary leafy stem. Nature, however, has a certain +object in view in modifying the stems and leaves in such a manner that +they are tightly packed away when at rest, within a brown protecting +coat, so that they resemble the large scale-protected flower-buds that +may be seen in winter on Horse-chestnuts, Lilacs, Ash, &c. The thick +scale-leaves are really storehouses in which food has been stored up by +the larger and broader green leaves that perform the functions of +assimilation, respiration, &c., above the ground during the growing +period. + +When the bulb begins to grow, the food in the thick scale-leaves is +drawn up to supply nourishment to the flower-stem, until the new green +leaves can manufacture or elaborate a fresh supply in the sunlight from +the raw materials drafted into them from the soil by the roots. Under +favourable circumstances more food is elaborated than is necessary for +the wants of the plant, and then extra growths or young bulbs called +"offsets" are developed at the base, or rather the side, of the older +bulb. + +It should be mentioned here, however, that all bulbs do not vegetate in +the same way. In many cases the original bulb persists for several +seasons, as in the Daffodil and Hyacinth, for example; but in others it +vanishes completely during the period of growth, and is absorbed, or +swallowed up, as it were, by the flower stem. The most common example of +this among bulbs is the Tulip, to which more detailed reference has been +made at p. 133. + +=Kinds of Bulbs.=--Most true bulbs are constructed like the Onion, +Daffodil, Snowdrop, or Hyacinth, in having the scale-leaves rolled round +each other, forming different layers or coats. Such bulbs are said to be +"tunicated." In the case of the Liliums, however, the scale-leaves only +lap over each other at the edges, and are arranged spirally round the +central axis. These bulbs are called "scaly," or "imbricated," and are +shown in the annexed sketch on p. 12. + +The individual scales are much thicker at the base than at the apex, and +in the case of tunicated bulbs, they are also thicker on one side than +the other. By this arrangement, the various "coats" can be rolled round +each other more tightly, and without wasting any space. + +Illustration: SCALY BULB OF LILY. + + +=Definition of a "Corm".=--In outward appearance, many corms are so much +like bulbs, that the two terms are interchangeable and loosely applied, +at least, among gardeners. By cutting a "corm" through the centre +lengthwise, a great difference, however, will be noticed in the +structure. In the bulb, the "disc" is small and unimportant, while the +scale-leaves upon it are the most conspicuous feature. In the "corm," on +the other hand, the "disc" is the all-important feature, and is devoid +of any thick scale-leaves upon it. The new growths appear on the top or +sides, and the lines round the circumference show where the sheathing +papery scale-leaves were attached. In the "corm" then, it is the disc, +and not the scale-leaves, that is the great storehouse of food. + +PLATE 4. DAFFODILS ELLEN WILLMOTT, (17. MDME. DE GRAAFF, 18. HORSFIELDI) + + +=Growth of a Corm.=--The vegetation of the corm is very remarkable, and +somewhat resembles that of the Tulip. When a corm commences to grow, the +reserve material within it is used up for the benefit of the flowers and +leaves. The result of this absorbing process is that by the end of the +season the old corm has almost vanished, or is reduced to a dry +shrivelled, woody, and lifeless mass, incapable of further growth, and +attached to the base of the new corms, as shown in the annexed sketches +of Gladiolus and Crocus on page 14. + +These new corms are the direct result of the work that has been done by +the green leaves in the daylight, and after a period of rest, they go +through precisely the same process the following season--vanishing +themselves, but leaving others behind to carry on the work of producing +flowers, and, if possible, seeds. + +Illustration: GLADIOLUS. _o. c._ old corm; _c. r._ contractile roots; +_n. c._ new corms with "spawn" (_s_.) at base. + +Illustration: CROCUS CORM. _o. c._ old corm; _n. c._ new corm with +growths. + + +=The importance of Green Leaves to Bulbs and Corms.=--If the reader +wishes to be successful in growing bulbous plants in his garden he must +have very great respect for the green leaves of his plants, and always +endeavour to keep them in the cleanest and healthiest possible +condition. From what has just been said about the production of new +bulbs in the Tulip, and new corms in the Crocus and Gladiolus, it is +obvious that the leaves play a most important part. Indeed, without +their aid there would be neither bulbs nor corms to carry on the work of +the plants from year to year. In the form of carbon-dioxide the leaves +eat up the carbon and oxygen from the atmosphere. Under the influence of +sunlight the gas is decomposed, so that the oxygen is given off again +into the air, while the carbon is retained for the production of starch +and other materials. These are elaborated in the cells of the leaves, +and after undergoing certain changes pass down the stems and are stored +up in the bulbs or corms beneath the surface of the soil. It is only +_green_ healthy leaves that can perform this important work +satisfactorily. When the foliage therefore begins to turn yellow and +wither, it may be taken for granted that its work for the season is +coming to a close, and the bulbs or corms are going to enjoy a +well-earned rest. It should, perhaps, be mentioned also that leaves can +only become green in day light; and although some bulbous plants like a +certain amount of shade, it would never do to exclude the light from +them altogether, or even to plant them in places where they could not +get an adequate amount of sunshine, or diffused light, during the day. + + + + +SOIL FOR BULBOUS PLANTS. + + +Comparatively few of the bulbous plants mentioned in this volume will +require anything better than ordinary good garden soil that has been +deeply dug, contains a certain amount of well-decomposed manure, and is +well-drained so that the water freely passes away. Such a soil will give +general satisfaction, with the least amount of trouble, especially if it +is inclined to be light rather than heavy. + +To secure really first-class results, however, the soil in beds or +borders that are to be planted with bulbs should be particularly +well-prepared in advance. A heavy soil, that is, one inclined to hold +water, and of a clayey nature, will require a good deal more labour to +bring it into a proper condition than a soil that is already friable and +in a fair state of tilth. The heavy soil should be not only deeply dug +to a depth of two feet or more, taking care not to bring the lower +layers to the surface in the operation, although they should be turned +over and pulverised as much as possible where they are. Plenty of sand +or road-grit should be incorporated with a heavy soil, not only to keep +it "open," but also to increase its warmth--a matter of some importance +in our cold wet winters. The upper layer of soil, say a foot from the +surface, may be still further improved by the admixture of old +cow-manure and soot. In very bad soils, powdered quicklime may also be +added, not only to absorb superfluous moisture, but to render the soil +sweeter and more fertile. On no account, however, should fresh, rank +manure be dug into the soil just before the bulbs are planted, as the +heat and gases generated by its decomposition are often injurious to the +extremely tender tips of the young roots. + +PLATE 5. (DAFFODILS 19. CYCLAMINEUS, 20. TRIANDRUS ALBUS, 21. PRINCESS +MARY OF CAMBRIDGE, 22. GLORIA MUNDI, 23. SIR WATKIN) + +An ordinary good garden soil--that is, one that is regularly dug, hoed, +manured, and cropped with some class of plants--will only need to be +well dug for bulbs, and to have some well-decayed manure and soot +incorporated with it a week or two before planting. For some bulbs, such +as the Mariposa Lilies (Calochorti), some of the bulbous Irises, and a +few other kinds, it may be necessary to take particular pains with the +preparation of the soil for them. Attention has been specially called to +plants of this nature, where such has been considered necessary. It +should be remembered that when bulbous plants are attacked by fungoid +diseases, referred to at p. 145, it is very often the result of a badly +prepared soil, and not to any inherent defect in the bulbs. + + + + +HINTS TO BEGINNERS. + + +There is a beginning to everything, and the cultivation of bulbous +plants is no exception to the rule. It is probable in many cases that +the beginner at bulb-growing falls into precisely the same errors as the +beginner with other classes of plants. The most common error of all, +perhaps, is that he wants to grow at once every bulbous plant known. He +sees a book, like the present one for example, and admires the beautiful +pictures of bulbous plants in it. The result may be--and I hope it will +be--a keen desire to invest in the bulbs that can produce such charming +blossoms. But this keen desire should be tempered with discretion. His +garden may be only a small one, and perhaps already stocked with many +other plants. As he cannot hope to get the whole of Kew Gardens into it +at once, it would be as well to start with only a few _kinds_ of bulbs. +I do not mean of a _few bulbs_ of _many_ kinds, as he is almost sure to +be disappointed in the results. In these days of imperial thought it is +no use thinking of producing an effect in a garden with six bulbs of +either Snowdrops, Crocuses, Tulips, or Daffodils. It is as well to think +of the larger bulbs like the Lilies and choice Hyacinths in _dozens_; of +the medium sized ones like Tulips, Daffodils, Tritonias, and bedding +Hyacinths in _hundreds_; and of the smaller ones like Crocuses, +Snowdrops, Spanish Irises, Scillas, Chionodoxas, and Bluebells in +_thousands_. The dearer and choicer kinds are better left alone, +perhaps, until some advance has been made with the others. + + +=Buying Bulbs.=--To buy bulbous plants in dozens, hundreds, or thousands +of course means money. The beginner, however, is not advised to buy +large quantities of _all_ the kinds mentioned to begin with, as the cost +might be prohibitive, or the convenience for their proper treatment +inadequate. What is strongly recommended, however, is to start with a +large number of any one, two, or three kinds as can be afforded one +year, instead of frittering away the same amount of money over a few +bulbs each of perhaps a dozen different kinds which will fail to produce +the anticipated effect later on. It is much better, for instance, to +buy, say 100 bulbs of cottage or Mayflowering Tulips, than to invest in +100 bulbs belonging to eight different genera. + +The 100 Tulips would make a fine show in the garden, because there would +probably be enough of them; whereas the other bulbs, although quite as +handsome in their own way would be lost, or at least inconspicuous, +owing to the small number of each in flower at the same time. + +If only one or two kinds of bulbs can be bought in sufficient quantity +each season, with care they can be increased each year afterwards, and +need not be purchased again. This will permit of the purchase of a +sufficient number of one or two other kinds the following year, and as +these will increase and multiply in the same way, there will be quite a +large number of excellent bulbs available at the end of a few years. +Each season there is a larger and better display than the preceding one, +and that is a result very rarely attained, even after several years' +labour, and a lot of money has been spent, when the principle of having +only a _few_ bulbs of _many_ kinds is adopted. + +If the effect is not produced the first season, enthusiasm is likely to +be killed, or the interest in bulb-growing may be seriously diminished. + +The beginner is strongly advised to start with such easily-grown and +effective bulbs as Tulips, Daffodils, and Spanish Irises, afterwards +adding Montbretias or Tritonias, Gladiolus, Liliums, Chionodoxas, +Scillas, Snowdrops, Grape Hyacinths, Crocuses, &c., according to fancy. +Of course all these may be started with, but as stated before, each kind +should be purchased in sufficient quantity to make a bold and effective +display when in blossom. + +PLATE 6. DAFFODILS (24. GRAND MONARQUE, 25. SOLEIL D'OR, 26. WEARDALE +PERFECTION, 27. LULWORTH) + + +=A Word of Warning.=--Beginners must not run away with the idea that the +largest bulbs give the most blossom. In many instances this is very far +from being the case--notably with the florists' Hyacinth--which is a +most deceptive bulb. Small heavy bulbs are much better than large light +ones--that is light or heavy according to their size. In Daffodils, too, +there is a good deal of variety in the shape and size of different +varieties, some being naturally smaller than others, and yet capable of +throwing fine blossoms. All healthy bulbs, no matter to what genus they +belong, should be firm and solid, and not soft and pappy to the touch. A +distinction must also be made between well-ripened "flowering bulbs," +and those often advertised as "planting bulbs." The latter are perfectly +sound, but being merely offsets from the "flowering" bulbs, are not +likely to flower the first year after planting, although a few of the +stronger ones may do so. When one can afford to await a couple of years, +"planting" bulbs offer a cheap means of stocking a garden, as a thousand +can be purchased for a few shillings. + +The other hints, necessary for a beginner, will be found in the +following pages attached to the different groups of bulbs or corms he +may wish to grow. + + + + +HOW DEEP SHOULD BULBS BE PLANTED? + + +This question has been agitating the minds of gardeners for some +considerable time, and has given rise to a certain amount of discussion. +Some advocate very deep planting, on the strength of having discovered +the bulbs of such plants as Snowdrops, &c., a foot or more beneath the +surface of the soil without any decrease in vigour. On the contrary, it +has been contended that the plants have shown unusual sturdiness, +notwithstanding the amount of reserve material the bulbs must have +expended before the leaves were able to reach the light. It is natural +that bulbs that are left in beds and borders for a few years without +lifting should be found at a greater depth than is generally recommended +for the planting of new bulbs. In the course of time the soil is turned +up more or less deeply, and any bulbs in it are almost sure to be buried +deeper than they were before; or frequent top dressings of soil or +manure may have been given, and thus place the bulbs still further from +the light. It is possible, however, that bulbs get buried deeply owing +to the downward pull of their own contractile roots referred to below. + +Although I am not going to recommend very deep planting, there is one +great advantage in having bulbs in the open air well covered with soil, +viz., that the temperature of the soil at one, two, or three feet is +often as much as 20 degrees higher than it is immediately on the surface +during very cold and frosty weather. This is a wonderful provision of +Nature for the protection of all kinds of roots and bulbs beneath the +soil in winter. + +In the following pages the average size of the bulbs or corms of +different genera is given. It will be noticed that they vary from half +an inch in diameter in some of the smaller Narcissi, to three, four, or +five inches in some of the Liliums. Between these two extremes there are +nearly all shapes and sizes, and it is not unnatural that the amateur +should be somewhat puzzled as to the depth he ought to plant any +particular bulb. + +For planting bulbs in the open air, I venture to propound a safe general +rule, viz.:--_cover a bulb or corm with about twice its own depth of +soil_. Thus a bulb one inch through from top to bottom would be planted +about three inches deep, so that it would be covered with two inches of +soil. The adoption of this principle means fairly deep planting in the +case of large bulbs. There are a few exceptions, however, to this rule, +but they have been noted in the proper place. + +Illustration: DIBBER. + +The actual planting of bulbs in formal beds may be done with either a +garden trowel or dibber. The trowel is better for the larger bulbs like +Liliums, and may of course be used for smaller bulbs if found to be more +convenient. The dibber is useful for making holes at very regular +distances apart in the lines, and into each hole a bulb may be dropped +in, afterwards covering it over with soil. + +Illustration: _Wrong_ and _Right_ way of planting Bulbs with Dibber. + +A blunt dibber as shown in the sketch, will be found more useful than a +pointed one for the work, although it may not be pushed into the soil so +readily. The danger of a sharp-pointed dibber is shown in the sketch. A +fairly large bulb is liable to be hung up in the hole as its diameter is +greater than that of the dibber at a certain depth. Under these +circumstances roots would not be emitted so readily from the base, as +when the bulb is resting flat on the bottom of the hole as shown in the +sketch to the right. + +PLATE 7. GARDENIA NARCISSUS (28) POET'S NARCISSUS (29) HYACINTHUS +AMETHYSTINUS (30) + + + + +THE NATURAL SINKING OF BULBS AND CORMS. + + +In connection with the question of planting, attention may be directed +to a very interesting and remarkable power possessed by the roots of +many bulbs and corms. A glance at the sketches of Gladiolus, Tritonia, +Nothoscordum, and Lilium, will show the reader some thick fleshy roots +with conspicuous rings on them. They are readily distinguished from the +finer fibrous roots, and, as may be readily supposed, their functions +are quite distinct. To thoroughly understand what these thick-ringed +roots are for, the reader will remember what has been said at page 13 +about the way in which the old corms of Crocuses and Gladioli disappear, +or are surmounted in autumn by new ones. If the plants were not +disturbed for several years, one would imagine that as the new corms +were always produced _on top_ of the old ones, they would sooner or +later come through the surface of the soil, and thus run the risk of +being either parched by drought, or shrivelled up by the heat of the +summer sun; or, again, of being frozen to death in winter. And yet, +examination of the corms will show that the new ones are quite as deep +down in the soil, if not deeper, than their predecessors. This +remarkable state of affairs to preserve what may be called the _status +quo_ is entirely due to the action of the thick, ringed roots referred +to above. These roots usually strike straight down into the soil. When +they have gone as far as Nature intended them to, they begin to contract +much in the same way apparently as a worm does when going into its +burrow, and for this reason they have been called "contractile." + +Illustration: NOTHOSCORDUM BULB. Showing Contractile Roots. + +Illustration: TRITONIA CORMS. + +During the process of contraction a tremendous force must be exerted to +enable the roots to pull the corms or bulbs down to their proper level +in the soil. The passive resistance of the latter is overcome, and as a +result its particles are pressed much closer together than they were +before. + +Sometimes this pulling power of the roots is exerted horizontally +instead of vertically, and this accounts for the spreading of many +bulbous plants like Tulips, Grape Hyacinths, &c., over a large area in +the course of a few years when left undisturbed. + + +=Bulbous Plants without Contractile Roots.=--Some bulbous plants have +not the advantage of contractile roots to keep them down in the soil, so +they must secure this desirable end by different means. + +Illustration: COLCHICUM. _o. c._ old corm; _n. c._ new growth; _o. r._ +old roots. + +Illustration: BULBOCODIUM. _o. c._ old corm; _n. c._ new growth; _o. r._ +old roots. + +A glance at the sketches of Colchicum and Bulbocodium will show a +peculiar method of growth. The new corm instead of being produced on top +of the old one, is developed at the side. Note, however, that the new +corm is not on the same level as the old one. That would be no advantage +whatever. Therefore it takes, as it were, a step _downwards_, so as to +be well out of reach of mowing machines, rats, and mice, and other +enemies, and also probably because it knows it will be much warmer in +winter when several inches below the surface. The same principle seems +to be employed by the bulbs of the Dog's Tooth Violets (_Erythronium_), +as may be seen from the sketch--the new bulb to the right being +distinctly lower than the older one to the left. + +Illustration: ERYTHRONIUM. + +PLATE 8. FRITILLARIAS (31. MOGGRIDGEI, 32. WALUJEWI, 33. MELEAGRIS ALBA, +34. RECURVA) + + + + +PROPAGATION OF BULBOUS PLANTS. + + +Perhaps there is no one class of plants that have so many ways of being +easily increased as bulbous plants proper. Some kinds, _e.g._, Liliums, +Alliums, may be increased in four different ways--from offsets and +"spawn," scales, bulbils, and, last of all, seeds. + + +=Offsets.=--The great mass of bulbous and cormous plants, however, are +so readily multiplied by detaching the offsets from the parent bulb or +corm, that the other methods are rarely employed except by trade +growers. Nearly all hardy bulbous plants produce offsets freely. These +offsets represent a superabundance of nourishment that has been +elaborated in the leaves, and very often there are several smaller ones +attached to the base of the larger ones that have been produced in +precisely the same way. + +In the case of Daffodils, Tulips, Hyacinths, Crocuses, Gladiolus, and a +host of others, the new offsets are pressed against the sides or on top +of the older ones. In the drawing of the Tulip (p. 30), three new bulbs +are to be seen surrounding all that is left of the old bulb. This latter +has practically vanished up the main axis from the disc to produce +flowers and leaves--hence it follows that the Tulip bulb somewhat +resembles the corm in its vegetative characters. The bulbs taken out of +the soil in early summer are not those that were planted the previous +autumn. + +Besides "offsets," some plants produce numerous small vegetative bodies +called "cloves" or "spawn." These are shown in the drawing of the +Gladiolus (p. 14), where two strong flowering corms have been developed +on top of the old shrivelled one. At the base of each of these are +numerous small outgrowths among the contractile roots. If these growths +or spawn are taken off and stored in sandy soil until spring, they may +then be planted in special beds, and in the course of two or three years +will reach the flowering size. + +Illustration: Tulip. _d._ disc of old bulb; _f. s._ flower and +leaf-stalk which have eaten up old bulb; _n. b._ new bulb and offsets. + +The Liliums are a large and interesting group of bulbous plants. Many of +them produce offsets freely round the base of the old bulb. There are +several species, however (_e.g._, _canadense_, _Grayi_, _maritimum_, +_pardalinum_, _Parryi_, _superbum_), which have creeping rootstocks or +rhizomes, and the new offsets are produced along these at intervals as +shown in the drawing. + + +=Division.