I. variegata (Variegated I.)-A rhizomatous species, growing about 2 feet high. The stems each bear several large flowers. The outer petals are notched or very blunt-pointed, the inner ones are rather sharp-pointed; all are yellow, netted with deepbrown lines. Native of southern Germany. Flowers in May and June.

I. xiphioides (English bulbous I.)-A very showy bulbous species, of which there are a good many varieties in gardens. It is the best known of the bulbous species. The stems rise I foot or 2 feet high, each bearing two or three large flowers. The petals are unequal, the outer being largest. The ordinary colour in nature is blue, and in different shades; it is also the most prevalent amongst the garden varieties; but there are white, yellow, and variegated sorts also, and all are extremely showy and beautiful. Flowers in June. Native of the Pyrenees.

I. xiphium (Spanish bulbous I.)—This is an equally handsome species, though not so showy as the last, and there are fewer varieties of it. It grows about 9 inches or 1 foot high, with narrow deeply-channeled leaves. Each stem bears two or three flowers with narrow nearly equal petals. The most common colour in nature appears to be blue, variegated with yellow; the offspring in gardens present various colours. Flowers in June. Native of Spain. This species and its varieties are fond of peat, but succeed well in rich, light, sandy loam.

Sisyrinchium.—This is a small genus of hardy and halfhardy herbaceous plants from both North and South America. They are very pretty border ornaments, with grass-like leaves and flowers of various colours, some being very showy and others pretty and fragrant. They grow best in rich, light, deep loam, well drained, in a warm sunny aspect. They are easily increased by division of the roots in early autumn.

S. anceps, syn. Marica anceps (Two-edged S.)—A dwarftufted species, with narrow linear grass-like leaves. The flowerstems are much compressed, and are sharply two-edged. The flowers are produced a few together at the top of the stem, and are beautiful bright blue, appearing in June and July. Height 6 to 9 inches.

S. convolutum, syn. Marica convoluta (Yellow-spring S.)— This pretty and attractive species is perhaps scarcely hardy in all parts of the country, but succeeds well in warm localities in the southern parts. The plant grows about 6 inches high, with foliage of the same character as the last, in rather dense tufts. The stems are compressed and two-edged, and support two or

three rather large bright-yellow flowers, which open in May and last till July.

S. grandiflorum (Large-flowered S.)-A very beautiful little plant, growing about 6 or 9 inches high, with very narrow lance-shaped leaves. The flower-stems are round, and support usually two or three very large cup-shaped, deep, reddish-purple flowers, opening in April, May, and June. There is a very important white-flowered variety, an excellent companion to the purple. The roots are tuberous, and the plant is fond of peat : it is one of the hardiest.

S. odoratissimum (Most-fragrant S.)-This species is not hardy enough to endure the winter in all parts of Britain. It grows about I foot high, with round stems and narrow milkygreen leaves, sharply pointed. The flowers are borne in small trusses at the top of the stems. They are white, with long tubes, and highly fragrant. They open in June and July. Worthy of, and requires, a fine sunny position.

AMARYLLIDEÆ.

This is a splendid order of bulbous-rooted plants. The greatest number of the species are greenhouse and stove bulbs of most brilliant beauty, and a good many are half-hardy and adapted only for culture in warm borders in front of hothouses or greenhouses; there remains, however, a large group of beautiful and fragrant species that are hardy and adapted to culture in the open air in all parts of the country, and from these only are the following selections made. Not one-tenth of the genera of the order can be included in this hardy group; but the names Narcissus, Snowdrop, Leucojum, and Alstromeria, which yield the largest number of the hardy species, will be a sufficient gauge of its value to the hardy-flower gardener without further comment. The Amaryllidea are very commonly confounded with the much more extensive and more heterogeneous Liliacea in gardens. The best general distinctive feature lies in the position of the ovary in relation to the perianth or flower: in Amaryllidea the ovary is inferior-that is, under the perianth; in Liliacea it is superior, or detached from the perianth.

Alstroemeria. This is a succulent tuberous-rooted group of very distinct aspect, and beautifully as well as singularly coloured flowers. They are free-flowering plants, adapted for culture in the mixed border. There is a not uncommon impression that

many of the species are not hardy. Most of them are apt to suffer fatally in wet spongy soils; but in dry, well-drained sandy loam they resist the cold of our winters very successfully. They are best adapted for growing in dry soils of a sandy nature in strong heavy loams and clays, even if they live, they rarely flower well, but produce instead of flowering-stems a preponderance of weak barren ones; and in such soils also they are much more apt to spread beyond due limits a tendency which they have in greater or less degree in all soils. The only practical corrective to this tendency is to plant the roots in a large pot, well drained, and sink the pot in the border with the rim about 3 inches under the surface, taking care annually to lift the pot and examine the contents with the object of repairing drainage and adding a little fresh soil. They are exceedingly easily increased: the fleshy roots, producing buds from nearly every part of their surface, offer an abundant means of propagation. They should be divided in autumn, where the soil is of that character which has been described as most congenial; but if wet it is better done in early spring; and the roots, when planted, should be placed not less than 3 inches deep. Wherever it is anticipated that the combined influence of cold and wet would injure them, they will be rendered safe by having a mound of coal ashes or old tan raised over them.

A. aurantiaca (Orange-spotted A.)-This species grows about 2 feet high, with rather wiry flexible stems, clothed with lanceshaped leaves, and terminating in umbels of orange-and-yellow flowers, appearing in June and July. Native of Chili.