=--Bulbs or corms are rarely cut up for purposes of +propagation. The best example in which this method of increase is +practised is the Gladiolus. The larger corms, if they show two or more +crown-growths, may be carefully cut down between them with a sharp +knife. The cut surfaces may be dipped in soot, not only to dry it more +rapidly, but also to prevent any stray spores of fungoid diseases from +germinating. + +Illustration: RHIZOME (_r_) WITH OFFSETS. + + +=Leaf-Scales.=--The thick, fleshy, deltoid scales of many of the Liliums +will develop buds at the base, as shown in the drawing, when detached +and inserted almost vertically in sandy soil. In about three or four +years flowering bulbs can be produced by this means. + +A somewhat analogous process is adopted with Hyacinths. The old bulb is +slashed across the base of the disc two or three times into the fleshy +scales. The cut surfaces dry up, and by-and-bye small buds or bulblets, +as shown on the sketch of the Lily scale, make their appearance. In due +course these bulblets are detached and planted in light sandy soil. The +propagation of the florists' varieties of Hyacinths by this means is not +altogether satisfactory, as the old bulbs themselves undergo a +deterioration in our variable climate. + +Illustration: Scale leaf (_s. l._) of Lily bulb showing new growth (_n. +b._) at base. + +PLATE 9. TULIPS (35-38) + + +=Bulbils.=--These are vegetative growths--neither seeds, bulbs, nor +offsets--that appear in the axils of the aerial leaves, as shown in the +sketch. Many Liliums, like _bulbiferum_, _tigrinum_, _speciosum_, +_Leichtlini_, and some of the Alliums produce them with great +regularity. It is thought that bulbils are borne by some plants and not +others, because the conditions for the fertilisation or ripening of the +seeds are not favourable. In such cases, therefore, Nature has provided +such plants with this means of reproduction by bulbils, rather than +allow them to run the risk of dying out altogether. In Kerner and +Oliver's "Natural History of Plants" it is stated that "There are two +forms of Orange Lily indigenous to Europe. One (_Lilium croceum_), +occurring especially in the Pyrenees and South of France, almost always +ripens fruits and forms no bulbils in its leaf-axils. The other (_Lilium +bulbiferum_), found in the valleys of the Central and Northern Alps, +hardly ever fruits, but is characterised by the bulbils it produces in +the axils of its leaves; bulbils which disarticulate in autumn and are +scattered by the wind. But there is no difference noticeable in the +structure of the flowers in these two Orange Lilies, and it is difficult +to explain their difference in mode of propagation, save on the +assumption that in the regions where _Lilium bulbiferum_ grows those +insects are wanting which should convey its pollen from flower to +flower. As the Orange Lily possesses no arrangements for autogamy +(_i.e._, self-fertilisation), no fruits are formed in the absence of +insect visits. It appears that this plant has lost the capacity for +autogamy; at any rate, if a stigma be pollinated with pollen from the +same flower on plants in a garden, no result follows. On the other hand, +offshoots in the form of numerous bulbils are produced by _Lilium +bulbiferum_, by means of which it is propagated and dispersed. In +several valleys of the Central Alps it does not flower at all, and thus +obviously depends entirely upon its bulbils for propagation." + +Illustration: BULBILS in leaf-axils. + +The bulbils should not be detached from the stems until the latter are +quite ripe, and the foliage shows signs of withering. They may be sown +as if they were large seeds. They possess the advantage over seeds, +however, inasmuch as they produce flowering bulbs two or three seasons +before the bulbs from real seeds come to maturity. + + +=Bulbous Plants from Seeds.=--The would-be raiser of bulbous plants from +seeds must be gifted with a good deal of patience, and be systematic in +his methods, otherwise he will find it is no sinecure to wait from five +to ten years before a flower appears from the seeds he sowed at the +beginning of those periods. Even when the blossoms do appear, the great +majority of them are likely to be inferior in almost every way to their +progenitors. The raising of bulbous plants from seeds, therefore, is not +likely to find many enthusiastic disciples among amateur growers, who, +as a rule, are content to cultivate the varieties that have been evolved +by generations of gardeners. Under these circumstances it is most +fortunate that bulbous plants can be so readily multiplied by offsets. +Of course, in large gardens and nurseries, where there is a trained +staff of men, it is a comparatively easy matter to save and sow a +certain quantity of seeds each year. After the first period of waiting +is over, each season sees a fresh lot of seedlings burst into blossom. +Any particularly fine forms are marked, and afterwards increased by +means of the offsets or bulbils. + +Illustration: TULIP SEEDLING. _b._ young bulb; _r._ first root; _s. l._ +seed leaf; _s. c._ seed-coat. + +The annexed drawing shows a seedling Tulip. The germination is very +similar to that of the common garden Onion. The swollen portion at the +base represents the first stage in the development of the bulb, and each +year for six or seven seasons sees it increase in size, and ultimately +large and strong enough to blossom. + + +=Sowing Seeds.=--The seeds of all the perfectly hardy bulbous plants may +be sown in the open air, in beds specially prepared for the purpose. The +soil should be a light sandy loam with a good sprinkling of leaf-mould +in it. The "drills" may be drawn about one inch deep, and as the +seedlings in many cases are left to look after themselves until they +bloom, the seeds should be sown very thinly--two or three inches +apart--so as to allow for future development. It would scarcely be wise, +in the case of choice or rare varieties, to trust the seeds to the open +air. They may, however, be sown in pots or pans, and after two or three +seasons' growth they will be large enough for transferring to the open +air. The seeds of bulbous plants may be sown in spring if they ripen +late in the year; or in early autumn if they ripen in summer. + + + + +LIFTING AND STORING BULBS. + + +PLATE 10. TULIPS (39-42) + +As all bulbous plants have a period of rest at some season of the year, +it is a matter of some little importance whether the bulbs or corms in +the soil shall be taken up, or left in the ground from year to year. It +will be noticed in many instances in the following pages that certain +kinds are recommended to be left in the ground for three or four seasons +without being disturbed. This practice may be adopted with advantage +when bulbs are naturalised in the grass, the rock-garden, by the sides +of lakes, &c., and in thin shrubberies or borders, where they are not +likely to be rooted up during the year. + +In the formal flower beds, however, in which Tulips, Daffodils, +Hyacinths, Crocuses, &c., are planted for a display in spring and early +summer, it is necessary to lift them after flowering, not only to make +way for the summer "bedding" plants, but also to allow of the beds being +re-dug and re-arranged if necessary. + +The best time for lifting the bulbs is usually when the leaves have +commenced to turn yellow. Some do this earlier than others, but in all +cases, it is a sign that growth has ceased, and that bulbs or corms in +the soil are ripe, and will be improved by a period of rest. + + +=Storing.=--When lifted by means of a fork, the bulbs may be spread out +to dry, either in the sun, or in some dry and airy shed. After a few +days they may be gone over and cleaned by hand, taking off the old +leaves, and putting the offsets or bulbils in separate receptacles from +the large and well-ripened bulbs that are to be used for next year's +display. The bulbs lifted in early summer (_e.g._, Tulips, Daffodils, +Hyacinths, &c.) may be spread out in thin layers--not heaps--upon +shelves in a cool, airy shed, where they can remain without injury until +the time of planting in autumn comes round. + +In the case of bulbs or corms that are lifted in autumn when the leaves +begin to fade, like the Gladiolus, the same process of cleaning is gone +through, but care must be taken to keep them where the frost will not +touch them during the winter. It is a good plan to store them in dry +sand or earth in shallow boxes, and place them in dry, airy cellars or +sheds until the spring. + + + + +COMBINATIONS OF BULBOUS AND NON-BULBOUS PLANTS. + + +While bulbous plants alone, especially when used in large quantities, +make an effective display in the garden, they can be made much more +attractive by the exercise of a little art and a pleasing combination +with other plants that come into blossom at the same period. + +In the first place, true bulbous plants, like Tulips, Daffodils, and +Bluebells for example, that flower at the same time may be mixed +together for planting in grassy banks, or near the margins of lakes, +&c., where they are not likely to be disturbed for several years. +Similar combinations may be made with Snowdrops, Chionodoxas, Scillas, +Leucojums, Crocuses, &c., that appear in the spring; and with +Colchicums, autumn-flowering Crocuses, and Sternbergias in the late +autumn. + +In the next place, the grace and beauty of bulbous plants proper are +enhanced by judiciously mixing them with plants of a non-bulbous nature. +Among these latter may be noted the following as being particularly +useful:--Wallflowers, Forget-me-Nots, Polyanthuses, Primroses, White +Arabis (_A. albida_), and Yellow Alyssum (_A. saxatile_), Violas and +Pansies, the Winter Aconite (_Eranthis hiemalis_, and _E. cilicica_), +Silene, Aubrietia. These are all useful for planting in the autumn at +the same time as the bulbs of Tulips, Daffodils, Hyacinths, Crocuses, +Snowdrops, Scillas, Chionodoxas, &c. Where formal beds are necessary the +non-bulbous plants may be put in first, leaving sufficient space between +the plants for the insertion of the bulbs afterwards. + +To secure effect and contrast, a little skill, or rather knowledge, of +the different plants used, is necessary. Haphazard and careless +combinations are not to be encouraged in the formal flower-beds. It +would be a mistake, for instance, to mix three or four different kinds +of bulbs (_e.g._, Snowdrops, Tulips, Daffodils, or Hyacinths) with +Wallflowers, Forget-me-Nots, or any of the other plants mentioned above. +The effect would be ludicrous, and give the beds a higgledy-piggledy +appearance. Nor would it be wise to use one kind of plant in such a way +that the other would be smothered or practically concealed from view. +This could happen easily with combinations of such plants as Wallflowers +or Forget-me-Nots, and such bulbs as Crocuses, Snowdrops, &c. + +The true idea of combination should be such that one plant is really as +prominent as the other when in blossom--each one, in fact, lending and +borrowing at the same time some charm from the other. Colours of course +play an important part in this scheme, and care should be exercised at +the time of planting _not_ to combine Yellow Polyanthuses, Yellow +Wallflowers, or Yellow Violas, for instance, with Yellow Tulips or +Daffodils; and so on. + +PLATE 11. HYACINTHS (43-46) + +The following are a few suggested combinations that will look well:-- + + 1. =Violas= (Blue), beneath White, Red, or Yellow Tulips or Daffodils. + + 2. =Violas= (Yellow), beneath White or Scarlet Tulips or Hyacinths. + + 3. =Violas= (White), beneath Scarlet or Yellow Tulips or Daffodils. + + 4. =Wallflowers= (Red), with Yellow, White, or Orange Tulips or + Daffodils. + + 5. =Wallflowers= (Yellow), with Scarlet, Pink, White, or Red Tulips. + + 6. =Forget-me-Nots= (Blue), with all Tulips, Red and White Hyacinths, + and Daffodils. + + 7. =Aubrietia= (Purple), with Tulips or Daffodils. + + 8. =White Arabis=, with Tulips, Daffodils, or Hyacinths. + + 9. =Yellow Alyssum=, with red-flowered or white-flowered Tulips or + Hyacinths. + + 10. =Silene= (Rose), with White or Yellow Tulips and Daffodils. + + + + +NATURALISING BULBOUS PLANTS IN THE GRASS. + + +Although it has only been recognised of late years, owing chiefly to the +teachings of Mr. Robinson, there is no place so natural perhaps for the +artistic display of bulbous plants as in some piece of grass-land, +whether it be a meadow, a sloping bank, the margin of a piece of water, +or even a lawn. Every lover of bulbous plants, however, cannot gratify +his individual tastes as to where he would like his bulbs to blossom, +and he must perforce make the best of the piece of ground--large or +small as it may be--that happens to be at his disposal. In large parks +and gardens there is no difficulty, or there ought to be none, in +securing suitable sites to show off the natural graces of the various +bulbous plants recommended for the purpose in this volume. And even in +small suburban gardens, where one often sees a piece of grass lying bare +and cheerless in winter, a better use might be made of bulbs. Ce n'est +que le premier pas qui coute. Once the initial cost and labour of +getting the bulbs beneath the turf is over there is joy ever afterwards, +and keen anticipation in watching the spring and autumn Crocuses, +Sternbergias, Snowdrops, Snowflakes, the smaller Fritillaries, the +Chionodoxas, Scillas, and Bluebells, Narcissi, Grape Hyacinths, and even +Tulips, when one is not in too great a hurry to get the mowing done +early in the year. One group or another of these plants (to which may be +added the tuberous winter Aconite, with its glistening yellow blossoms) +may be grown in the smallest of gardens, and will brighten them year +after year without trouble or expense, until, perhaps, they become so +crowded, that lifting and re-planting becomes essential to prevent +suffocation. + + + + +BULBOUS PLANTS UNDER TREES AND SHRUBS. + + +Early flowering bulbs are capital for planting beneath deciduous trees +on lawns or in large parks and gardens. The bulbs bloom at a period when +the trees are leafless, and therefore sufficient sunlight is able to +percolate through the bare branches for their benefit. Such kinds as +Snowdrops, Scillas, Chionodoxas, &c., are excellent for this purpose, +and may be left for several seasons without disturbance, provided they +get a top-dressing of well-decayed manure during the autumn. Before the +trees expand their leaves, the bulbous plants beneath have finished +their work for the season, so the absence of light during the summer +does not interfere with them in the least. On the other hand, however, +they enjoy the cool refreshing shade of the tree foliage, which prevents +them from being shrivelled up. + + + + +BULBOUS PLANTS FOR CUT FLOWERS. + + +There are comparatively few of the bulbous plants mentioned in this +volume that are not fit to be cut for the adornment of bowls, vases, +&c., in the dwelling house. Some kinds, of course, are much better +suited for the purpose than others, and it would be difficult indeed to +surpass the elegance of the Daffodils, Tulips, Wood Hyacinths, and +Bluebells in the spring and early summer. Following these we have +numerous Liliums--white, yellow, orange, red, variously blotched and +speckled, and provided with long wiry stems that are often a great +advantage. The late summer and autumn flowering kinds are best +represented by the Montbretias, Tritonias, Gladiolus, Brodiaeas, and +Sparaxis. The dwarf-flowering bulbous plants, like Snowdrops, Crocuses, +Grape Hyacinths, Chionodoxas, Colchicums, Sternbergias, Leucojums, &c., +although they look charming in bold masses in the garden, scarcely +afford much length of stalk to enable them to be used with great effect +in bowls, vases, &c., by themselves. As a groundwork to taller-stemmed +blossoms, however, they are often found to come in very useful. + +It is, perhaps, scarcely necessary to say that the more simply and +naturally flowers are "bunched" the better they look in room +decorations. Very often indeed, it is difficult to improve on a bunch of +flowers picked at random in the garden and placed in bowls of water as +they are--with stems of various lengths, and the blossoms facing in +different directions. That some people have extraordinary notions as to +what a "bunch" of flowers really means may be gathered from an +inspection of any ordinary local flower show in the kingdom. At such +exhibitions a "bunch" of flowers is generally as large, flat, unwieldy, +and squatty as possible--the various kinds being jammed together as if +they were "sticks" of Asparagus done up for market. Educated judges have +been endeavouring for some years to get an improvement in the method of +putting bunches of flowers together, but with very little success up to +the present. The same old order of things prevaileth. + +PLATE 12. LEUCOJUM VERNUM, (47) MUSCARI CONICUM (48), ERYTHRONIUM +JOHNSONI (49), TECOPHYLAEA CYANOCROCUS (50). + + +=When to pick Flowers.=--Of course, when people want flowers they will +pick them at any time--if they happen to be in their own gardens, not in +other people's. It may be as well, however, to remind the reader that if +picked either early in the morning--the earlier the better--or in the +evening after sunset, flowers last much longer in a cut state, than if +they are picked at any other period of the day. Perhaps the very worst +time to pick flowers is from mid-day to 2 or 3 o'clock--especially in +summer. The heat takes a good deal of substance out of the blossoms, and +many get so "blown" that if cut at that particular period of the day, +the petals never recover, but drop off in a few hours. Tulips are +well-known examples of this. In the morning and evening, the petals +close up to a point--really to prevent the pollen from getting drenched +with dew or rain. But when the sun shines, they open out, and lie well +back from the stamens so that insects may be lured to take the pollen +from one flower to another. In this state the blossoms should not be cut +or pulled as they will last but a short time. + +The water in which flowers are stood should be fresh and clean. If some +time has elapsed before the flowers are placed in it, about an inch or +so of the stems may be cut off with a sharp knife, so as to allow a +layer of fresh cells to come in contact with the water. Some flowers +last much longer than others in a cut state, and the period may be +prolonged a little by putting a pinch of salt, or a little clean +charcoal in the water at the same time. + + + + +BULBOUS PLANTS FOR COLD GREENHOUSES. + + +How often one hears complaints as to the lack of flowers during the +coldest months of the year. And how often one sees, in almost empty +greenhouses, bare shelves that could be made gay with blossom, and with +but little labour or expense. This can be done easily enough by +selecting early flowering bulbs, and having them "potted up" early in +the autumn, so that they will have made plenty of roots by, say, +Christmas time. The pots most generally useful are 5-inch ones (often +called 48's). These should have some broken pieces put in the bottom for +drainage, and over this a layer of moss or fibre to prevent the soil +from choking it up later on. A compost made up of three parts of rich +fibrous loam, one part of silver or river sand, and one part of +leaf-soil, all well mixed, should be prepared. A handful or two is +placed over the drainage, and one, two, three, or five bulbs, according +to size, may then be placed on a level bottom. The pot is then filled to +within about a quarter of an inch of the rim, the soil being firmly +pressed down between the bulbs, the tops of which may be either level +with the surface or beneath it. In any case, it is not necessary to bury +bulbs that are going to have the protection of a greenhouse so deep as +those planted in the open air, where they will have no protection from +the weather. + +The bulbs, having been potted, and labelled if necessary, say sometime +in October or November, need not be taken into the greenhouse at once. +It is better to keep them in the open air, covered with two or three +inches of fine ashes or coco-nut fibre until the bulbs have made plenty +of new roots in the soil, or they may be sheltered in a cold frame. Any +time after this, as many pots as may be required are taken out of the +ashes or fibre, the remains of which should be washed from the pots and +shaken off the surface of the soil. If there is a slight warmth in the +greenhouse, just enough to keep the frost out on cold nights, so much +the better, but too much heat is unnecessary, unless one wishes to +"force" bulbs into very early bloom. This, however, generally means +exhaustion, if not death, to the bulbs so artificially treated. + +There are many kinds of bulbous plants suitable for the decoration of +cold greenhouses in winter and early spring in the way indicated, and +the following may be regarded as a good selection:--Bulbocodiums, +Chionodoxas, Crocuses (Spring), Erythroniums, Fritillarias (dwarf), +Snowdrops, Hyacinths, Snowflakes, Grape Hyacinths, Dwarf Narcissi, +Puschkinias, Scillas, Sternbergia Fischeriana, Bulbous Irises, +Tecophilaea--all of which are described in their respective places in +this work. + + + + +BULBOUS PLANTS FOR WINDOW BOXES. + + +PLATE 13. BRODIAEA UNIFLORA (51-52), CHIONODOXA SARDENSIS (53), +ERYTHRONIUM DENS-CANIS (54-55) + +When the Zonal Pelargoniums, Marguerites, Fuchsias, Lobelias, &c., have +done their duty in the window boxes during the summer and autumn months, +it is essential that something else must take their places for the +winter and spring months, unless they are to be left bare. Dwarf shrubs, +of course, like Aucubas, Golden Privet, Cupressus, Skimmias, &c., are +much favoured, and rightly so. But in conjunction with them many kinds +of bulbous plants may be used, and planted at the same time as the +shrubs. Snowdrops and Crocuses are great favourites for the edges of +boxes. Besides these, however, the beautiful blue-flowered Grape +Hyacinths (Muscari), the Chionodoxas and Scilla sibirica, may be used in +a similar way and with great effect, or as a carpet beneath the shrubs. +If the latter are not placed too close together, space may be left for a +few bulbs of Tulips and Daffodils to peep out between them. + +Of course, window boxes filled entirely with bulbous plants would +probably look much more artistic than those having a mixture of shrubs +and bulbs. Combinations in miniature could be made in the same way as +suggested for the open air beds on p. 41. Boxes planted with +Polyanthuses, Primroses, Forget-me-Nots, Silene, White Arabis, Yellow +Alyssum, Wallflowers, &c., as well as bulbs, would not look bare in +autumn or winter, and would be very effective when in blossom in the +spring time. + + + + +DESCRIPTIONS, CULTURE, PROPAGATION, &c., OF THE BEST BULBOUS PLANTS FOR +THE OPEN AIR. + + +=ALLIUM.=--Although about 250 species of this liliaceous genus are +known, only a dozen or so are usually met with in gardens--the limited +number being probably due to the pungent and not altogether agreeable +odour they emit when bruised or cut. In fact, the plants may be briefly +described as more or less ornamental Onions, as they belong to the same +family as this well-known esculent, and naturally possess a family +likeness. The bulbs are tunicated, the leaves either flat as in the +Leek, or roundish and hollow as in the ordinary Onion, while the +6-petalled starry flowers are borne in umbels on the top of the shoot +that springs out of the bulb under the ground. + +The kinds mentioned below flourish in ordinary good garden soil of a +gritty nature, that has been deeply dug and well-manured. They are +useful for the decoration of the flower border in bold patches, but are +probably more natural in grass-land, where they can remain for several +years undisturbed. The bulbs may be planted in early autumn, 3 or 4 +inches deep--more or less according to the size of the bulbs, and will +come into blossom from April and May, till July or August. As cut +flowers, they are very ornamental, but unfortunately, they are not +greatly used in this way owing to their odour, which some people find +quite unbearable. Propagation is effected by means of offsets from the +bulbs, or seeds. Two species--_A. Moly_, and _A. neapolitanum_--are +often forced into early blossoms in the greenhouse, in the way mentioned +at p. 46. + +The following are the best kinds:--_Neapolitanum_, _Erdeli_ (see Plate +18, fig. 72), _karataviense_, _triquetrum_, _ursinum_, and _zebdanense_, +all with white or whitish flowers; _acuminatum_, _hirtiflorum_, +_Macnabianum_, _narcissiflorum_ (or _pedemontanum_), _Ostrowskianum_, +_Schuberti_, and _Suworowi_, representing rose, magenta, crimson, lilac, +and purple shades; the best yellow-flowered kinds are, _Moly_ (Plate 17, +fig. 68), _flavum_, and _orientale_; while _coeruleum_ (or _azureum_) is +the most attractive species with blue flowers. _A. acuminatum_ is the +dwarfest of these, being only about a foot high, the others rarely +exceeding 1-1/2 to 2 feet, except perhaps _hirtiflorum_ and _Suworowi_, +which often are 3 feet high. + + +=AMARYLLIS Belladonna= (_Belladonna Lily_).--This charming member of the +Narcissus family deserves more extensive cultivation than it enjoys at +present. It is a native of South Africa, and has large bulbs--3 to 4 +inches or more deep--with thickish, silky-woollen coats, and +strap-shaped leaves, usually 12 to 18 inches long. About August and +September, the sweet-scented funnel-shaped blossoms of a soft rosy +colour (see Plate 31, fig. 111) are produced on top of a stout stalk, 12 +to 18 inches high, after the foliage has withered. Some varieties are +better than others, but the best of all is that which originated at Kew, +and is remarkable for having three or four dozen rich rosy crimson +flowers on a scape 2 to 3 feet high. + +The Belladonna Lily can only be grown satisfactorily in the open air in +the milder parts of the kingdom. The bulbs should be planted about 9 +inches deep in a well-drained loamy soil containing plenty of sand and +leaf-soil. Beneath a wall facing due south is generally a good position +for the plants. In winter, cold rains should be kept off by placing a +layer of leaves or litter over the dormant bulbs. The simplest way to +increase the stock is to detach the offsets from the old bulbs whenever +the latter are disturbed--say every fourth or fifth year. + +_Note._--The gorgeous plants grown in greenhouses under the name of +Amaryllis rightly belong to the genus Hippeastrum, and are too tender +for open air culture in our climate. + +PLATE 14. ENGLISH IRISES (56-59) + + +=ANTHOLYZA.=--The brown-coated corms, sword-like leaves, and the +bright-coloured tubular flowers of these plants very much resemble those +of the closely-related genus Gladiolus. Indeed, what suits the Gladiolus +will suit the Antholyzas in the way of a well-drained loamy soil. A +somewhat warmer and sunnier position is, however, necessary, as these +South African plants have not been acclimatised by selection and +hybridisation in the same way as the Gladiolus. The best-known kinds are +_aethiopica_, with spikes of scarlet and greenish flowers; _caffra_, rich +scarlet; _Cunonia_, scarlet and black; _fulgens_, rich coppery rose; and +_paniculata_, with red, brown, and yellow blossoms, and apparently the +hardiest of all. They are all best increased by offsets. + + +=BABIANA= (_Baboon Root_).--Charming plants of the Iris family, with +fibrous-coated corms about an inch in diameter, stiffish, hairy, plaited +leaves, and dense spikes of funnel-shaped flowers. The latter, in most +cases, are sweetly scented and brilliantly coloured, and in a cut state, +are exceedingly handsome for decorative work. Unfortunately the plants +are not very hardy, and can only be grown in the open air in the very +warmest and mildest parts of the kingdom with anything like success. In +favourable localities the corms should be planted 3 or 4 inches deep, in +mild weather, any time between September and November. The soil should +be very light, loamy, and well-drained, and the position should be the +warmest and sunniest in the garden. Plenty of sand or grit around the +corms is an advantage, and a covering of leaves or litter will keep off +cold winter rains. Babianas are very useful for cool greenhouse +decoration, and may be easily grown in pots, only giving water when +roots have developed, and the new leaves are beginning to show. (See p. +46). + +The best kinds are _disticha_, pale blue; _plicata_, violet blue; +_ringens_, scarlet; _stricta_, the three outer segments of which are +white, the three inner lilac-blue with a dark blotch at the base. This +is the best-known kind, and there are many forms of it, notably +_angustifolia_, bright blue tinged with pink; and _rubro-cyanea_, +brilliant blue and crimson. All increased by offsets. + + +=BESSERA elegans.=--A pretty liliaceous plant, 1-1/2 to 2 feet high, +with slender rush-like leaves, and scarlet or scarlet and white +bell-shaped blossoms. Being a native of Mexico it is rather tender, and +can only be grown out of doors in the mildest parts of the British Isles +in the same way as the Babianas. As a pot plant it may be grown in a +cool greenhouse. Increased by offsets from the brown silky-coated corms. + + +=BLOOMERIA aurea.=--This is the best known species. It is a native of +California and belongs to the Lily family. The small corms are covered +with netted pale brown coats, from which spring long narrow leaves, and +umbels of bright yellow starry flowers about June or July. _B. +Clevelandi_ is another species with smaller yellow flowers. The corms of +both kinds should be planted in warm sunny spots in well-drained sandy +loam and leaf-soil in the autumn, and a little protection with leaves or +litter may be given in cold wet winters. + + +=BOBARTIA aurantiaca.=--This pretty member of the Iris family is also +known under the name of _Homeria_. It has roundish corms, an inch or +more in diameter, covered with pale brown shaggy fibrous coats. The +orange-red or yellow blossoms appear in summer and last a long time. The +plant is a native of South Africa, and can only be grown in the mildest +parts of the kingdom in the same way as the Babianas, Ixias, &c., which +see. Increased by offsets. + + +=BRAVOA geminiflora.=--A graceful Mexican plant of the Narcissus family, +with roundish fibrous-coated corms over an inch in diameter, and narrow +sword-like leaves 12 to 18 inches long. The bright red or scarlet +tubular blossoms droop in pairs from stalks 1 to 2 feet high from July +onwards. In the milder parts of the kingdom this plant may be grown +easily in sheltered sunny spots in rich sandy loam and leaf-soil, +protection being only needed in severe winters from cold heavy rains or +hard frosts by means of leaves or litter. Increased by offsets in autumn +or seeds sown in spring. + + +=BREVOORTIA Ida-Maia= (_Brodiaea coccinea_).--This beautiful Liliaceous +plant is popularly known as the "Californian Fire Cracker." It has +roundish corms an inch or so in diameter, with brown fibrous coats. The +leaves are very narrow, while the tubular flowers are borne in loose +umbels in June or July on top of slender wiry stalks 2 to 3 feet high. +The shape and colour of the individual blossoms are shown on Plate 19, +fig. 75. They are very attractive in bold masses, and are excellent for +cutting purposes. In the garden it is essential to support the slender +flower-stems with thin sticks to keep the blossoms from trailing in the +dirt. During September and October is the best time to plant the corms 3 +to 4 inches deep, in rich sandy loam, in warm sunny spots in the border +or rock-garden, where they should be allowed to remain for three or four +seasons before they need be disturbed. Increased by offsets and seeds. + +PLATE 15. SPANISH IRISES (60-63) + + +=BRODIAEA.=--The plants belonging to this genus have practically the same +characters as those of Brevoortia, the chief differences being that many +(but not all) of the Brodiaeas have six fertile stamens instead of three, +and the perianth in many cases is more funnel or bell-shaped than +cylindrical. The corms are about the same size with netted, brown, silky +coats, but are quite distinct from those in the section formerly known +under the names of _Milla_ and _Triteleia_. The cultural treatment is +precisely the same as detailed under Brevoortia above. An idea as to the +beauty of the blossoms of some of the kinds may be gained from a glance +at Plates 13, 19, 20, and 24, in which _B. laxa_ (fig. 76), _B. +ixioides_ (fig. 77) (also known as _Calliprora lutea_), _B. Bridgesi_ +(fig. 91), _B. Howelli lilacina_ (fig. 80), and _B. uniflora_ (figs. 51 +and 52) (the last named being remarkable for having flowers singly +instead of in umbels), are respectively depicted. Other species well +worth growing are _californica_, rosy-purple; _capitata_, lilac or +violet, and its white variety _alba_; _congesta_, deep violet; +_Douglasi_, bright blue; _gracilis_, bright yellow; _grandiflora_, +violet-blue; _Hendersoni_, salmon-yellow striped with purple; _Howelli_, +porcelain-white striped with blue; _hyacinthina_, purple, and its white +variety _lactea_; _Leichtlini_, white; _multiflora_, pale blue; +_Orcutti_, lilac; _peduncularis_, porcelain-white to rosy-purple; +_Purdyi_, rosy-purple to lilac; _rosea_, rose-red to pinkish-purple; +_Sellowiana_, yellow; and _stellaris_, reddish-purple to deep blue. To +these may be added _B. volubilis_, remarkable for having twining stems +often 12 feet long, and having 15 to 30 rose-coloured flowers in an +umbel. + + +=BULBOCODIUM vernum.=--A charming Crocus-like plant of the Lily family, +closely related to the Meadow Saffrons (Colchicum), as may be seen by +comparing the method of lateral growth of the brown-coated corms--each +an inch or more in diameter. It is a native of the Alps. In mild seasons +it often produces its violet or rosy-purple funnel-shaped flowers in +January, not more than 6 inches from the ground, and remains in blossom +in company with Snowdrops, Leucojums, &c. The leaves appear afterwards +and elaborate food for the production of next year's corms before they +wither. A rich well-drained loam with a little sand and leaf-soil suits +it very well, and the corms may be planted in September or October about +4 inches deep, in bold masses in the rock garden or grass-land, and left +alone for a few years, after which there will be numerous offsets to +increase the stock. As slugs are very fond of the young growths, they +must be carefully looked for morning and evening, and a little soot or +lime carefully spread round the plants may help to check them (see p. +142). + + +=CALOCHORTUS= (_Mariposa Lily_).--A very distinct group of Liliaceous +plants with brown-coated bulbs, narrow leaves, and very showy and +distinct-looking blossoms--some of which are shown in Plate 22, fig. 84, +and also in Plate 20 of the companion volume "BEAUTIFUL GARDEN FLOWERS." +Joined to the Mariposa Lilies proper are the "Star Tulips," formerly +known under the name of _Cyclobothra_--well-known representatives of +which are shown in the same Plate, figs. 85 and 86. They are quite +distinct in the appearance of the flowers, but botanically they are +considered to be identical in the important characters. Both groups are +well worth growing in the milder parts of the kingdom in warm sunny +parts of the garden. This is essential as most of them are natives of +California, Oregon, Arizona, and parts of Mexico, where they have plenty +of sunshine and are not subject to the cold drenching rains that often +characterise the British winter. In colder districts where they would be +unable to survive the ordinary winter, the plants may be brought to +perfection in a cold frame so long as they are free from frost and heavy +rains. The soil in which they appear to flourish best seems to be sharp +sand, leaf-soil and road grit, well mixed together with a little loam +added. The bed--in which the bulbs are to be planted 3 to 4 inches deep, +from September to November, but not later--should be raised above the +general level, the better to throw the water off in winter. If the beds +or borders are facing south and slightly sloping, so much the better. A +light covering with reeds or bracken is advisable during severe weather, +but should be removed on all warm days, and altogether from February and +March, as the young growths will then begin to push through the soil. +After the flowering period--_i.e._, July and August--is over, and the +foliage has withered, the bulbs may be either lifted and carefully +stored in sand or dry earth until the planting season comes round again; +or, better still, lights may be placed over them to keep the bulbs dry +and allow them to ripen thoroughly and naturally. If the latter +treatment is adopted the bulbs need not be disturbed for three or four +years, and will give better blossom on the whole in consequence. It must +be remembered that although the bulbs dislike moisture when dormant, +they must have a sufficient supply during active growth, otherwise they +may soon become parched and withered. The easiest way to increase the +plants is by means of offsets. When seeds ripen they may be sown very +thinly in pots or pans in spring, and the seedlings may remain for a +couple of seasons before being transplanted. Sometimes "bulbils" (see p. +32) are produced on the stems, and may be sown in light sandy soil as if +they were seeds. From seeds and bulbils it takes from three to six years +to produce a flowering bulb. + +There are now several kinds of Mariposa Lily in cultivation. Of these +the varieties of the _venustus_ group are undoubtedly the handsomest. +(See Plate 22, fig. 84.) They grow about 18 inches high, and have +cup-shaped flowers 3 inches across, having three very large and three +very small segments. The colour of the type is white, yellow at the +base, deeply stained with crimson, and having a conspicuous blotch at +the base. In the variety _alba_ the flowers are wholly white; +_lilacinus_, deep lilac; _purpurascens_, lilac-purple; _citrinus_, +lemon-yellow; _oculatus_, with rosy buds passing into white, with a deep +blackish-purple blotch in the centre of a yellow base; and _Vesta_, +flowers very large, white flushed with rose, and marked with brown and +yellow at the base. + +Other kinds are _albus_, with drooping pearly-white flowers (Plate 22, +fig. 85); _apiculatus_, lemon-yellow; _Benthami_, bright yellow; +_coeruleus_, lilac or creamy-white, densely bearded with blue hairs; +_clavatus_, golden-yellow; _elegans_, white tinged with purple, but rich +pink in the variety _amoenus_; _flavus_, yellow, drooping; _Goldyi_, old +gold with hairy centre; _Howelli_, creamy-white; _Kennedyi_, orange-red; +_lilacinus_, pink, purple, or lilac, a fine species; _luteus_, yellow or +orange, with purple hairs; _Plummerae_, large soft lilac flowers, with +golden-yellow hairs and blotched with purple; _pulchellus_, +orange-yellow, sweet-scented, drooping (see Plate 22, fig. 86); +_Purdyi_, white, spotted with purple, and covered with long white hairs; +_splendens_ pale lilac, with silky white hairs and deep purple blotches +at base; and _Weedi_, yellow. + + +=CAMASSIA.=--Graceful-looking North American plants of the Lily family, +with rather large ovoid bulbs, strap-shaped tapering leaves, and loose +racemes of starry blossoms which usually appear from May to July, and +are useful for decorations when cut. They flourish in ordinary good and +well-drained garden soil in warm sheltered spots. The bulbs should be +planted in September or October, and covered with about twice their own +depth of soil. They may be left undisturbed for a few seasons, but in +that case a mulching of well-decayed manure in autumn would be +beneficial. New plants are most readily secured by offsets from the old +bulbs. Seeds, however, are freely produced in most places and should be +sown in cold frames as soon as ripe. (See p. 36). + +PLATE 16. MADONNA LILY (64) FRITILLARIA IMPERIALIS, VARS. (65-66) + +There are only a few species, the best being _C. esculenta_, the Quamash +or Camass Root of the North American Indians. The blue flowers, each +about 2 inches across, are borne on scapes 1-1/2 to 3 feet high, and +look very handsome above the narrow arching leaves. _C. Cusicksi_, with +porcelain-blue flowers (see Plate 18, fig. 70), grows 3 to 4 feet high. +_C. Fraseri_, with very pale-blue flowers, is about 1-1/2 feet high; +while _C. Leichtlini_ grows 3 to 4 feet high, and has large creamy-white +blossoms, about 3 inches in diameter. + + +=CHIONODOXA Luciliae= (_Glory of the Snow_).--This charming harbinger of +spring is a native of Asia Minor, where it pushes its beautiful +brilliant blue and white blossoms (see Plate 2, fig. 9) through the +snow-clad mountains early in the year. It has ovoid bulbs about 1 to 2 +inches deep, arching leaves, and each flower-stalk 6 to 10 inches high, +carries from six to twenty blossoms in February, March, and April. There +are several fine varieties, the best being _gigantea_ (or +_grandiflora_), with very large flowers; _sardensis_, shown on Plate 13, +fig. 53, has gentian-blue flowers. The variety _alba_ has pure-white +flowers, and _Tmolusi_ and _Alleni_ are also good varieties. A hybrid +between _C. Luciliae_ and _Scilla bifolia_ is known as _Chiono-scilla_, +but is not common. Other Chionodoxas are _C. cretica_, with white or +pale-blue flowers very scantily produced; and _C. nana_, with white or +lilac-tinted flowers. + +Chionodoxas flourish in ordinary good garden soil, and are suitable for +the rockery, flower-border, beneath deciduous trees in shrubberies, or +in the grass. To be effective in any of these positions they should be +planted in hundreds and thousands, and in grass-land may be mixed with +the smaller-flowered kinds of Narcissus (_e.g._, _minimus_, +_cyclamineus_, _triandrus_). In the latter case the bulbs may be left +alone for years with advantage, as they never interfere with mowing +operations. + +Offsets are freely produced from the old bulbs, and are the easiest +means of increasing the stock. Seeds may be sown when ripe, but they +take a few years to produce flowering bulbs (see p. 34). + + +=CHLOROGALUM pomeridianum= (_Soap Plant_).--A distinct looking plant +about 2 feet high, with blue-green leaves and spikes of whitish +purple-veined flowers, that usually open in the afternoon during the +summer months. It flourishes in ordinary soil, and may be increased by +offsets from the old bulbs. The best time to plant is in autumn. + + +=COLCHICUM= (_Meadow Saffron_).--In the autumn, when the landscape looks +more or less dreary, the Colchicums relieve the monotony with their +bright appearance. The bulbs are peculiarly one-sided, and differ a good +deal in size according to the species, so that they should be planted at +various depths according to size. The best time for planting is July, or +not later than August, and if massed in bold patches in the grass, +flower-border, shrubbery, or rock-garden, the effect later on will be +much more effective than if the bulbs were put in sparingly. A rich +sandy loam will suit most kinds, but any good and well-drained garden +soil will give satisfactory results. It may be remarked that most kinds +produce their flowers without the leaves. The latter appear the +following spring to elaborate food for the new bulbs, dying down during +the summer. Colchicums are best propagated by offsets. Seeds may also be +sown about midsummer when thoroughly ripe, and will produce flowering +bulbs in five or six years (see p. 34). There are many kinds, the most +popular being: _C. autumnale_, a British plant, popularly known as the +"Autumn Crocus"--owing to the shape and bright purple colour of its +cup-shaped blossoms, which appear from the end of August to November. +There are many varieties of it such as _album_, white; with a double +form; _maximum_, purple; _purpureum_, purple rose; and _striatum_, red +striped with white. _C. Bivonae_ has flowers chequered with white and +purple. _C. Bornmuelleri_, a fine species with rosy-lilac flowers. _C. +byzantinum_ has pale rose blossoms. _C. giganteum_, flowers rosy, very +large. _C. libanoticum_, white. _C. montanum_ produces its lilac-purple +or whitish flowers in February and March. _C. Parkinsoni_ has white +flowers distinctly veined and chequered with violet-purple. The flowers +of _C. speciosum_, shown in Plate 33, fig. 118, appear in September and +October, and vary from reddish or rose-purple to deep crimson-purple. +_C. variegatum_ (a very old species also called _Parkinsoni_) has its +rosy flowers beautifully chequered with violet purple. + + +=CRINUM.