A. Errembaultii (Errembault's A.)—This is said to be a hybrid sort, and is very distinct and beautiful as well as hardy. It grows about 2 feet high, with erect stems, clothed with lanceshaped leaves. The flowers are produced in few-flowered umbels, and are white spotted, with deep crimson or red and yellow. They open in autumn.

A. hæmantha (Blood-red A.)-A more dwarf and compact species than the last, growing erect, about 18 inches high, with numerous stems. The leaves are narrow lance-shaped, and very slightly fringed with soft hairs. The flowers, in umbels, are deep purplish red and orange, and appear in August and September. Native of Chili.

A. psittacina (Parrot A.)-A very distinct species, growing about 22 or 3 feet high. The stems are erect, clothed with lance-shaped sharp-pointed leaves, and terminate in considerable umbels of crimson and green flowers, which appear in August, September, and October. Native of Mexico.

Galanthus nivalis (Snowdrop).—Little need be said here

about this long-established spring favourite. It is known to and admired by everybody. Its culture is simple and equally well known; but because it is so simple, and demands so little attention, it very often gets less paid to it than it deserves. How few ever look back to the clumps of Snowdrop after they have been committed to the ground! and yet they are the better for being occasionally lifted and divided. The best time for doing this is immediately after the leaves are ripe. The bulbs should be placed about 2 inches deep; and it may be planted everywhere, for it is rarely in the way, and is always welcome. Native of many countries of Europe, and abundantly naturalised in Britain.

G. plicatus (Crimean Snowdrop).-This is a stronger-growing subject than the last, producing flowers of greater substance, and longer and broader leaves, which differ also from those of the common Snowdrop in having two longitudinal plaits extending from base to summit of each leaf. Native of the Crimea, and flowers at the same time as G. nivalis.

Leucojum (Snowflake).-This genus resembles the last in general aspect, but is always easily distinguished by the divisions of the perianth being equal in length, while in Snowdrop the inner ones are shorter than the outer ones. They thrive well in any good garden-soil. L. autumnale is very partial to peat, and succeeds better in it than in loam alone; but, indeed, they are all fond of peat, although it is not essential, except in very heavy soils, when, to all except L. æstivum, it is necessary to give a good mixture of either peat or leaf-mould and plenty of sharp sand. Increase by division of the bulbs, which should be attended to when necessary immediately after the foliage is ripe.

L. æstivum (Summer Snowflake).-This is the most vigorous and least valuable of the group, yet is a handsome and pleasing plant. The leaves are a foot or more long. The flower-stalk rises about 18 inches high, bearing a few white drooping flowers at its extremity. The flowers open in April and last till June. Native of Britain and other countries of Europe. The plant may be used in the same way as that in which Snowdrop is used for the ornamentation of glades and open woodland walks, but prefers a moister soil than does the Snowdrop.

L.autumnale (Autumn Snowflake, syn. Acis autumnale).—This is a pretty, little, weakly plant, requiring a warm dry position and soil, such as has been already named in the introductory remarks. The leaves are very narrow, 6 or 8 inches long. The flower-scapes are about 6 inches high, supporting several small flowers, either pure white or white suffused with rose.

They open in September, and continue a few weeks. Native of Corsica, Sardinia, Nice, and Sicily.

L. vernum (Spring Snowflake).—This is the gem of the family. It produces stout, broad, Snowdrop-like leaves, only partially developed at the time of flowering. The flowerscapes rise to the height of about 9 inches, supporting each one large, pure white, very fragrant flower, the petals being distinctly tipped with bright green. They open in February and March. Native of many districts of Europe. It is too rare and valuable at the present time to be recommended for naturalising; but when sufficiently plentiful, it will be found equally easy to establish in woods and banks as the Snowdrop itself, and being rather later in blossoming, as well as like it in colour and style, it will help in the course of time to eke out a little longer the enjoyment of the attractions of that common favourite.

Narcissus. This is another familiar group of bulbous plants. The common white Narcissus and the Daffodil are to be seen in nearly every garden in the country. There are other and rarer species seen occasionally in private gardens, but I do not know that any of them are superior in floral effect and fragrance to the different varieties in those two colours generally cultivated. There are a good many distinct forms, however, which are worthy of a place in every collection of mixed herbaceous plants. All the Narcissi are comparatively easy to cultivate. They prefer a light, rich, warm soil, but the strongergrowing kinds are not very particular as regards soil, and such may be introduced into woods and pastures with good effect and certain success. They are propagated by offsets, and some kinds produce these much more freely than others, but all increase more freely when planted in peat than they do in any other soil.

N. angustifolius, syns. N. majalis and N. radiiflorus (Narrowleaved N.)-This species grows from 9 inches to foot high. The leaves are linear, nearly as long as the scape, which is compressed, and has two sharp edges. The flowers are white, fragrant, and the divisions radiate quite clear of each other; are broadest in the middle, and diminish in width much towards the base and a little also towards the point. The crown is somewhat in the way of that of the Poets' Narcissus. Flowers early in April. Native of Austria and the Alps of central Europe.

N. biflorus, syns. N. dianthus, N. triflorus, and N. poeticus (Two-flowered N.)-A vigorous sort, with broad glaucous leaves, about a foot or more in length. The flower-scapes