=--Most of the Crinums require the protection of a greenhouse or +hothouse in our climate. The kinds mentioned below, however, may be +grown in the open air in the milder parts of the country. The large and +broad strap-shaped leaves, 2 to 4 feet long, more or less gracefully +recurving from the long-necked bulbs, are in themselves a noble sight, +but their beauty is considerably enhanced when the large, funnel-shaped +blossoms are borne in clusters on the top of a stout, fleshy stalk. +Given a rich and well-drained, loamy soil, warm-sheltered spots, and +sufficient moisture during active growth, and the hardy Crinums usually +flourish. They may be increased by offsets taken from the base of the +large old bulbs; or by means of the large fleshy bulb-like seeds that +are produced in favourable seasons. The seed needs only to be placed on +the top of moist soil in a pot, and under the shelter of a greenhouse or +cold frame will soon germinate in its own peculiar way. The best-known +hardy Crinums are _C. Moorei_, a native of South Africa. It has large +long-necked bulbs, broad bright-green leaves 2 to 3 feet long, and +clusters of soft-pink flowers, each 6 inches or more across, on a scape +2 to 3 feet high (see Plate 30, fig. 109). _C. Powelli_, with a reddish +wash down the centre of the petals, and its pure white variety _album_ +(Plate 32, fig. 115) are also two very fine plants for the out-door +garden. They are really forms, or hybrids perhaps, of the South African +_S. longifolium_ (or _C. capense_), which has large white flowers with a +central reddish stain on the outside of the petals. It is quite as hardy +as the other kinds and may be treated in the same way. + + +=CROCOSMA aurea.=--This beautiful Iridaceous plant is perhaps better +known as _Tritonia aurea_. It is a native of South Africa, and has +fibrous-coated corms, narrow sword-shaped leaves, and brilliant +orange-red starry blossoms borne on branched stems about 2 feet high, in +August or September. It likes a rich sandy loam and leaf-soil and soon +makes fine clumps in the milder parts of the kingdom. In cold districts +and the north generally, the corms may be lifted in October or November, +when the leaves have withered, and may be stored in sand or soil until +spring. Then they may be replanted, any offsets from the older corms +being placed in separate beds and grown on until large enough for +flowering. As a pot plant for greenhouse decoration, the Crocosma is +most useful. After potting in spring, the pots may be plunged (_i.e._, +sunk up to the rims) in ashes or fibre, and plenty of water should be +given during the summer months when the growth is active. When the +flower-spikes appear the plants may be taken into the greenhouse or +conservatory. + +PLATE 17. LILIUM CROCEUM (67) ALLIUM MOLY (68) SCILLA PERUVIANA ALBA +(69) + + +=CROCUS.=--The popularity of the Crocus is undoubted, but popular favour +generally confines itself to the white, blue, lilac, purple, yellow, and +striped varieties of _C. aureus_, the Old Dutch yellow Crocus, and _C. +vernus_. These all flower from February to April, and when planted in +hundreds and thousands in the borders or grass-land they are then indeed +a glorious sight, especially if naturalised with Snowdrops, Leucojums, +and Bulbocodiums. The individual blossoms do not last long, but they are +thrown up so profusely from the roundish corms beneath, that they give a +continuous glow for several weeks in early spring. The above all +flourish in light sandy loam and leaf-soil. To secure the best results +the corms should be planted about 3 inches deep in September or October. +When possible, as in grass-land for example, the plants should not be +disturbed for a few seasons, so they may increase as Nature intended. In +this way they will produce a more striking picture each succeeding year, +especially if they have had the advantage of a top-dressing with +well-decayed manure in autumn. When the corms have to be lifted each +year to make way in the borders for summer-flowering plants, the best +time to take them up is when the foliage has begun to wither. This +process is often hastened by twisting the narrow leaves and tying them +into little bundles. + +Apart from the ordinary spring-flowering Crocuses, _aureus_ and _vernus_ +(a selection of which can be obtained from any bulb catalogue), there +are several natural species which also flower in spring, and may be +planted and grown exactly in the same way. Amongst these the best known +are _alatavicus_, white and yellow; _Balansae_, orange-yellow; +_banaticus_, bright purple and white; _biflorus_, white to pale +lavender, known as the "Cloth of Silver Crocus," of which there are many +beautiful forms; _Biliotti_, purple; _carpetanus_, lilac to white; +_chrysanthus_, orange-yellow, with several varieties; _dalmaticus_, +lilac and yellow; _etruscus_, purple and yellow, striped; _Fleischeri_, +white and yellow, veined purple; _Imperati_, lilac-purple, with deeper +stripes; _Korolkowi_, yellow; _reticulatus_ or _variegatus_, white to +deep lilac, veined purple; _stellaris_, orange; _suaveolens_, lilac and +yellow, veined purple; _Susianus_ or _revolutus_, deep orange, known as +the "Cloth of Gold Crocus"; _versicolor_, purple to white, veined +purple; and _vitellinus_, orange. + + +=Autumn-Flowering Crocuses.=--Colchicums, and especially _C. autumnale_, +are popularly known as "Autumn Crocuses." They belong, however, to the +Lily family, and must not be confused with those species of Crocus +proper which belong to the Iris family, and also flower during the +autumn months, sometimes even as late as December, when the blossoms are +often spoiled by the weather, unless protected with handlights or +frames. At this period they are very useful, with the Colchicums and +Sternbergias, for the decoration of grassy slopes and banks, and may be +intermingled with them in places where they can remain undisturbed for +some years. + +The chief difference in the cultivation of Spring and Autumn Crocuses, +is that the corms of the latter should be planted in July, or not later +than August--in fact, at the same time as the Colchicums. The following +are among the best Autumn Crocuses:--_Asturicus_, violet, purple; +_Boryi_, white and yellow; _cancellatus_, white to purple, and lilac; +_caspius_, white tinted rose; _Clusi_, pale purple and white; +_hadriaticus_, white and purple; _iridiflorus_ or _byzantinus_, purple, +lilac; _Karduchorum_, lilac, veined with purple; _longiflorus_, lilac, +yellow, sweet-scented; _medius_, purple, veined, see Plate 33, fig. 117; +_ochroleucus_, creamy-white, orange, see Plate 33, fig. 121; +_pulchellus_, lavender-blue and yellow, veined; _Salzmanni_, lilac to +white, veined; _sativus_, lilac, veined purple; the well-known "Saffron +Crocus" of commerce, with several varieties; _Scharojani_, +orange-yellow; _speciosus_, lilac, purple, with deeper veins, see Plate +33, fig. 122; and _zonatus_, rosy-lilac, veined purple. + +All Crocuses may be easily increased by offsets, which may be detached +when the corms are lifted. Seeds take about three years to produce +flowering corms (see p. 34). + + +=DIERAMA= (=Sparaxis=) =pulcherrima.=--This is a charming South African +plant with fibrous-coated corms, and long narrow sword-like leaves. It +has beautiful funnel-shaped flowers, which droop from thread-like stalks +about September and October, a period when they are sometimes injured by +the bad weather. The blossoms, which are shown on Plate 31, fig. 112, +are usually crimson in colour, but there also exist white, pale-red, and +prettily-striped forms, all borne on stalks 3 to 6 feet high, and +beautiful for cutting purposes. _D. pendula_, with deeply veined lilac +flowers, is another species not so well known. + +The plants cannot be considered hardy, except in the milder parts of the +kingdom. In less favoured spots they may be planted in spring in warm +sunny spots sheltered from cold winds, and if left in the ground in +winter should be protected from cold rains and frosts with litter, +bracken, lights, &c. A light sandy loam, with a little leaf-soil, will +suit the plants best, and they may be increased by offsets. + + +=ERYTHRONIUM= (_Dog's Tooth Violet_).--These pretty plants of the Lily +order have more or less oblong or cylindrical bulbs, sometimes with +creeping rhizomes, and leaves more or less marbled or blotched or +sometimes green. The 6-petalled blossoms are, more or less, drooping, +but are usually conspicuous above the foliage and render the plants very +attractive either in the rock-garden, flower-border, or grass-land. The +plants like a moist sandy loam and leaf-soil, which, however, must be +well drained so that the bulbs may not decay with the winter rains. +Offsets are the easiest means of increasing the stock, and are best +taken off after the flowers are over and the leaves have withered, +_i.e._, about midsummer. + +PLATE 18. CAMASSIA CUSICKI (70) LILIUM PYRENAICUM (71) ALLIUM ERDELII +(72) IXIOLIRION PALLASI (73) + +The Common Dog's Tooth Violet (_E. Dens-Canis_) is an old-world plant, +and has been in cultivation many years. It has blue-green leaves, +marbled with dull purple, and the flowers are of a soft rose or purple +hue, although there are various shades (as shown on Plate 13, fig. 54), +including a white one. There are now many other species and varieties in +cultivation--all natives of temperate North America, and well worthy of +a place in the garden. They all blossom from March to May, and vary in +height from 3 to 12 inches. The following are the best known at +present:--_Albidum_, white, tinged yellow, or wholly yellow in the +variety _bracteatum_; _americanum_, golden yellow, tinged purple; +_citrinum_, lemon yellow; _Dens-Canis_ (see Plate 13, figs. 54 and 55); +_giganteum_, white, suffused with orange or yellow; _grandiflorum_, +yellow; _Hartwegi_, creamy-white and orange; _Hendersoni_, rose to +purple with yellow centre; _Howelli_, yellow and orange; _Johnstoni_, +rosy-pink (see Plate 12, fig. 94); _montanum_, creamy-white; +_propullans_, rose-purple; _purpurascens_, pale yellow tinged purple, or +lilac in the variety _grandiflorum_; this species has sometimes about a +dozen flowers on a scape; and _revolutum_, pink to rosy-purple, or white +with a yellow centre in the variety _Bolanderi_ or _Smithi_. + + +=EUCOMIS punctata.=--This bold-looking plant is probably the best and +most ornamental member of the genus. It has very large bulbs and tufts +of gracefully spreading and recurved wavy leaves, bright shining green +above, and densely spotted with purple beneath. The creamy-white or +yellowish starry blossoms, with a conspicuous violet ovary in the +centre, appear from July to September, and are packed close together on +a stout purple spotted scape 1-1/2 to 2 feet high. Other species are +_bicolor_, with unspotted leaves and greenish-yellow flowers; _nana_, +which grows only about 9 inches high, has brownish-green blossoms; +_undulata_, greenish-yellow ones; _regia_, white; and _pallidiflora_, +with leaves over 2 feet long, and 4 inches or more broad, has +greenish-white flowers. + +They are all natives of South Africa, and may be grown in warm sheltered +spots in the milder parts of the country. They like a rich and +well-drained sandy loam, and if left undisturbed for a few years, will +probably require protection in bleak localities from winter rains and +frost. They may be increased by offsets. It takes four or five years to +secure flowering bulbs from seeds. + + +=FERRARIA undulata.=--A distinct looking Iridaceous plant with tunicated +bulbs, sword-like wavy leaves, and peculiar dull-purple flowers, each +with six wavy segments spotted with purple, and appearing in March and +April. This plant flourishes in well-drained sandy loam and leaf-soil, +and may be considered fairly hardy in the milder parts of the kingdom. +Increased by offsets. + + +=FRITILLARIA.=--There are fifty species or more belonging to this genus, +but many of them, although highly interesting, are so dull in colour or +small in blossom, that they are only likely to be met with in botanical +collections. The common Crown Imperial (_F. imperialis_), shown in Plate +16, figs. 65 and 66, with its sturdy stems, 2 to 3 feet high, bright +green wavy leaves, and bright yellow drooping blossoms, is probably the +best known; but there are many forms of it in which the flowers vary in +colour from yellow to orange and bright red. The Snake's Head (_F. +Meleagris_) is another well-known species to be seen growing naturally +in moist meadows in parts of England. Its beautiful white, rosy or +purple blossoms (see Plate 8, fig. 33) droop from the stalks, 1 to 1-1/2 +feet high in April and May, and are beautifully chequered with deeper +coloured bands. For naturalising in the grass with Narcissi, Dog's Tooth +Violets, &c., this is a very valuable plant. _F. Moggridgei_, a dwarf +form of the purple, brown, and yellow _delphinensis_, is another good +garden plant shown on Plate 8, fig. 31. The following kinds may be used +for naturalising in the grass or for grouping in nooks of the +rock-garden:--_Fusco-lutea_, _aurea_, _citrina_, _lusitanica_, _lutea_, +_askabadensis_ (finely figured in "FLORA AND SYLVA,") _discolor_, +_pallidiflora_, _pudica_, _Thunbergi_, _Whittalli_, all with yellow or +greenish-yellow blossoms, and ranging from 6 to 12 inches high. To these +may be added _F. recurva_ (Plate 8, fig. 34), a Californian species, +about 1 foot high, and remarkable for its drooping bright orange-scarlet +blossoms, the interior of which is yellow blotched with purple. _F. +camtschatcensis_, the "Black Lily," has deep blackish-red flowers. It +flourishes in moist sandy loam and peat. + +_F. Walujewi_, with narrow tendril-tipped leaves, has silver-grey +flowers suffused with purple brown, and spotted with red and white +within (see Plate 8, fig. 32). To these may be added _armena_, dark +purple; _Elwesi_, green and purple; _pyrenaica_, green and purple, +spotted; _persica_ or _libanotica_, chocolate, purple and green; +_latifolia_, purple, lilac, yellow, &c. + +The Fritillarias have bulbs of various sizes, and many of them--notably +those of _F. imperialis_--emit a very strong and disagreeable odour. +They produce offsets freely in most cases, and in this way the stock may +be increased. The best time for lifting and transplanting the bulbs is +after the foliage has withered. + +PLATE 19. ORNITHOGALUM PYRAMIDALE (74) BREVOORTIA IDA-MAIA (75) BRODIAEA +LAXA (76) BRODIAEA IXIOIDES (77) + + +=GAGEA lutea.=--This British plant, with small roundish bulbs, and long +narrow leaves, is called the "Yellow Star of Bethlehem" on account of +its yellow starry flowers, with a green central line, appearing from +March to May on stalks about 6 inches high. It grows in ordinary garden +soil and may be increased by offsets. + + +=GALANTHUS= (_Snowdrop_).--The common British Snowdrop (_G. nivalis_) is +an old time garden favourite, not only on account of the purity of its +blossoms--almost rivalling the whiteness of the snow--but because they +appear during the very dullest months of the year, often before +Christmas, and lasting till the Crocuses, early Narcissi, Chionodoxas, +Bulbocodiums, Leucojums, &c., come to keep them company. A few blooms +are shown on Plate 2, fig. 8, not because it was necessary to tell the +reader what a Snowdrop was like, but to record the general appearance of +other Snowdrops that are now to be met with in cultivation. The most +important of these are _Elwesi_, with its varieties _globosus_ and +_robustus_, all of which have large flowers; _Fosteri_ has been called +the "King of Snowdrops" on account of its fine leaves and flowers. Other +fine kinds are _Imperati_, _latifolius_, and _plicatus_, the last named +recognised by its long broad and plaited leaves. Indeed there are many +other varieties--including double-flowered ones--but it is doubtful if +the ordinary observer would see any great difference between them and +the best forms of the common Snowdrop. They all have roundish +bulbs--some larger than others, and offsets are freely produced from +them. They flourish in the border or rock-garden in rich sandy soil and +leaf-mould, but their natural dwelling place is in the grass, where they +should be planted in hundreds and thousands and left to take care of +themselves, as they are in many gardens in the kingdom. + + +=GALTONIA= (=Hyacinthus=) =candicans.=--A noble-looking South African +plant, with large roundish bulbs and strap-shaped leaves over 2 feet +long. The pure white sweet-scented blossoms (shown on Plate 20, fig. 78) +appear during the summer months, 20 or 30 in a raceme, drooping from +stout stalks about 4 feet high. =G. princeps= is somewhat similar but +not so attractive in appearance, as its white flowers are faintly tinged +with green. Both kinds flourish in good garden soil and should be +planted in bold clumps for effect in the flower border, and in warm +sunny spots, where they may remain undisturbed for several years, until +it is necessary to give them more space, or to detach the offsets for +increasing the stock. + + +=GLADIOLUS= (_Corn Flag_; _Sword Lily_).--There are several species of +Gladiolus rarely seen outside botanic gardens. The florists' varieties, +like _brenchleyensis_, _Colvillei_, _Childsi_, _gandavensis_, +_Lemoinei_, and _nanceianus_, are much more popular owing to the +brilliancy and beauty of their blossoms. _G. brenchleyensis_ +(practically a form of _gandavensis_) is remarkable for its glowing +scarlet flowers; _G. Childsi_ (raised from _gandavensis_ and +_Saundersi_) attains a height of four or five feet, and has spikes of +bloom often 2 feet or more long. The blossoms are 6 to 9 inches across, +and possess many shades of purple, scarlet, crimson, salmon, white, +pink, yellow, often beautifully mottled and blotched in the throat +(Plate 28, fig. 105). _G. Colvillei_ (raised from _cardinalis_ and +_tristis_) is an early-flowering plant about 2 feet high, with crimson +purple and also pure white flowers--according to the variety. The form +known as "The Bride" is the best white (Plate 21, fig. 81). Other +early-flowering forms are shown in figs. 82 and 83. _G. gandavensis_ +(raised from _cardinalis_ and _psittacinus_) forms a charming group as +various in colour as the _Childsi_ forms, the individual flowers being +variously striped and blotched with distinct colours. _G. Lemoinei_ +(raised from _purpureo-auratus_ and _gandavensis_) is the origin of a +beautiful number of hybrids, distinguished by having a large +golden-yellow blotch on the lower segments, bordered with scarlet, +crimson, purple, maroon, &c. (Plate 28, fig. 104). The colours are as +numerous and as delicate as in the _Childsi_ and _gandavensis_ sections. +The _nanceianus_ hybrids are remarkably fine plants, and are only +comparable with those of the _Childsi_ group, although the blossoms are +not quite so large. The colours vary from purple, claret, violet, +carmine, orange, red, scarlet, violet, &c., and are all spotted in +various ways (see Plate 28, fig. 103). + +The kinds of Gladioli just mentioned may be grown to perfection in a +well-drained loamy soil, which has been deeply dug and well manured the +autumn previous to planting. From the beginning to the end of March is +an excellent time to plant the corms or tubers, each one being inserted +in a hole made with a stout dibber, or in a drill about 4 or 5 inches +deep, and about a foot apart. Having covered the corms and made the soil +fairly firm, little more is needed beyond keeping weeds down, until the +flower spikes begin to show in July and August. Short stakes may then be +supplied so as to keep the trusses upright. To secure extra fine +blossoms the plants, when well-established, should be watered two or +three times a week with liquid cow-manure to which a little soot and +guano has been added. During hot dry summers especially, copious +waterings should be given. + +PLATE 20. GALTONIA CANDICANS (78) SISYRINCHIUM GRANDIFLORUM (79) +BRODIAEA HOWELLI LILACINA (80) + +When the flowers have faded, and the leaves begin to turn yellow, the +corms may be taken up and carefully stored in a dry, airy, frost-proof +place until the following March. New plants may be raised from the +offsets, and also the spawn or cloves to be found at the base of the new +corms. They should be detached and stored, and the following April may +be sown like seeds in drills about two inches deep. The larger corms may +also be carefully cut in two at planting time, the cut surfaces being +dipped in powdered charcoal, soot, or freshly-slaked lime. + +Where space will permit, the following natural species of Gladioli may +also be grown:--_G. blandus_, 1 to 2 feet high, white, with red markings +and a yellow tube; _G. byzantinus_, 2 feet, red, shaded with violet or +purple; _G. dracocephalus_, 1 to 2-1/2 feet, soft yellow, striped and +spotted with purple; _G. floribundus_, 1 foot, has flowers varying from +white to flesh colour and deep red. + +_G. oppositiflorus_ has white flowers, washed with rose or purple (Plate +23, fig. 87); _G. psittacinus_, 3 feet, rich scarlet, lined and spotted +with yellow; _G. purpureo-auratus_, 3 to 4 feet, sulphur yellow, +blotched with purple; and _G. Saundersi_, 2 to 3 feet, crimson or soft +scarlet, spotted with pink and white. As they are all natives of South +Africa they should be planted in warm sunny spots in March or April, and +lifted the following autumn when growth has ceased. + + +=HABRANTHUS pratensis.=--A pretty Chilian plant, with ovoid bulbs about +1-1/2 inches through, and narrow leaves 1 to 1-1/2 feet long. The +funnel-shaped, orange-red or scarlet blossoms appear in early summer on +stems 1 to 2 feet high. Rich sandy-loam and leaf-soil, and warm +sheltered spots are most suitable for this plant. In bleak localities +the bulbs must be protected in winter. Increased by offsets. + + +=HYACINTHUS= (_Hyacinth_).--The florists' Hyacinth, evolved from _H. +orientalis_, has been for generations a great garden favourite, and is +still amongst the most popular of bulbous plants for the decoration of +the out-door garden, or for growing in conservatories, or the +dwelling-house in more or less ornamental receptacles. There is a good +deal of difference in the size of Hyacinth bulbs, but the reader must +not imagine that the largest bulbs will throw up the best truss of +flowers. Indeed it is often the case that quite a small bulb +comparatively, will give a finer display than one much larger. Size, +therefore, is not the main point about Hyacinth bulbs. Weight or density +is the most important feature, and bulbs that are in any way soft or +flabby may be regarded as useless. + + +=Hyacinths in the Open Air.=--What are known as "Bedding Hyacinths," to +be had in various colours--red, rose, pink, white, blue, violet and +yellow--are generally grown out of doors. They should be planted in +October, or not later than November, 5 to 6 inches deep, and 6 to 8 +inches apart, care being taken when planting round, oval, oblong, or +other shaped beds to keep the lines or curves equidistant so as to +secure uniformity in the results. The varieties should not be mixed when +formal beds are planted. In vacant spaces in the flower border, however, +mixed Hyacinths look very well. Although these Hyacinths will grow well +in ordinary good garden soil that has been deeply dug, and contains some +well-decayed manure, it may be said that a light sandy loam that has had +some old cow-manure incorporated with it some weeks previously is +regarded as the best. When the soil is naturally heavy it must be well +turned up, and have plenty of sand or grit mixed with it as well as old +manure. In such a soil, a further precaution may be taken to have a +handful of sand placed in the hole under each bulb to further improve +the drainage. + +Combinations with out-door Hyacinths are sometimes made by covering the +surface of the beds with such plants as Forget-me-Nots, Polyanthuses or +Primroses, Silenes, White Arabis, Yellow Alyssum, and sometimes Narcissi +bulbs are planted alternately with the Hyacinths, the object in all +cases being to produce a fine effect and contrast in colours in spring. +When the plants are in bloom they require but little attention, except +perhaps a slender stick here and there to some flower-truss that has +been blown down by the wind, or topples over with its own weight. As +soon as the blossoms have withered, the flower stems should be cut away, +leaving the still green leaves to assimilate food until they begin to +turn yellow. The yellowing leaves indicate that the bulbs may be taken +up, dried, and cleaned, and stored away in cool airy places until the +following September or October. As Hyacinths, however, deteriorate in +our fickle climate, it is better to buy new bulbs each year for planting +formal beds, while the old ones may be planted in ordinary flower border +or shrubbery. + +PLATE 21. EARLY-FLOWERING GLADIOLI (81-83) + + +=Hyacinths in Glasses, &c.=--Ornamental bowls, glasses, vases, &c., of +various designs afford an easy and interesting means for growing +Hyacinths in the dwelling house. Many fail to have good results with +Hyacinths grown in these receptacles because they allow the bulbs to +touch the water, or they place them in too high a temperature to begin +with. The bulbs should not actually touch the water, the base being +little more than 1/8-inch away from the surface. They should then be +stood in a dark place with a temperature of about 40 deg. to 45 deg. F., until +roots have developed into the water. The plants may then be exposed to +more light, after which all that is necessary is to change the water +occasionally, about once a week, so that the roots may secure a fresh +supply of oxygen. The finest bulbs give the best results naturally when +grown in this way. What are known as "Miniature Hyacinths" are suitable +for growing in bowls, vases, &c., in moist moss and charcoal, or in +Jadoo fibre, or even in coco-nut fibre. Indeed, Hyacinths generally may +be grown more easily, perhaps, in this way, instead of in water, the +only point to bear in mind being to get the roots started in a cool +place before the flower-stem and leaves begin to grow. + + +=Hyacinths in Pots.=--For greenhouse and conservatory decoration +Hyacinths are most useful. One large bulb or three smaller ones may be +placed in a 5-inch pot in light sandy soil, the top of the bulbs being +well above the surface. The pots should be placed in the open air and +covered with fine ashes or coco-nut fibre. Roots soon develop, after +which the bulbs may be brought in as required, and can be had in blossom +long before those in the open ground begin to appear. In warm +greenhouses the graceful Roman and Italian Hyacinths may be flowered in +the same way. + +For a selection of Hyacinths of various colours the reader will find it +best to consult a good bulb catalogue or a nurseryman. Plate 11 shows a +few varieties, but the size of the page renders it impossible to show +them in all their natural grandeur. + +Besides the florist's Hyacinths there are one or two natural species +that are worth growing in the rockery, flower border, or in the grass. +These are the Spanish Hyacinth (_H. amethystinus_), with bright blue +drooping blossoms, or white in the variety _albus_, in May and June +(see Plate 7, fig. 30). The other is _H. azureus_, which very much +resembles one of the Muscaris, and sends up its sky-blue drooping +flowers as early as February (see Plate 2, fig. 10). + +Hyacinths may be increased by offsets. These may be stored in dry sand +until planting time in the autumn, when they should be placed in beds by +themselves, and will reach the flowering stage, with care, in two or +three seasons. Full-sized bulbs are induced to develop bulblets by +cutting them cross-wise, about half-way through from the base, or +scooping the bottom out into a hollow. The bulbs are placed to dry after +cutting, and by and bye the bulblets appear. They may be detached and +planted like the offsets. + + +=IRIS= (_Flag_).--As the various kinds of Irises, known as +"rhizomatous," "bearded," "beardless," and "oncocyclus or cushion," have +already been dealt with in "A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO GARDEN PLANTS," and in +the companion volume to this, "BEAUTIFUL GARDEN FLOWERS," it is only +necessary here to refer to the "Bulbous" Irises, as coming appropriately +within the scope of this work. The best-known examples of Bulbous, or +Xiphion Irises, as they are sometimes called, are the Spanish Iris (_I. +Xiphium_) and the English Iris (_I. xiphioides_). Varieties of the +last-named are shown on Plate 14, while forms of the Spanish Iris will +be found in "BEAUTIFUL GARDEN FLOWERS," Plate 20, and also in this work, +Plate 15. Besides these well-known examples of Bulbous Irises, there are +many others now well-known. They are, however, much smaller in stature +as a rule, more fragile, so utterly distinct in appearance from the +ordinary Flag Irises, and so curiously and beautifully coloured, that +many amateurs liken them to orchids, although, perhaps, they can +scarcely be termed "Poor Men's" Orchids like their commoner relatives. +On Plate 3, five species of charming and early flowering Bulbous Irises +are shown, and a glance will show that no description could do real +justice to the charming beauty of the blossoms. + +The following comprise some of the best kinds of Bulbous Irises:--_I. +alata_, and its numerous varieties, bright lilac-purple to white, +October to December; _I. Bakeriana_ (fig. 12), sky blue and white, +blotched with violet, January to March; _I. Boissieri_, reddish purple, +June; _I. caucasica_, pale yellow, February and March; _I. Danfordiae_, +or (_Bornmuellieri_) golden yellow, February (fig. 14); _I. juncea_, +golden-yellow, fragrant, June and July; _I. Kolpakowskyana_ (fig. 13) +has reddish-purple and golden-yellow, with purple veins in March; _I. +orchioides_ has very large bulbs and bright-yellow flowers in March and +April; _I. persica_ (fig. 15), and its varieties, with light purple, +lavender, lilac, sea-green, and other shades of colour, and usually +distinctly spotted and sweet-scented during February and March; _I. +pumila_, lilac, purple, or deep violet, April. _I. reticulata_ has deep +violet fragrant flowers in February and March; there are very many +distinct varieties of it, such as _cyanea_, bright blue; _Histrio_, +blue, blotched with golden-yellow, December to March (fig. 11); +_Histrioides_, bright blue tinted with violet; _humilis_, rich red, +purple, orange, and white; _Krelagei_, claret purple and yellow; +_purpurea_, reddish purple; _sophenensis_, varying from reddish and +bluish purple to lilac and lavender; _I. Rosenbachiana_, variable in +colour, purple, yellow, and white to rich crimson and purple blue, March +and April; _I. sindjarensis_ has sweet-scented slaty-blue flowers; and +_I. stenophylla_ or _Heldreichi_, mauve purple, February and March. + +PLATE 22. CALOCHORTUS VENUSTUS (84) CALOCHORTUS ALBUS (85) CALOCHORTUS +PULCHELLUS (86) + +The Spanish and English Irises flourish in ordinary good and +well-drained garden soil containing a fair amount of sand or grit, and +humus. The English varieties on the whole require a somewhat moister +situation and rather heavier soil than the Spanish. They flower +profusely, and their many shades of colour make the long-stalked +blossoms great favourites for decorative purposes. The different +colours can be had separately from the nurseryman or florist, but a +mixed collection will afford great pleasure to those who do not +wish to be burdened with the fancy names given in catalogues. + +The smaller kinds of Bulbous Irises--like those shown on Plate +3--require to be treated a little more carefully than the Spanish and +English varieties. Indeed many of the choicer and rarer varieties are +safer grown in pots of rich sandy soil in cold frames. They flower early +in the year, and, if exposed in the open border or rock-garden, the +blossoms would be probably not only considerably disfigured, but the +cold rains and frosts might kill the bulbs. When grown in the open air, +warm sheltered spots should be selected for them, and the soil should be +a well-drained sandy loam with a little leaf-soil. If the plants are +flourishing, they may be left in the same spot for three or four +seasons. After this it is better to lift them when the leaves have +withered, and then any offsets may be detached to increase the stock. As +a rule the best time to plant bulbous Irises is in September or October, +but not later. + + +=IXIA= (=African Corn Lily=).--If the reader will turn to Plate 1, he or +she will at once admit that the Ixias are a charming class of bulbous +plants. The picture was prepared from specimens kindly supplied by +Messrs. Wallace & Co., of Colchester. There are many other shades and +combinations of colour besides those represented, and happy would be the +amateur who succeeded in raising such lovely flowers in his +garden--either in the open air or under glass. + +The Ixias are natives of South Africa, and have smooth or +fibrous-coated, round and flattish corms, about an inch in diameter. The +sword-shaped leaves are strongly veined, and the beautiful blossoms are +borne on stems 1 to 2 feet, during June and July. Some of the best +varieties are shown on Plate 1, and attention is especially directed to +the charming soft sea-green flowers of _I. viridiflora_, having a dark +blotch in the centre. To these may be added the deep-red or +crimson-flowered _speciosa_ or _crateroides_. + +It is a pity that such elegant flowers cannot be grown in the open air +in every part of the British Islands. Unfortunately they are not hardy +enough for this, and consequently the best results out of doors are only +likely to be secured in the mildest parts of the kingdom. The best time +to plant is from September to November. The corms should be about 3 +inches beneath the surface of the soil. This should be a light, sandy +loam; if inclined to be heavy, it should be raised in small beds above +the general level to secure better drainage, and a little sand may be +placed round each corm, also with the same object in view. In the event +of cold rains and frosts in winter, the bulbs should be protected with +litter, bracken, &c., to be removed at the end of February or March when +the leaves begin to appear. + +Where it is impossible to grow Ixias successfully in the open air, they +may be grown in pots in cold frames or for the decoration of the +greenhouse or conservatory. The corms should be potted in September or +October, and kept under ashes or fibre in the open until roots have +developed, after which they may be brought inside to develop. Ixias are +best increased by offsets. + + +=IXIOLIRION montanum.=--This beautiful plant (also known as _I. Pallasi_ +and _I. tataricum_) has long-necked ovoid bulbs about an inch in +diameter, and tufts of grassy leaves. The charming lilac blossoms, as +shown on Plate 18, fig. 73, are borne in early summer in loose clusters +on stems a foot or more high, and are very useful in a cut state. There +is a good deal of variation in the colour, which has led to different +names being given from time to time. + +_I. Kolpakowskyanum_ is a rare and little known species from Turkestan. +It has much smaller bulbs than _montanum_, and the blue or whitish +blossoms appear somewhat earlier in the year. + +Ixiolirions may be grown successfully in the milder parts of the kingdom +in warm sheltered spots in the flower-border or rock-garden. They should +be planted about 3 inches deep in September or October in light sandy +soil, and in cold localities should be protected with litter, &c., in +winter. + + +=LAPEYROUSIA= (=Anomatheca=) =cruenta.=--A pretty South African plant, 6 +to 12 inches high, with irregular roundish corms about 2 inches in +diameter, and narrow sword-shaped leaves. The deep crimson or blood-red +blossoms, with a still deeper-coloured blotch on each of the three inner +segments, appear in late summer in loose clusters on slender stalks, and +are very striking when seen in large masses. This species, although +perhaps a trifle hardier, may be grown in the same way as the Ixias (see +p. 90). The corms, however, being larger, should be planted about 6 +inches deep, and new plants may be secured by detaching the offsets when +the leaves have withered. + +PLATE 23. GLADIOLUS OPPOSITIFLORUS (87) LILIUM CANADENSE, VARS. (88-89) + + +=LEUCOJUM= (_Snowflake_).--Beautiful plants closely related to the +Snowdrops, and somewhat resembling them in bulbs, and leaves, and +flowers. The Spring Snowflake (_L. vernum_) is the first of the group to +produce its drooping sweet-scented blossoms in March and April. They are +usually borne singly on a slender stalk 6 to 12 inches high, and are +white in colour with more or less conspicuous green tips to the petals, +as shown in Plate 12, fig. 47. The next best-known kind is the Summer +Snowflake--the paradoxical name of _L. aestivum_. The pure white flowers, +tipped with green, appear in May and June, sometimes as many as six +being borne on a stem. _L. pulchellum_ is closely related to this +species, but has narrower leaves, and produces its smaller blossoms +somewhat later. The pretty little plants, formerly known as _Acis_, are +now included with the Leucojums. They all have small white drooping +blossoms on slender stems 6 to 12 inches high, those of _hyemalis_ and +_trichophylla_, appearing in April, while those of _autumnalis_ appear +in autumn. + +The Snowflakes flourish in rich sandy soil, and appear to advantage in +the rock-garden or in the grass, where they may be massed in the same +way as Snowdrops, &c. Most of them are easily increased by offsets. + + +=LILIUM= (_Lily_).--Of all the hardy bulbous plants that may be grown in +the open air in our climate, the Lilies may be looked upon as the most +noble. Not only are many of them giants in stature among other hardy +bulbs, but there is nothing to equal their individual blossoms in size, +or their general gracefulness of appearance when borne collectively on +the leafy stems. + +They differ in another respect from other bulbous plants described in +this book, and that is in having "scaly" bulbs as shown on page 12. All +the other plants have either bulbs with several coats rolled round each +other (tunicated), or else they are solid, when they are known as corms. +But in the Lilies neither of these two types appears. What are known as +the "scales" are fleshy leaves that have been specially modified under +the surface of the soil to act as reservoirs or storehouses for the +surplus food that the green aerial leaves on the stems have elaborated +for them during the daytime. + +There are a large number of species of Lilium, differing greatly in size +and blossom, and it is therefore only natural to expect the bulbs to +vary a good deal also. Indeed, there are very large and very small +bulbs, comparatively speaking, and they display a good deal of +difference in their vegetation, and in producing offsets. For example, +most kinds develop new bulbs or offsets round the base of the older +bulb, while others, like _canadense_, _Grayi_, _pardalinum_, _Parryi_, +and _superbum_, develop their new bulbs along creeping stems or rhizomes +as shown in the sketch on page 31. + +Useful as the offsets are for the purpose of increasing the stock, some +kinds, notably _bulbiferum_, _Browni_, _speciosum_, and _tigrinum_, +often develop what are called "bulbils" in the axils of the aerial +leaves. These bulbils are small bulb-like bodies, which, when sown and +covered with soil as if they were large seeds, will develop into +flowering bulbs in the course of two or three years. The origin of these +bulbils is more fully dealt with at p. 32. + +Besides these two fairly easy means of increasing the stock of Lilies, +many kinds may be also raised from seeds, which at the end of three, +six, or eight years, will have produced bulbs large enough to throw up +flowering stems. Raising Lilies from seed is more common now than it +used to be, especially in America, where some lovely hybrids have been +raised, such as _Burbanki_, _Dalhansoni_, _Marhan_, &c. + + +=Distribution of Lilies.=--As Liliums are distributed throughout all +parts of the north temperate hemisphere--extending from California in +the west, to China and Japan in the east, across the continents of North +America, Europe, and Asia--they are therefore found naturally growing in +different soils, and under various climatic conditions, in all degrees +of sunshine and shadow, drought and moisture. In the British flower +garden they are, as a rule, best in positions where they will be shaded +from the hot mid-day sun, as the flowers will last much longer than if +exposed too much. They should not, however, be planted in deep shade +under trees, or among their roots, as the latter would absorb too much +food and moisture from the Lilies, while the overhanging boughs would +prevent the rain from reaching the bulbs in sufficient quantity. During +vigorous growth, Lilies like plenty of water, but the soil must at the +same time be so well drained that it shall readily pass away from the +bulbs. ("A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO GARDEN PLANTS.") + + +=Time and Depth of Planting.=--If bulbs can be secured early in autumn, +say in September or October, that would be the best time to plant +Lilies. But very often bulbs of certain kinds cannot be secured till +spring, so that planting must necessarily take place then. The depth at +which Lily bulbs are to be planted depends greatly upon the size of the +individual bulbs; some kinds are planted about 6 inches deep, while +others require a depth of 9 or 10 inches. A safe general rule to follow, +is to cover the bulbs with about twice their own depth of soil when +planting in the open air. If a piece of peat be placed beneath each bulb +at the time of planting, and a layer of sand about half-an-inch thick +round them, they will root much more freely. An exception to the general +rule seems to be _L. giganteum_ (see p. 100). When Liliums are hardy +enough to be left undisturbed for several seasons in the same place, a +good top-dressing or "mulching" of well-decayed manure in autumn will be +of great advantage in replenishing the food for the roots. + +So far as culture is concerned, Liliums may be arranged in three +distinct groups as follows:-- + + +I. LILIES THAT FLOURISH IN ORDINARY GOOD GARDEN SOIL, OR BETTER STILL, +IN STRONG LOAM THAT HAS BEEN DEEPLY DUG AND ENRICHED WITH WELL-DECAYED +MANURE IN ADVANCE. + + +_Alexandrae_, 2 to 3 feet high, with pure white flowers, 6 to 8 inches +across in July and August. + +_Batemanniae_, 3 to 5 feet high, flowers rich apricot, 4 to 5 inches +across. + +_Bulbiferum_, 2 to 4 feet high, with erect crimson flowers spotted with +brown; May and June. + +_Candidum_, the well-known "Madonna Lily," 3 to 5 feet high, with +sweet-scented pure-white flowers, 3 to 4 inches across, and ten to +thirty on an erect truss in June. When subject to disease in any +locality, it is almost useless attempting to grow this Lily. (See Plate +16, fig. 64). + +_Chalcedonicum_, a fine "Turk's Cap" Lily, 2 to 3 feet high, with +drooping bright scarlet flowers in July and August; there are several +varieties, including _maculatum_, a spotted one. + +_Croceum_, the "Orange or Saffron Lily," with somewhat cobwebby stems 3 +to 6 feet high, and golden orange, funnel-shaped flowers, spotted with +purple at the base; June and July. (See Plate 17, fig. 67). + +_Dalhansoni_, a pretty hybrid between _dalmaticum_ and _Hansoni_, about +5 feet high, with dark brownish-purple flowers in June and July. + +_Dauricum_ or _davuricum_ grows 2 to 3 feet high, and has orange-scarlet +flowers spotted with blackish-purple. + +_Henryi_, 3 to 6 feet high (sometimes much taller) with jagged-surfaced +orange-red flowers from July to September. + +_Marhan_, a lovely hybrid between the white-flowered _Martagon_ and +_Hansoni_. It grows 4 to 5 feet high, and has clear orange-yellow +flowers with red-brown streaks and spots. + +_Pomponium_, a fine "Turk's Cap" species, 2 to 3 feet high, with +drooping, bright-red, orange-yellow, flowers. + +PLATE 24. LILIUM TIGRINUM (90) BRODIAEA BRIDGESI (91) + +_Pyrenaicum_ is closely related to _pomponium_, but is somewhat taller, +and has bright-yellow flowers, blotched with crimson at the base (see +Plate 18, fig. 71). + +_Rubellum_, a beautiful species about 2 feet high, with bell-shaped +rosy-pink flowers in June (see Plate 26, fig. 97). + +_Testaceum_ (or _excelsum_), a fine Lily, 5 to 6 feet high, with +somewhat drooping, soft, buff-yellow or apricot-coloured flowers, dotted +with orange-red. + +_Umbellatum._ A number of Lilies are grouped under this name, being +apparently hybrid varieties between _croceum_, _davuricum_, and +_elegans_. The prevailing colours are orange, orange-red, and apricot, +with darkly-spotted and unspotted forms. + +_Washingtonianum_ grows 3 to 6 feet high, and has sweet-scented, +drooping, funnel-shaped flowers of a pure white tinged with lilac or +purple. The soil should be particularly well-drained for this +Californian Lily. + + +II. LILIES THAT FLOURISH IN SANDY LOAM, PEAT, AND LEAF-SOIL. + + +_Auratum_, a well-known Lily, 2 to 6 feet high, with ivory-white +flowers, often 9 to 12 inches across, with a conspicuous yellow band +down the centre, and deep purple blotches all over the inner surface. +There are several varieties, some poor, some excellent, amongst the +latter being _platyphyllum_ with very large heavily-spotted flowers. +There is a white unspotted form of this called _virginale_, closely +related to which is _Wittei_, the flowers of which, however, are stained +with yellow down the centre. + +_Browni_, 2 to 4 feet high, with bell-shaped flowers, pure white with a +central purple line. + +_Concolor_, grows 1 to 3 feet high, and has bright scarlet flowers. +There are several varieties, such as _Buschianum_ and the dwarf +_pulchellum_, scarlet, spotted with black; _Coridion_, bright yellow, +spotted with red; _Partheneion_, orange-yellow, faintly spotted; and +_luteum_, yellow, spotted with purple-red. + +_Elegans_ (or _Thunbergianum_), 1 to 2 feet high, with erect cup-shaped +scarlet flowers, slightly spotted with purple at the base. + +_Giganteum_, a gigantic Himalayan Lily, with stems from 6 to 10, and +sometimes 14 feet high, furnished with large heart-shaped oval leaves. +The flower stem is 1 to 2 feet long and has drooping funnel-shaped +blossoms of a greenish-white, suffused with violet-purple in the throat. +Unlike other Liliums, the large conical bulbs of this species are not +buried deeply in the soil. They are sunk in the soil about one-third of +their depth, and are usually planted in April or May. In the event of +spring frosts, the bulbs should be protected with dry leaves or litter. + +_Hansoni_, 3 to 4 feet high, flowers drooping, bright orange yellow, and +heavily spotted with dark purple-brown (see Plate 25, fig. 93). + +_Humboldti_ (or _Bloomerianum_), 4 to 8 feet high, flowers +orange-yellow, drooping, spotted with purple at the base; more +conspicuous in the variety _ocellatum_, the yellow blossoms of which are +tipped with crimson or purple. + +_Japonicum_, 1 to 3 feet high, with sweet-scented pure white flowers +faintly tinged with purple outside. + +_Kewense_, a beautiful hybrid between _Henryi_ and a variety of +_Browni_; it grows about 6 feet high, and has buff-coloured flowers +about 8 inches across, fading off to creamy white at the tips. + +_Krameri_ is like _japonicum_, but taller, and with pink flowers. + +_Leichtlini_, 3 to 4 feet high, with drooping citron-yellow flowers +heavily spotted with purple. + +_Longiflorum_, a very handsome Lily, 2 to 3 feet high, with large +tubular pure white flowers. There are many so-called varieties of this +species, including _Harrisi_, _eximium_, and _Takesima_--all very +popular for forcing in pots for greenhouses (see Plate 25, fig. 94). + +_Martagon_, the "Turk's Cap," Lily, 2 to 3 feet high, with many tiers of +drooping purple-red or violet-rose flowers, spotted with carmine, but +white in the tall growing variety _album_ (see Plate 26, fig. 95). + +_Monadelphum_ (or _Loddigesianum_) is a vigorous Lily, 3 to 5 feet high, +with soft bright yellow flowers, which in the variety _Szovitsianum_ (or +_colchicum_) are spotted with blackish-purple (see Plate 26, fig. 98). + +_Pardalinum_, known as the "Leopard Lily," grows 3 to 8 feet high, and +has drooping orange-red flowers spotted with dark purple at the base. +There are several varieties, some being more highly coloured and spotted +than others. + +_Roezli_, 2 to 3 feet high, with dark blotched orange-red flowers. + +_Speciosum_, also well-known as _lancifolium_, grows 2 to 3 feet high, +and has white flowers suffused with rose, the lower portion of the +segments being deeper in colour, and covered with papillae. There are +many varieties such as _album_, white; _Kraetzeri_, white tinged with +green down the centre; _Melpomene_, deep crimson-purple, &c. + +_Tenuifolium_, so called from its grass-like leaves, grows 1 to 2 feet +high, and has small drooping scarlet blossoms (see Plate 25, fig. 92). + +_Tigrinum_, the "Tiger Lily," with woolly stems 2 to 4 feet high, and +deep orange-red flowers heavily spotted with blackish-purple. (See Plate +24, fig. 90.) + + +III. LILIES THAT FLOURISH IN VERY MOIST BUT WELL-DRAINED SANDY LOAM, +PEAT, AND LEAF-SOIL. THEY ARE EXCELLENT FOR PLANTING IN SHADY BORDERS, +UNDER NORTH WALLS, OR BY THE SIDE OF PONDS, &c. + + +_Burbanki_, a fine hybrid between _pardalinum_ and _Parryi_. Flowers, +pale orange-yellow, spotted with chocolate and flushed with crimson at +the tips. A single stem often has as many as twenty or thirty blooms +upon it. + +_Canadense_, a rhizomatous "Turk's Cap" Lily, 2 to 4 feet high, with +drooping funnel-shaped flowers varying in colour from bright orange-red +to pale red, the upper portion of the segments being heavily spotted +with purple-brown. (See Plate 23, figs. 88 and 89.) There are several +forms such as _rubrum_, _flavum_, _parvum_, &c. + +_Catesbaei_, an elegant species, 1 to 2 feet high, having erect +bell-shaped flowers of a bright orange-red heavily spotted with purple. + +_Cordifolium_, a very distinct-looking Lily, 3 to 4 feet high, having +broadly heart-shaped ovate leaves, and tubular white flowers with +violet-brown spots at the base. + +_Grayi_ is closely related to _canadense_, but has deep crimson flowers +heavily blotched with purple at the yellowish base. + +_Maritimum_ is a pretty Lily, 3 to 5 feet high, with small deep red +bell-shaped flowers spotted with dark purple. + +_Parryi_ is another rhizomatous Lily, 2 to 6 feet high. The more or less +drooping flowers are citron-yellow, spotted with purple-brown, and are +sweetly fragrant. + +_Superbum_ is known as the "Swamp Lily" of North America. It has +creeping rhizomes which produce bulbs at intervals, and the +violet-purple stems grow 4 to 10 feet high. The drooping orange-red +flowers, sometimes as many as twenty to forty on a stem, are heavily +spotted with violet-purple. The variety _carolinianum_ (also known as +_autumnale_ and _Michauxianum_) has flowers like those of the type, but +the plants only grow about 2 feet high. + +PLATE 25. LILIUM TENUIFOLIUM (92) LILIUM HANSONI (93) LILIUM +LONGIFLORUM (94) + +Most of the Lilies described in these three sections may be grown in +beds by themselves on the grass, or they may be planted in clumps in +borders or shrubberies where they will have plenty of space and enough +sunshine to enable them to develop fully. The peat-loving kinds--those +in the second and third sections--are excellent for planting amongst +such plants as Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Kalmias, and other peat-loving +shrubs. + + +=LYCORIS squamigera.=--This distinct Japanese plant is closely related +to the Belladonna Lily (see p. 51). It has rather long-necked roundish +bulbs, 2 to 3 inches in diameter, and strap-shaped leaves about a foot +long. From July to September, after the leaves have withered, the large +sweet-scented rosy-lilac flowers (see Plate 32, fig. 116) are borne on a +stout stalk 2 to 3 feet high. This plant may be grown out of doors in +the milder parts of the kingdom in warm sheltered spots, such as against +a well on a south border. It likes rich well-drained sandy loam and +leaf-soil, but grows freely in ordinary good garden soil. There are +other species that may probably succeed in the open air in the same way, +such as _aurea_, golden-yellow; _straminea_, pale yellow with a pink +central line and red dots; and _radiata_, bright red. + + +=MERENDERA Bulbocodium.=--A pretty Pyrenean plant closely related to +_Bulbocodium vernum_. It grows only 3 or 4 inches high, and produces its +rosy-lilac funnel-shaped flowers in autumn at the same time as some of +the true Colchicums. The narrow sickle-shaped leaves appear after the +flowers are over and remain fresh and green till spring. There are a few +other species, but they are practically unknown in gardens. The +Merendera may be grown exactly in the same way as the Colchicums, in the +border, rock-garden, or best of all in the grass. The stock may be +increased by offsets and seeds. + + +=MILLA biflora.=--There is now only one Milla, the plants formerly known +under that name being now included in the genus Brodiaea (see p. 56). _M. +biflora_ has rather small bulbs with fleshy roots and narrow, +grass-like, blue-green leaves. The pretty pure white salver-shaped +blossoms appear in August and September usually two to four on stems +about 6 inches high. Being a native of Mexico, _M. biflora_ should be +grown in warm sheltered spots in the rock-garden or border, in a rich +sandy loam, the bulbs being planted about 4 inches deep. Increased by +offsets. + + +=MUSCARI= (_Grape Hyacinth_).--A charming class of plants with roundish +bulbs about 1 inch in diameter, narrow leaves, and conical clusters of +urn-shaped or tubular blossoms drooping from stems 3 to 6 inches high. +Although the Grape Hyacinths may be easily grown in patches or edgings +in the ordinary flower border, there is no place that shows off their +sheets of brilliant blue blossoms so well as a grassy bank, or a nook in +the rockery, where they should be planted in large numbers. They +naturally like a rich and well drained soil with plenty of grit or sand +in it, and some leaf-soil. The bulbs should be planted about 3 inches +deep in September and October, and when naturalised in the grass may be +left for several seasons without being disturbed. Most of the kinds +blossom in March, April, and May, and are easily increased by offsets. +Seeds may also be sown (see p. 36). + +The following is a selection of the best kinds. The flowers are blue in +all cases, except where otherwise mentioned, and the general appearance +of the blossoms is as shown by _M. conicum_ in Plate 12, fig. +48:--_Armeniacum_; _botryoides_, with a white-flowered variety _album_; +_comosum_, the monstrous form of which, with twisted and wavy +bluish-violet filaments, is known as the Ostrich Feather Hyacinth; +_conicum_ (see Plate 12, fig. 48), of which there is a beautiful +brilliant blue variety called "Heavenly Blue." _Heldreichi_, like +_botryoides_, but larger; _Maweanum_; _neglectum_; _racemosum_; +_amphibolus_ porcelain blue; and _Szovitsianum_. + +There are other colours besides blue among the Grape Hyacinths. Thus the +"Musk Hyacinth" (_M. moschatum_) has sweet-scented blossoms which change +from purple at first to greenish-yellow tinged with violet. It has a +yellow flowered variety called _flavum_ or _macrocarpum_. Some forms of +_neglectum_ are salmon-pink, while the blossoms of _M. paradoxum_ might +be described almost as black. + + +=NARCISSUS= (_Daffodil_).--What so charming in the spring-time as "a +host of Golden Daffodils"? The varieties are now almost legion, and they +are still being added to by enthusiastic hybridists in various parts of +the kingdom. The crossing of one section with another may possibly worry +the botanist, but there is no fear that the gardener will not welcome +any new variety that may be raised. Although thousands of the older +Daffodils may be bought for a few shillings, the rarer varieties still +command a respectably high price, and will naturally continue to do so +until the stock has been considerably increased. + +There is scarcely a nook in the garden, large or small, where Daffodils +cannot be grown. And yet it is astonishing to note their general absence +from suburban gardens, where they would not only grow freely, but also +make a cheerful picture in the spring-time. + +PLATE 26. LILIUM MARTAGON ALBUM (95) WATSONIA ARDERNEI (96) LILIUM +RUBELLUM (97) LILIUM COLCHICUM (98) + +Daffodils--with the exception, perhaps, of a very few varieties--require +as little attention, and even less than Snowdrops or Crocuses. Once +planted they may be left undisturbed for years, and as each season comes +round they gaily shoot their blue-green strap-shaped leaves and creamy +or golden blossoms through the ground. + +They grow in almost any soil, but prefer a rather stiff and well-drained +loam. They are appropriate in any situation in the flower border or +rockery. But their natural position is undoubtedly in the grass, or-- + + "Beside the lake, beneath the trees, + Fluttering and dancing in the breeze," + +As Wordsworth has it. + + +=When to Plant.=--The best time to plant Daffodil bulbs is from the end +of August to November. As there is a great difference in the size of the +bulbs, according to the variety, the depth of planting should vary +accordingly. Thus bulbs 1 to 2 inches deep from top of neck to base +should be planted quite 3 or 4 inches deep, while larger ones will be +planted 4 to 6 inches deep in proportion, and about the same distance +apart, except, of course, when they are used between other plants like +Tulips, Wallflowers, Polyanthuses, &c., for a combination display in +spring. + +Most of the Daffodils are valuable for cutting and decorative purposes +generally when in season, and when one has the convenience of a +greenhouse--cold or otherwise--the flowering period can be extended from +Christmas onwards. + +Daffodils are most easily increased by the offsets from the old bulbs. +These may be lifted in early summer, when the leaves have begun to turn +yellow. Seeds may also be sown when ripe (see page 36), but to secure +them the plants must be left much longer in the ground, so as to mature +them. + +Nearly all kinds of Daffodils--especially those having only one flower +on a stem--may be grown in the open air. There are hundreds of varieties +to choose from, but the uninitiated may start with such kinds as the +beautiful white and flat-flowered "Poet's Narcissus" (_N. poeticus_), +which is also called the "Pheasant's Eye" Narcissus, because of the +crimson and orange circles round the rim of the flat saucer-like +"corona" in the centre (see Plate 7, fig. 29). There are several +varieties of the Poet's Narcissus, one of the best for ordinary purposes +being _ornatus_. Where the soil is particularly rich and well-drained +the double-flowered variety, called the "Gardenia" Narcissus, owing to +the shape of its beautiful white blossoms (see Plate 7, fig. 28), may be +grown. Unfortunately this variety often comes "blind," that is, the +blossoms remain undeveloped in the papery sheath on top of the stem. To +check this the bulbs are best lifted and transplanted early to fresh +soil. Another popular and easily-grown Daffodil is the common Double +Yellow one known as _Telamonius plenus_ or _Van Sion_. It is a form of +the Tenby Daffodil (_N. obvallaris_) which is a single form with +beautiful yellow flowers, having a large "trumpet" or corona in the +centre. Closely related to this is the Great Spanish Daffodil (_N. +major_) which has large bright lemon-yellow flowers, which are still +larger and of richer yellow in the variety _maximus_. + + +="Ajax" Daffodils.=--To these may be added the numerous forms, of which +the common Lent Lily (also called "Ajax" or "Trumpet Daffodil") is the +type, and which has pale sulphur-yellow blossoms with a lemon-yellow +"trumpet." Some of the finest Daffodils, with large spreading flowers +and correspondingly large and deep trumpets, belong to this section, +among which may be mentioned _Ard Righ_ or _Yellow King_, _C. W. Cowan_, +_Colleen Bawn_, _Emperor_, _Glory of Leiden_, _Golden Spur_, _Henry +Irving_, _Hudibras_, _John Nelson_, _Madame de Graaff_ (see Plate 4, +fig. 17), _Monarch_, _W. Goldring_, &c. All these have single flowers +varying in colour from almost pure white (as in _C. W. Cowan_, _Colleen +Bawn_, and _Madame de Graaff_) to deep golden-yellow in many of the +other varieties. There are a few double-flowered forms of the "Lent +Lily," the best known being _Capax_, lemon-yellow; _grandiplenus_, deep +yellow, _plenissimus_, and the Old Double Lent Lily grown in Gerarde's +garden over 300 years ago. + + +="Bicolor" Daffodils.=--Another very fine group of Trumpet Daffodils are +those known as "bicolors," so called because the spreading segments are +one colour (generally white or creamy), while the trumpet is another +colour (usually some shade of soft or deep yellow). Amongst the most +popular forms in this group may be mentioned _Ellen Willmott_ (see Plate +4, fig. 16), _Empress, Grandee_, _Horsfieldi_ (see Plate 4, fig. 18), +_Mrs. J. B. M. Camm_, _Mrs. Morland Crossfield,_ _Mrs. Walter T. Ware_, +_Princeps_ or _Irish Giant, Victoria,_ and _Weardale Perfection_ (see +Plate 6, fig. 26). + + +The "=Star Daffodils=" (_N. incomparabilis_) have spreading starry +petals, and a cup or chalice-like corona or trumpet in the centre. They +are a very free growing group, the commoner kinds of which (such as +_Autocrat_, _Cynosure_, _Stella_) may be naturalised in thousands in the +grass, where they may be seen at "a glance tossing their heads in +sprightly dance." Some other very fine forms are _C. J. Backhouse_, +_Frank Miles_, _Geo. Nicholson_, _Gloria Mundi_ (see Plate 5, fig. 21), +_Lulworth_ (see Plate 6, fig. 27), _Mary Anderson_, _Sir Watkin_ (see +Plate 5, fig. 23), and _Princess Mary of Cambridge_ (see Plate 5, fig. +21), &c., but there are many others. There are also several double +varieties of Star Daffodils, the most common being "Butter and Eggs," +_Orange Phoenix_ (or _Eggs and Bacon_) and _Sulphur Phoenix_ (or +_Codlins and Cream_). + +There are many other kinds of Daffodils which have only one flower on a +stem, many of them being natural or artificial hybrids. Space will not +permit detailed descriptions, but the following may be looked upon as +the best:--_Backhousei_, _Barri_ (with several forms), _Bernardi_, +_Burbidgei_, (with several forms), _gracilis_, _Humei_, _intermedius_, +_Johnstoni_ (with several forms), _Leedsi_ (with several fine forms), +_Macleayi_, _moschatus_ (with several forms, the best being _cernuus_), +_muticus_, and _Nelsoni_ (with several forms). + +In the foregoing sections the blossoms are all of a fairly large size, +and borne on stalks a foot or more high. There is, however a charming +group in which the blossoms are in most cases comparatively small and +the flower stalks short. These kinds are valuable for planting in bold +masses in partially shaded places in the rockery, or in short grass. + +_N. cyclamineus_ is a charming little Daffodil. It belongs to the Lent +Lily group botanically. The blossoms, however, are much smaller; the +segments being lemon-yellow, and abruptly turned back upon the stalk +from the orange-yellow cylindrical "trumpet." (See Plate 5, fig. 19.) + +_N. minor_ is another miniature form of Lent Lily, with +gracefully-twisted sulphur-yellow segments surrounding a deeper yellow +spreading "trumpet." The variety _minimus_ is smaller still, with rich +yellow flowers, while _plenus_ (or _Rip Van Winkle_) is a double +variety. + +One kind that differs conspicuously from all others is the "Hooped +Petticoat" or "Medusa Trumpet" Daffodil (_N. Bulbocodium_), at one time +considered a distinct genus (_Corbularia_). It is a charming species, +having bright-yellow flowers, the chief characteristic of which is the +cone-like or broadly funnel-shaped trumpet. There are several varieties, +such as _citrinus_ (lemon-yellow), _conspicuus_ (golden-yellow), +_Graellsi_ (primrose-yellow), _monophyllus_ (snow-white, leaves +solitary), _nivalis_, (orange-yellow). + +PLATE 27. WATSONIA MERIANA (99) WATSONIA ALBA (100) WATSONIA ANGUSTA +(101) MONTBRETIA CROCOSMIAEFLORA (102) + + +=Polyanthus or Tazetta Narcissus.=--Passing from the Daffodils with +solitary flowers on a stalk, we come to a small group in which several +blossoms adorn the top of the stem. The most important of these is +perhaps the Polyanthus or Bunch Narcissus (_N. Tazetta_) which was +well-known to the old Greek and Roman poets, although in a wild state it +is met with eastwards across Europe and Asia, to China and Japan. The +typical _N. Tazetta_ has 4 to 8 flowers on top of the stem, the +spreading segments being pure white and the cup-shaped corona +lemon-yellow. There are many varieties, and although the individual +blossoms are not very large, they are sometimes produced in much larger +numbers than the type. The best-known varieties are the _Scilly White_, +_Grand Soleil d'or_, _Grand Monarque_ (Plate 6, figs. 24 and 25), and +the _Paper White_--all largely grown in the open air in the Scilly +Isles--but rather too tender for out-door cultivation in less favoured +parts of the kingdom. + +Of late years, a Chinese form (really only _N. Tazetta_) called the +"Sacred Lily" or "Joss Flower," has attracted attention, and has been +recommended for growing in ornamental bowls, &c., in drawing-rooms, in a +compost (if it can be called such) of pebbles and clean water. The +common mistake made in growing the Joss Lily in this way is that the +plants do not get sufficient light in ordinary rooms, and consequently +both leaves and stems are too weak to stand erect. + +Other Daffodils with several flowers on a stalk are the Sweet-Scented +Jonquil (_N. Jonquilla_), easily recognised by its roundish leaves and +rich yellow flowers with a cup-shaped corona. There are several +varieties including a double one known as "Queen Anne's Jonquil." The +Rush-leaved Jonquil (_N. juncifolius_) with roundish rush-like leaves is +closely related, its bright yellow blossoms being distinguished from +those of the Jonquil by being fewer and having broader ovate segments. + +_N. triandrus_, popularly called "Ganymede's Cup," is a charming little +species with 1 to 6 pure-white flowers in which the segments are bent +back from the cup-shaped corona. There are several varieties, including +a lovely white one (_albus_) called "Angel's Tears," shown on Plate 5, +fig. 20. _Concolor_, pale yellow; _calathinus_, white or sulphur-yellow; +_pallidulus_, primrose-yellow; while _pulchellus_ has primrose-yellow +segments and a white corona. + +The bulbs of _N. triandrus_ and its varieties being rather small--half +to three-quarters of an inch in diameter--the spots where they are +planted should be marked, otherwise they are apt to get lost or +destroyed. Until the stock is large they are probably safer grown in +pots in cold frames. + +As new varieties and hybrids are being added each year, the reader who +wishes to grow novelties is advised to consult the bulb catalogues of +such firms as Messrs. Barr & Sons, Covent Garden; Messrs. Ware, Feltham; +Mr. Hartland, of Cork; Mr. Perry, Winchmore Hill, &c. + + +=NOTHOSCORDUM fragrans.=--A sturdy North American plant, 1 to 2 feet +high, with roundish oblong bulbs, having thick fleshy roots. It is +closely related to the Alliums, as may be seen by its umbels of white +starry flowers, the segments of which are keeled with lilac on the +outside. + +This species grows in ordinary good garden soil of a gritty nature, and +is easily increased by offsets. + + +=ORNITHOGALUM= (_Star of Bethlehem_).--Although a large genus, only a +few species are considered worth growing, except in botanical +collections. The best known representative of the group is probably the +Common Star of Bethlehem (_O. umbellatum_), which is now naturalised in +copses and meadows in some parts of England, and may be utilised in the +same way in large gardens with an abundance of grass-land. The clusters +of pure-white starry blossoms appear in May and June, on stalks about 1 +foot high, and are keeled with green behind. Very similar in appearance +are the flowers of _O. arabicum_, which, however, appear in June and +July, and are much larger, sometimes 2 inches across, with golden +anthers, and a shining black ovary in the centre, as shown in Plate 29, +fig. 107. Unfortunately, this species is rather tender in the colder +parts of the kingdom, and should be protected in winter. As an +alternative the plants may be grown in pots in cold greenhouses, or in +glasses of water in the same way as Hyacinths (see p. 84.) _O. nutans_, +the drooping white flowers of which are also shown on Plate 29, fig. +108, is almost as hardy as _O. umbellatum_, and may be naturalised in +the same way. _O. arcuatum_ has pure white erect flowers in May and June +on stalks 2 feet or more high. _O. pyramidale_, the white flowers of +which have a green stripe behind, and are borne on stalks 1-1/2 to 2 +feet high in June and July, is another species worth growing in masses +in the shrubberies, or in the grass (see Plate 19, fig. 74); and _O. +pyrenaicum_, with pale yellow-green flowers may be given similar +treatment. + +Ordinary well-drained garden soil of a more or less sandy nature will +suit the Ornithogalums. They are easily increased by offsets. + + +=PANCRATIUM.=--Most of the plants in this genus require to be grown in +heat and moisture under glass. Two species, however--both with clusters +of white sweet-scented flowers on stout stalks 1 to 2 feet high--can be +grown in the open air in the milder parts of the British Islands. They +are _P. illyricum_ and _P. maritimum_, both natives of Southern Europe. +They have large pear-shaped bulbs with a tapering neck 9 to 12 inches +long, and consequently require to be planted pretty deeply, say about a +foot in September. A well-drained sandy loam and leaf-soil suits them +best, and they may be increased by offsets. + + +=POLIANTHES tuberosa= (_Tuberose_).--Although what are known as African, +American, Italian, and Pearl Tuberoses, are usually grown in warm +greenhouses, nevertheless the plants may be grown with a fair degree of +success in the open air in the milder parts of the kingdom. The thickish +bulbs, about 2 inches through, may be planted out about the end of May, +only just covering the tops with an inch or two of soil. The thin and +narrow leaves will soon appear, and about August the pure waxy-white +heavily-scented blossoms will be thrown up on stalks 2 to 3 feet high, +that may require a thin stake to keep them erect. There are single and +double-flowered varieties, the latter being most popular for cultivation +under glass. For this purpose the bulbs may be treated as advised at p. +46. + + +=PUSCHKINIA scilloides.=--A charming little plant, with ovoid bulbs +about an inch through, and narrow leaves about 6 inches long. About +March and April the white or very pale blue blossoms appear, and are +decorated with a conspicuous deep-blue line down the centre of each +segment. Warm sheltered spots in the rock-garden or flower border, and a +compost of rich sandy loam and leaf-soil suit this plant best. The bulbs +should be planted, 3 or 4 inches deep, in September or October (but not +later), and may, if convenient, remain in the same spot for three or +four seasons without being lifted. This is best done when the foliage +has withered, and will give an opportunity for detaching the offsets to +increase the stock. + + +=SCHIZOSTYLIS coccinea.=--A charming South African plant, 2 to 3 feet +high, with the appearance of a Gladiolus in the sword-like leaves. The +brilliant crimson blossoms, each about 2 inches across, appear from +September to November, and consequently often get spoiled by the weather +unless protected. They are excellent for cutting and valuable so late in +the season. The plants flourish in rich sandy loam, peat and leaf-soil, +and are more satisfactory in the open air in the mildest parts of the +kingdom. In other parts they should be planted on a sheltered south +border where they can be protected in winter if necessary. Grown in +pots, the plants are popular for greenhouse decoration. Increase is +effected by dividing the thickish rootstocks in spring. + +PLATE 28. GLADIOLUS NANCEIANUS (103) GLADIOLUS LEMOINEI (104) GLADIOLUS +CHILDSI (105) + + +=SCILLA= (_Squill_; _Bluebell_).--The Squills and Bluebells are amongst +the most charming of our spring-flowering bulbous plants, and it is +astonishing that they are not more extensively utilised for naturalising +in the grass, with Snowdrops, Crocuses, Narcissi, Chionodoxas, &c., with +which they harmonise so well. Preferring partially shaded spots, they +are particularly valuable for planting in woodland walks, and beneath +our native trees in parks and pleasure grounds. The hardier kinds +require practically no cultivation, and will flourish in any of the +places indicated or in ordinary garden soil in the rock-garden or flower +border. The best time to plant is about September and October, and as +the bulbs are 1-1/2 to 2 inches in diameter, they should be buried about +3 or 4 inches deep, and in hundreds and thousands if possible instead of +in twos and threes. + +The best-known member of the genus is undoubtedly our Common British +Bluebell or Wood Hyacinth (_S. festalis_). It is to be found in +abundance in woods and copses, and from April to June sends up its tall +stalks of drooping bell-shaped flowers, the colour of which varies from +bluish-purple to white or pink, according to the several varieties, such +as _alba_, _rosea_, and _rubra_, &c. + +Another fine species is the Spanish Bluebell (_S. hispanica_ or _S. +campanulata_), perhaps the finest-looking Bluebell in the open air. The +ordinary variety has porcelain-blue flowers on stalks a foot or more +high. It is surpassed in beauty, however, by its white variety _alba_, +which flowers freely and grows vigorously. There are also forms with +pink or rosy flowers, such as _rosea_ or _carnea_, _rubra_, &c., all of +which appear in April and May. + +The species, however, that finds so much favour for autumn planting is +_S. sibirica_, a charming species, with purple-coated bulbs, and bright +porcelain-blue blossoms with more or less spreading segments. They +appear in February and March on stalks 3 to 6 inches high, but are more +numerous in the variety called _multiflora_ (see Plate 2, fig. 7). Owing +to its early blooming, it is of course a great favourite with other +early flowering plants. + +Other kinds of Scilla that may be grown in the open air in the same way +as those already mentioned are:--The Star Hyacinth (_S. amoena_), which +requires rather warm sheltered spots. It has bright indigo blue flowers +with spreading segments from March to May. _S. bifolia_ grows 6 to 9 +inches high, and produces its bright-blue, bell-shaped flowers in March. +There are several forms of it, such as _alba_, white, _rosea_, pale +rose, &c. _S. hyacinthoides_, bluish-lilac; _S. italica_, blue; _S. +verna_, porcelain-blue; _S. patula_, deep blue with white edges; and _S. +monophylla_, with blue or violet flowers, all appearing in April and +May. + +Quite distinct in appearance from all these is _S. peruviana_, which, by +the way, is not a native of Peru, but of the Mediterranean region. It +has large, pear-shaped bulbs, and rosettes of leaves 6 to 12 inches +long, with bristly margins. The bright blue starry blossoms appear in +May and June, and are borne in broadly conical clusters, which elongate +during the flowering period. There are white (_alba_) and yellow +(_lutea_) varieties, the first-named of which is shown on Plate 17, fig. +69. + +This species may be grown in warm sheltered spots in the border or +rock-garden, in dryish, well-drained soil. The bulbs should be planted 4 +to 6 inches deep, and in cold localities should be protected from severe +frosts in winter. + +Scillas may be increased by offsets taken from the old bulbs when the +foliage has withered. + + +=SISYRINCHIUM grandiflorum.=--This is the best garden plant out of about +fifty species. Like Schizostylis coccinea, it can scarcely be called a +"bulbous" plant, as it has only short thickened rootstocks. It grows +about a foot high, having striated leaves, and deep purple blossoms (as +shown in Plate 20, fig. 79), which, however, are white in the variety +_album_. It is an excellent plant for the rock-garden, where it should +be planted in bold clumps, in light sandy loam and peat. Increased by +division of the rootstocks about September. + + +=SPARAXIS.=--The plant best known under this name has been already +described as _Dierama pulcherrima_ at p. 71. The Sparaxis proper are +little known plants, the best known being (i) _grandiflora_, which grows +1 to 2 feet high, and has bell-shaped flowers of deep violet-purple in +April and May. There are many colour variations of this species +(including a white one), several of them having a deeper coloured blotch +at the base of the petals. (ii) _Tricolor_, resembles grandiflora in +appearance, but has rich orange-red blossoms with purple-brown blotches +on the yellow base of the petals. There are also several forms of this +species with white, rose, or purple flowers, all having a yellow centre +with distinct blotches at the base of the petals. + +These South African plants require the same treatment as _Dierama +pulcherrima_ or the Ixias (see p. 89). They like warm sheltered spots in +the mildest parts of the kingdom, and when well-grown are very showy and +useful for cutting. + +PLATE 29. ZEPHYRANTHES ATAMASCO (106) ORNITHOGALUM ARABICUM (107) +ORNITHOGALUM NUTANS (108) + + +=SPREKELIA formosissima= (_Jacobaea Lily_).--A fine Mexican plant, with +roundish bulbs 2 to 3 inches in diameter, and narrow strap-shaped leaves +12 to 18 inches long. In the open air the irregular bright crimson +blossoms, each about 6 inches across, appear about August, and never +fail to attract attention. + +Unfortunately, the Jacobaea Lily, of which there are a few colour +variations, can scarcely be considered as perfectly hardy in the mildest +parts of the British Islands. It often flowers, however, when the bulbs +are planted out about the end of May or early in June, when danger from +frost is practically over. The flowers often appear before the foliage, +but the bulbs should not be lifted in autumn for storing until the +leaves show signs of withering. New plants are secured from offsets. + + +=STERNBERGIA.=--Charming plants, with roundish bulbs about 2 inches in +diameter, and strap-shaped leaves, which are in their prime sometimes +with the blossoms, as in _S. lutea_, and sometimes long before the +latter appear, as in _S. macrantha_. The bulbs should be planted in +spring, 5 or 6 inches deep, in rich and well-drained sandy loam and +leaf-soil. When in bold clumps the flowers present a charming sight, +either in the grass, rock-garden, flower border, or margins of thin +shrubberies. All kinds have beautiful crocus-like yellow flowers as +shown in Plate 33. _S. lutea_ (fig. 119), variously known as the "Winter +Daffodil" and "Yellow Star Flower," is considered to be the "Lily of the +Field" mentioned in the Scriptures. It blooms in September and October, +the yellow flowers nestling amongst the leaves. There are several forms +of it, differing chiefly in the size of the blossoms and width of the +leaves. _S. macrantha_ (fig. 120) is a still finer species, with flowers +much larger than those of _S. lutea_, with which they appear in autumn. +Other species are _colchiciflora_, the bulbs of which are only about an +inch in diameter, and the pale-yellow sweet-scented flowers appear in +autumn. _S. Fischeriana_ also has bright golden-yellow blossoms, but +differs from its relatives in producing them during the spring +months--February onwards--instead of in the autumn. + + +=TECOPHILAEA cyanocrocus.=--This distinct and charming Chilian plant, +popularly known as the "Chilian Crocus," has fibrous-coated corms and +narrow wavy leaves. The beautiful Violet-scented, funnel-shaped flowers +of a brilliant blue, with a white centre, appear in March and April, +borne in loose trusses. (See Plate 12, fig. 50.) The variety +_Leichtlini_ differs in having deeper blue flowers than the type, and +without the white centre. + +In the milder parts of the kingdom the Chilian Crocus may be grown in +the open air in warm sheltered spots, such as on a south border at the +base of a wall or fence. Rich sandy loam and leaf-soil is a good compost +into which the corms may be planted, 6 to 9 inches deep, about +September. In winter it may be necessary to give protection with litter, +bracken, &c., in the event of severe frosts or continuous cold rains. +The plants are most readily increased by offsets. + + +=TIGRIDIA Pavonia= (_Peacock Tiger Flower_).--There are several species +of Tiger Flowers, but the one here mentioned, and its several varieties, +are the most useful for the out-door garden. They have bulbs 1-1/2 to 2 +inches in diameter, and plaited Gladiolus-like leaves. The blossoms, +however, one of which is shown on Plate 30, fig. 110, are of exceptional +beauty and brilliance amongst bulbous plants, and although they do not +last a long time individually, they nevertheless follow each other so +rapidly that the plants are scarcely ever without flowers during the +summer months. The coloured picture will convey a far better idea as to +the colouring and blotching of the flowers than any printed description. +There are other varieties of _T. Pavonia_ besides the one shown on the +Plate. Perhaps the best are _grandiflora_, very large and brilliant; +_conchiflora_, yellow blotched with purple; _Wheeleri_, deep red; and +_alba_, pure white spotted with purple. + +The Tiger Flowers are natives of Mexico, and therefore cannot be grown +successfully in the open air in all parts of the kingdom. In the mildest +parts, however, the bulbs may be left in the ground during the winter +months, care being taken to protect them with leaves, litter, &c., +during severe weather, or from heavy cold rains. In less favoured spots, +where they nevertheless blossom out of doors in summer, the bulbs may be +taken up about the end of October when the foliage has withered, and +they may then be stored in frost-proof places in sand until the +following April or May. Whenever the bulbs are lifted the offsets should +be detached to increase the stock. The warmest, most sheltered, and +sunniest spot in the garden is obviously the best place for Tigridias. +In addition to this the soil should be a well-drained sandy loam +enriched with old cow-manure and leaf-soil. During active growth, and +especially in the hot dry seasons, it is necessary to keep the plants +well-supplied with water, otherwise the results are likely to be the +reverse of satisfactory. + + +=TRITONIA.=--This genus contains a handsome group of plants with +fibrous-coated corms, like those of a Gladiolus, but much smaller. The +plants formerly known as Montbretia are now also included in this genus, +but the corms in some cases (e.g., _M. crocosmiaeflora_) have slender +creeping rhizomes, from which new corms are developed by the end of the +season. The leaves are more or less like those of a Gladiolus, but +somewhat narrower, and often curved, while the showy blossoms are borne +in slender graceful spikes, that are very useful for cutting. + +Only a few species and their numerous varieties are cultivated in the +open air, being either massed in bold clumps in the ordinary flower +border or rockery, or as beds by themselves in the grass. Being natives +of South Africa, warm, sheltered, and sunny situations, and a light +loamy soil, enriched with leaf-soil or well-decayed manure, naturally +suit them best. Although perfectly hardy in all except the bleakest +parts of the kingdom, the kinds mentioned below are best taken up and +replanted each year or two in the spring time. It is not, however, +essential to lift the corms in the autumn and store them in sand except +in very cold parts where protection would be troublesome perhaps. A +glance at the drawings on p. 26 will show the reader that offsets are +freely produced, and in this way the kinds are most easily propagated. + +The kinds most suitable for open air culture are: _T. crocata_ (formerly +known under the names of _Ixia_ and _Gladiolus_) grows about 2 feet or +more high, having broadly sword-shaped and curved leaves, and spikes of +yellow or orange-coloured blossoms in June and July. There is a good +deal of variation in the colour, some varieties being much paler or +darker than others, and spotted with red, yellow, or brown. + +_T. crocosmiaeflora_, better known as _Montbretia_, is a graceful and +popular garden plant, really a hybrid between _Crocosma aurea_ (see p. +67) and _T. Pottsi_. It grows 2 to 2-1/2 feet high, and resembles a +small Gladiolus in foliage. The brilliant orange-red blossoms appear in +great profusion from July onwards to October or November, and are always +attractive when grown in bold masses. There are numerous varieties of +it--one, _Etoile de Feu_--being shown on Plate 27, fig. 102; others +being _Germania_, _Globe d'or_, &c. + +_T. Pottsi_, also better known perhaps as a Montbretia, grows 3 to 4 +feet high, having narrow tapering sword-like leaves, and bright yellow +funnel-shaped flowers suffused with red. They are borne in gracefully +nodding spikes from August onwards, and exhibit great variation in +colour and markings according to the many varieties that are now in +commerce. The plant known as _Tritonia aurea_ is described in this work +as _Crocosma_ (see p. 67). + +PLATE 30. CRINUM MOOREI (109) TIGRIDIA LILACEA (110) + + +=TULBAGHIA violacea.=--A pretty little South African plant with narrow +leaves and slender spikes of violet-purple flowers, as shown in Plate +32, fig. 113. This species seems to be hardy in the Thames Valley and +milder parts, but must be grown in large quantities to produce anything +like an effect. It grows well in ordinary well-drained garden soil. + + +=TULIPA= (_Tulip_).--Although the days of the ridiculous Tulip craze of +the seventeenth century have happily passed away, the love of Tulips has +increased by leaps and bounds, and thousands are now cultivated where +formerly dozens or hundreds were tolerated. Whether grown in lines or +circles in formal beds, in irregular clumps in the flower border or +rock-garden, or naturalised on grassy banks, Tulips constitute one of +the most pleasing and brilliant features in the garden during the spring +and early summer months. Indeed, one can hardly imagine what the garden +would be like at this period of the year without the beauteous forms and +glorious tints of the Tulip. The well-known brown-coated bulbs, 1 to 2 +inches in diameter, are now so cheap that they come within the reach of +the most modest purse, and there is no reason why Tulips should not be +found in every cottage garden in the kingdom. + +The culture of the Tulip is quite as easy as that of the common +Daffodil. There is one important difference, however, between the Tulip +and the Daffodil. While the latter likes partial shade, the Tulip enjoys +plenty of sunshine, and shelter from bleak winds. Any good garden soil +that has been deeply dug, and enriched with well-decayed manure some +time previous to planting will produce fine blossoms. In the open air +the bulbs should be planted about 4 inches deep, and not more than 6, +even in bleak localities, as a safeguard against frost. The best time +for planting is from the beginning of September to the end of October, +and care should be taken when planting formal beds to see that the lines +are perfectly straight, and the bulbs buried at a similar depth +throughout. To secure the latter result a blunt dibber may be used, +marked at the required depth with a cross-piece nailed on, or a piece of +hoop iron that can be slid up or down to any particular depth. In this +way, and by planting each bed with the same variety, uniformity in +height, colour, and period of flowering will be secured. In vacant +spaces in the flower border and rock-garden, such formality would be out +of place, and in such positions mixed Tulips produce a more natural +effect. + +Although effective in themselves, the beauty of Tulips is greatly +enhanced by planting them in beds that are already carefully arranged +with such plants as Wallflowers, Polyanthuses, Primroses, Pansies, or +Violas, Dwarf Saxifrages, Double White Arabis, (_A. albida flore +pleno_), Yellow Alyssum (_A. saxatile_), Forget-me-Nots, Aubrietias, and +such like plants that blossom about the same period and make an +effective screen to hide the ground between the blue-green leaves of the +Tulips. In arranging combinations, it is as well to have the Tulips and +carpet plants arranged so that the colour of the one shall be quite +distinct and in lively contrast with that of the others. + +Thus White Tulips may have Yellow Arabis, Primroses, Polyanthuses, &c., +beneath them. On the other hand, red Tulips should not be mixed with red +Wallflowers, although they look remarkably effective with yellow ones. +And so on, more or less in accordance with the principles laid down at +p. 38. + +For the benefit of those who take up their Tulip bulbs each year (when +the flowers have withered being usually the earliest period for this +operation) it may be as well to mention, that the bulb that is lifted +about midsummer, is not the same as that planted in autumn. Indeed it is +quite a new bulb altogether, and, as a rule, contains all the elements +necessary for the production of leaves and blossoms the following +season. The Tulip bulb planted in autumn is used up in the formation of +leaves and flowers, that are produced in early summer. Whence then comes +the bulb that is taken out of the soil when the flowering period is +over? It has been made out of the raw material that has been assimilated +by the leaves under the influence of sunlight. Very often there is more +than sufficient food for the formation of a large flowering bulb, in +which case the surplus food is converted into offsets at the base of the +large bulb. These offsets, if planted and grown on for two or three +seasons in specially prepared beds of light soil, will develop into +flowering bulbs. They should, therefore, never be thrown away as +useless. + + +=Seedling Tulips.=--Besides offsets (some of which drop several inches +below the parent bulb, and are called "droppers.") Tulips may also be +raised from seeds if one has the requisite patience and convenience. +When seeds are required, the old plants must of course be left in the +soil until the seed capsules have thoroughly ripened. The seeds should +be sown very sparsely in drills, in carefully-prepared beds of light +soil, and may be left undisturbed for about five or seven years, until +the first flowers appear. Of course weeds must be kept down regularly, +and to facilitate this operation, the seed beds should not be more than +4 or 5 feet wide, and the drills quite a foot apart. + +The first flowers of a seedling Tulip are called "Breeders" or "Mother +Tulips" and are of one colour throughout, although the seeds may have +been saved from beautifully pencilled or flaked blossoms. When a +"breeder" Tulip develops markings of a different colour, it is said to +"break" or "rectify." Such rectified flowers are then divided into two +groups, (_a_) those with a pure white centre, base, or ground, and (_b_) +those with a pure yellow centre. + +The white centred flowers (_a_) are again divided into (i) _Roses_, the +flowers of which are various shades of pink, rose, scarlet, crimson, +cerise, &c., and (ii) _Bybloemens_, the flowers of which display various +shades of lilac, lavender, violet, purple, brown, purple-black, &c. + +The yellow-centred flowers (_b_) are called _Bizarres_, with various +shades of orange, scarlet, crimson, purple-black, brown, &c. These +various classes of "rectified" Tulips have the petals either "feathered" +or "flamed." A "feathered" Tulip has the petals beautifully pencilled +and feathered round the edges only; while a "flamed" Tulip differs in +having bright streaks, bands, or flames of a distinct colour shooting up +the centre of each petal from the base, and forking out towards the +pencilled and feathered margins. + +Only specialists in what are called the "florist's Tulip," however, take +a keen delight in drawing these distinctions. + +There are some hundreds of varieties of Tulips enumerated in +nurserymen's catalogues, but it is unnecessary to grow many of them to +make an effective display. The following--arranged according to the +predominating colour--may be regarded as a good selection for planting +in the open ground in autumn:-- + + +=Single Varieties for Planting Out.=--_Red, Scarlet, Crimson, and +Pink._--Artus, Bacchus, Belle Alliance, Couleur de Cardinal, Crimson +King, Duc Van Thol, Pottebakker, Proserpine, Rose Luisante, Rose Gris de +Lin. _Orange, Brownish, and Terra Cotta._--Cardinal's Hat, Duc Van Thol, +Leonardo da Vinci, Prince of Austria, and Thomas Moore. +_Yellow._--Bouton d'Or (Plate 9, fig. 37), Canary Bird, Chrysolora, Gold +Finch, Golden Crown, Mon Tresor, Pottebakker, and Yellow Prince. _White +or Blush._--Albion (or White Hawk), Jacht van Delft, White Swan, Grand +Duchess, Joost von Vondel, La Reine, Immaculee, and Pottebakker. _Purple +and Violet._--Moliere, Purple Crown, President Lincoln. _Red, Pink, +Rose, or Violet, with White._--Bride of Haarlem, Cottage Maid, Couleur +ponceau, Standard Royal, Wapen van Leiden, Picotee (Plate 9, fig. 36). +_Red and Yellow combined._--Brutus, Duchesse de Parma, Keizerskroon. + + +=Double flowered Tulips.=--_Scarlet and Crimson combined._--Imperator +Rubrorum, Rex Rubrorum, Rubra maxima. _Pink and Rose._--Couronne des +Roses, Murillo, Raphael, Rose d'Amour, Salvator Rosa. _White._--Alba +maxima, Grand Vainqueur, La Candeur, Rose blanche. _Red and Yellow +combined._--Duc Van Thol, Gloria Solis, Tournesol, Princess Alexandra. +_Orange or Yellow._--Tournesol, Yellow Rose, Miroir. + + +=Parrot or Dragon Tulips.=--These remarkable looking flowers are +supposed to be descended from the curious green and yellow-striped _T. +viridiflora_. The petals are cut and jagged into all kinds of peculiar +shapes, while the colours are chiefly a mixture of reds, crimsons, +greens, and yellows. + +PLATE 31. BELLADONNA LILY (111) DIERAMA PULCHERRIMA (112) + + +=Darwin Tulips.=--These are a very popular class of self-coloured Tulips +derived from _T. Gesneriana_. They are in fact "breeder" Tulips referred +to on p. 134. The individual blossoms are large and cup-shaped, and are +borne on stalks 1-1/2 to 2 feet high. There are numerous named varieties +(for which a catalogue should be consulted), but a mixed collection will +give a grand display, the colours being shades of apricot, yellow, +carmine, rose, pink, crimson, maroon, and white. + +With the Darwin Tulips may be associated what are known as the "Cottage" +or "May Flowering" Tulips--vigorous kinds with tall stems and fine large +flowers, that are admirably adapted for the decoration of the garden. +For vases, bowls, &c., they are also excellent. + + +=Natural Species or Wild Tulips.=--Apart from the almost innumerable +florists' varieties of Tulips, keen interest has been taken of late +years in the cultivation of the natural species of Tulip which are found +growing wild in various parts of South Europe, Asia Minor, Turkestan, +&c. There are quite a large number of these natural species now to be +had, but the cream of them may be said to be _Gesneriana_, _Greigi_, +_macropsila_, and _Oculus Solis_, all with scarlet or crimson blossoms +and black blotches at the base. Other useful kinds for bedding out or +for naturalising with Daffodils, Bluebells, &c., are _Eichleri_, +_fulgens_, _Hageri_, _macrostyla_, _maculata_, _Didieri_, +_Ostrowskyana_, _planifolia_, _lurida_, _undulatifolia_, _suaveolens_, +all with bright red or deep crimson blossoms except _suaveolens_ which +is bordered with yellow. Yellow flowered kinds are _australis_ (Plate +10, fig. 40), _Batalini_, _flava_, _Billietiana_, _galatica_, +_neglecta_, _retroflexa_, _sylvestris_, _strangulata_ (speckled and +streaked with red), _viridiflora_ (with broad green band down the +centre), _Sprengeri_ (petals tipped with red), and _Kolpakowskyana_. + +Apart from their value in the garden, Tulips are also popular as cut +flowers. As most of them produce their blossoms on sturdy stems 1-1/2 to +2-1/2 feet high, they are easily picked, and when bunched in vases with +foliage, or grasses, or even by themselves, they add a luxurious +appearance to any apartment. + +The great mistake many make in picking Tulip flowers is that they gather +them often in the middle of the day when the petals are wide open, +especially if there is strong sunshine. In the expanded state the +blossoms do not last very long. They should therefore be picked either +early in the morning or late in the evening, when the petals are closed +in over the stamens and ovary in the centre. There is no need to +actually _cut_ the stems. By holding them close to the ground and giving +a staccato pull upwards, they come away easily from the bulb, and +possess the advantage of being a few inches longer than those cut with a +knife or scissors. + + +=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 _Treatiae_ 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. + +PLATE 32. 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. + + +=Wireworms, Grubs, &c.=--When a soil is infested with any of these +pests, the gardener may be almost sure to find his choicest roots or +bulbs eaten by them. He should, therefore, take the precaution to have +the ground turned up, if possible, some time before planting, so that +these pests may be brought to the surface and exposed to the keen eyes +of the "birds in the air" who are always on the watch for any choice +morsels that are likely to improve their voices. + +It would not be safe, however, to trust altogether to the natural +enemies of these pests who are usually endowed with keen powers for +evading their attacks. It may be necessary, therefore, to lay traps of +pieces of potato, carrot, parsnip, or any fleshy and enticing material +in their haunts, and examine them regularly. A piece of stick thrust +into these substances will make a convenient handle for lifting them up +for examination. The best time of course to catch the enemy is when he +is dining off his piece of potato, parsnip, or carrot. He and his +friends should then be led forth for execution beneath the weight of the +foot, or into a bucket of boiling water, or in any other way that the +ingenious reader may devise. The main thing, however, to bear in mind is +that the enemy must be _killed_ without mercy or remorse. And no matter +how ruthlessly he is persecuted, it will be found each season that there +are still some of his family left to carry on a guerilla warfare against +the gardener and his plants. So that one must be really always on the +watch for attack, and, like a wise general, be ready to meet it, or +spoil it altogether. + +Besides using traps of potatoes, carrots, &c., _nitrate of soda_ and +_kainit_ have been found very useful for ridding the soil of these +pests. About 2lbs. of nitrate of soda or kainit to a square rod (30-1/4 +square yards) has been found an ample dressing. It should be distributed +evenly over the surface of the soil, when the latter is in a moist--but +not sodden--condition. + + +=Lime and Soot.=--Slugs and snails are great marauders among the young +growths of bulbous and other plants, and may be kept in check by the use +of nitrate of soda, and kainit, as well as by birds. These remedies may +be supplemented, or even supplanted, by the use of lime and soot. These +substances are always easy to obtain, and will be found of great use not +only in keeping the garden free from insect pests, but also because of +their manurial value. + +When lime is used for checking the attacks of slugs or snails it should +be freshly slaked, that is, a little caustic or quick-lime should be +broken down into a fine white powdery mass by having a little water +poured over it. When the heat has subsided the powdered lime may be +sprinkled around and between the crowns of the plants that are being +attacked by slugs. Should it come in contact with the slimy bodies of +these it will soon kill them. Soot that has been exposed to the air for +several weeks will be found a good preventive also against these pests, +and it has the advantage of not being so conspicuous amongst the plants +as lime. Fresh soot from the chimney should on no account be strewn +amongst the young crowns or growths of plants, as the poisonous matters +in it may kill them as well as the slugs. + +Slaked lime and seasoned soot may be mixed together, and then strewn +over the surface of the soil. Even common salt is a good slug destroyer, +and may be applied in either a liquid or solid form. Lime-water is also +an excellent cleanser, and may be given to the soil freely without +injury to the plants. Where large numbers of Daffodils are grown one +must keep a watch for the grub of the Narcissus fly (_Merodon equestris_ +or _Narcissi_), an insect resembling a small and slender bumble-bee in +appearance. It lays its eggs in the early summer months in the Narcissi, +and the grubs from these bore their way into the fleshy part of the +bulb, damaging the growths and flower stems for next season. When the +bulbs are being lifted or planted, any that are soft to the touch are +very likely affected, and should be examined for the pest. Any badly +affected should be burned. Those not so badly injured may be steeped in +water in July or August, for about a week, to drown the maggots which at +this period have caused but little mischief. When the perfect Merodon +insects are on the wing from about the middle of May to the middle of +July they may be enticed to drown themselves in saucers containing +strong solutions of sugar or treacle, placed amongst the plants. + +Although most birds in the garden may be looked on with a friendly eye, +one must make an exception in the case of _Passer domesticus_,--otherwise +known as the common sparrow. He will tear your Crocuses--especially +the yellow ones--to tatters out of sheer mischief. If he would only +eat the petals or make a nest of them there would be some excuse; but +no, he simply tears them to pieces and flings them, so to speak, in +your face. Mrs. Sparrow is no doubt just as bad, and therefore should +have her nest and the eggs therein confiscated and destroyed on every +possible occasion. A few strands of _black_ cotton thread stretched +over the Crocuses will be found to yield a certain amount of protection +against attack. + + +=Fungoid Diseases.=--Of the fungoid diseases affecting bulbous plants +happily there are few; and even these are not troublesome to any +alarming extent in the open air. + +Snowdrops are sometimes attacked with a kind of mildew known +scientifically as _Botrytis galanthina_. The fungus attacks bulbs, +leaves, and flower-stems one after the other, and effectually stops the +plants from flowering. As soon as this disease is seen on the plants, +the affected portions should be carefully picked off and burned. Once +the disease reaches the black spot-like stage, there is little hope for +the plants so that they had better be burned straight away. + +Colchicums, Crocuses, Tulips, Hyacinths, Daffodils, Gladioli, and others +are affected from time to time with one fungoid disease or another, +probably because the soil in which they grow has not been particularly +well-prepared, and is full of some organic matter that can only be +disposed of by the addition of freshly-slaked lime, and deep digging at +the earliest opportunity. When any of the plants referred to are badly +attacked with any fungoid disease, the simplest and best remedy is to +burn them--and thus kill the spores and prevent them spreading. It will +be cheaper to buy new bulbs the following season, and to grow them in +_another_ portion of the garden, rather than try to reclaim the old ones +whose doom in any case is only a matter of time. + +Perhaps one of the worst diseases affecting bulbous plants is that which +for some years past has ravaged plants of the Madonna Lily (_Lilium +candidum_). The bulbs seem to be fairly free from the disease, but the +leaves and stems become so badly affected in some parts of the country +that they cannot perform their functions, with the result that no +blossoms are borne, or only misshapen ones. There is at present, I +believe, no effectual remedy against the Lily disease, and once it +appears in a garden, the culture of the Madonna Lily is doomed from that +moment. As a preventive, the plants might be sprayed several times +during the season, from January onwards, with a solution made by +dissolving one ounce of liver of sulphur in a gallon of hot water, and +adding 2-1/2 gallons more of water. This should be applied with a +fine-sprayed syringe, and is a good preventive against many kinds of +fungoid attacks. If used near white woodwork and comes in contact with +it, the paint will be discoloured. Of late years, the bulbs that are +imported in such large numbers from Japan have been more or less +afflicted with a fungoid disease that appears to be very difficult to +check. This disease may be the result of over cultivation, or too +intense cultivation to secure large quantities of plants in a +comparatively short time. The Bermuda Lily disease is probably the +result of similar efforts to get rich too quickly. So that one natural +remedy against the disease would be to grow the bulbs more naturally and +allow them to ripen fully before disturbing them. However, as people in +Europe must have Lilies, they take the best that can be provided. On +arrival of the bulbs they should be carefully examined, and any diseased +or decayed portions taken off and burned. As a preventive against any +spores germinating, the bulbs may be well rolled in freshly slaked lime, +and allowed to dry in a cool airy place for a day or two before planting +or potting. Mr. Massee, in his book on "Plant Diseases," recommends +submerging the bulbs in a 1 per cent. solution of salicylic acid for 20 +minutes, and after thoroughly drying them, to kill the spores of the +fungus. + +PLATE 33. CROCUS MEDIUS (117) COLCHICUM SPECIOSUM (118) STERNBERGIA +LUTEA (119) STERNBERGIA MACRANTHA (120) CROCUS OCHROLEUCUS (121) CROCUS +SPECIOSUS (122) + +A peculiar fungoid disease, known as "basal rot," attacks Daffodils and +Narcissi in soil that is cold and heavy or badly drained. It causes the +leaves to become brown at the tips, and the bulbs to become rootless and +swollen, while the tunics are soft and rotten at the base. The best way +to check this disease is to have the bulbs lifted, and if they can only +be grown in the same soil again, this should be deeply dug to let the +water pass away from it, and some road grit and leaf-soil should be +incorporated with it before re-planting. Some freshly slaked quicklime +may be afterwards pricked into the top with the fork. + + + + +MANURING BULBOUS PLANTS. + +When bulbous plants, like Tulips, Hyacinths, Daffodils, &c., are planted +and lifted annually, they can hardly be said to require any special +manuring during the period of their growth, as the soil in which they +are planted is, or ought to be, usually well prepared and manured in +advance in the way recommended at p. 16. But even when such bulbs are +planted and lifted every year, they might be considerably improved by +the application of a little artificial manure at the right time. For +instance, in December or January a little _basic slag_ (10 to 20 pounds +to about 30 square yards) would supply phosphatic food to roots later on +in the season when it would be useful for the development of the +blossoms. A little _superphosphate of lime_ at the rate of four to eight +pounds to 30 square yards, would also be useful, applied about March or +April. _Kainit_ is a cheap potash manure, and may be applied at the same +time as the basic slag at the rate of one or two pounds to the same +area--either by itself or mixed with the slag. + +It contains a good deal of common salt, and should therefore be applied +_before_ root-action commences, otherwise it may prove injurious to the +new roots. + +The necessity for manuring becomes more important in the case of bulbous +plants that are to be left in the same soil for several years. Like +other plants, of course, they rob the soil of a certain amount of food, +and unless this is returned in some way the soil gradually becomes +poorer and the plants less vigorous. One of the best ways, perhaps, to +supply fresh food for the roots of the bulbous plants is to give the +soil a good top-dressing or mulching of well-decayed manure in the early +autumn months. This will gradually decay during the ensuing winter and +spring months and yield up its food. During this period it will also +prevent the heat, that was taken into the soil in the summer, from +escaping too rapidly by radiation. It would be more harmful than useful +to apply a mulching of manure in the depth of winter or early spring, as +it would prevent the sun's rays from warming the roots. + +Where Lilies, Tulips, Daffodils, Crocuses, Snowdrops, and many other +kinds of bulbous plants are naturalised in the grass, in flower borders, +or amongst trees and shrubs, a good dressing of well-decomposed manure +in the early autumn will prove highly beneficial each year. The basic +slag, kainit, and superphosphate may be also applied at the seasons +mentioned, if considered desirable. + + + + + Transcribers Note + 1. Preface Hynenoclis changed to Hymenocalis + 2. Page 50 End of first paragraph word added + "umbels form on the top of the that spring out of the bulb" changed + to "umbels form on the top of the _shoot_ that spring out of the + bulb" + 3. Page 56 "three or fours seasons" changed to "three or four seasons" + 4. Page 57 "(also known a _Calliprora lutea_)" changed to + "(also known as _Calliprora lutea_)" + 5. Page 57 "rose-red to to pinkish-purple;" changed to + "rose-red to pinkish-purple;" + 6. Page 110 "when the leaves have begun to turn yellow, Seeds may" + changed to "when the leaves have begun to turn yellow. Seeds may" + 7. Page 134 "a large flowering bulbs," change to + "a large flowering bulb," + 8. Page 75 Closing bracket added "(finely figured in "FLORA AND SYLVA")" + 9. Throughout ligature [oe] changed to oe + 10. Page 175 Madame de Graaf changed to Madame de Graaff + 11. PLATE 25 TERMIFOLIUM changed to TENUIFOLIUM to match list of + plates and text. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Beautiful Bulbous Plants, by John Weathers + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BEAUTIFUL BULBOUS PLANTS *** + +***** This file should be named 37362.txt or 37362.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/7/3/6/37362/ + +Produced by Chris Curnow, Hazel Batey, Lindy Walsh and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |