dark reddish-brown, without any markings. They open in May. Native of the Caucasus. Other dwarf species of Fritillary worthy of cultivating in large collections or small, where they are admired, are F. obliqua, with purplish-brown flowers, opening in April; F. græca, very dwarf, with brown and reddish marbled flowers, appearing in June and July; and F. tristis, also very dwarf, with reddish-brown unmarked flowers, yellowish internally, and opening in April and May.

Funkia. A handsome genus of bundled fibrous - rooted plants from Japan; but the species are hardy in all parts of the country. They are nearly allied to Hemerocallis, and some of the earlier - discovered species were included in that genus. They are more remarkable for their neat habit and the fine character of their foliage than for the showiness of their flowers, although they also are handsome, and in some cases also fragrant. They grow best in light, rich, sandy loam, and are fond of peat, but succeed well in a variety of soils, and are easily increased by division of the roots in early spring. They are best adapted for border decoration.

F. grandiflora (Large-flowered F)-This species produces wide-spreading masses of large pale-green leaves, egg-shaped, and slightly heart-shaped at the base, the ribs or veins being numerous and prominent. The flower-stems are about 18 inches high, terminating in a short raceme of pure-white flowers, which open about July.

F. lancifolia (Lance-shaped-leaved F.)—A smaller species than the last. It produces tufts of broadly-lance-shaped leaves, narrowing towards both ends from the middle. Flower-stems about 9 inches high, terminating in an open raceme of few pale-blue or lilac flowers: they appear in the end of summer and in autumn. There are some interesting varieties of this species, chief amongst which are the white-flowered F. l. var. alba, F. 1. var. albo marginata, having a narrow line of white along the margin of the leaf, and F. I. var. undulata variegata, in which the leaves are undulated on the margin and variegated on the greater part of the surface.

F. ovata (Egg-shaped-leaved F)-A large-growing species, producing ample tufts of broadly-egg-shaped, acute-pointed leaves. Flower-stems 1 foot or 18 inches high, terminating in a short raceme of lilac-blue flowers, which appear in late summer and autumn. There is a handsome variegated - leaved form of this species.

F. Sieboldiana (Siebold's F.)—A very distinct species with ample roundly-egg-shaped, abruptly-pointed, deeply-glaucous leaves. The flower-stems grow about 1 foot high, supporting

a short raceme of very pale lilac flowers, opening in early

summer.

F. subcordata (Cordate-leaved F)-This is a large-growing species, but less ample as regards the size of the leaves than the first and the two last noticed. The leaves are egg-shaped, and slightly heart-shaped at the base. The flower-stem rises about 18 inches high, supporting a raceme of large pure-white flowers, which open about the same time as those of the last. There is a very important variegated-leaved form of this, commonly known as F. japonica variegala.

Hemerocallis (Day Lily).-A beautiful group of plants, with lily-like flowers and bundled fibrous roots, and the leaves mostly radical. All are handsome border ornaments, and the flowers of most are fragrant. They grow well in any good garden-soil, and are not averse to partial shade and moist places, and would therefore in the stronger species be available for introducing into groves, and by stream and pond sides. Propagate by division, which should be effected in autumn or early spring.

H. disticha (Orange Day Lily).-This species produces massive tufts of narrow bright-green leaves, keeled on the under side, and arranged in two opposite rows. The flower-scapes rise to the height of about 2 feet, overtopping the mass of leaves, and supporting a few large open flowers; the segments, six in number, are orange-coloured and reflexed, and the margins are undulated. Flowers in May and early summer. Native of northern China.

H. flava (Yellow Day Lily).-A very showy and good borderplant, growing about the height of the last. The leaves are similar in form to those of the last species, but are not so regularly arranged in rows; the scapes are about the same height, and support a few large bright-yellow well-opened flowers, but the segments are very slightly reflexed and the margins plain. Flowers in June and July. Native of Siberia and southern Europe.

H. fulva (Coppery Day Lily).—This is a larger-growing plant than either of the two preceding. The leaves are long, widespreading, broader, and pale green, and the flower-scapes rise to the height of 3 feet or more in moist rich soils. The flowers are large and the segments reflexed when fully expanded; the three outer ones are narrower than the inner ones and plain, and the inner ones are wavy on the margin, and all are coppery red. Flowers in summer. Native of the Levant.

H. graminea (Grass-like Day Lily). The smallest species of the group, and very compact and handsome. The leaves are

narrow-linear. The flower-scapes rise to the height of about 1 foot, supporting two or three flowers, the segments of which are all more or less wavy and reflexed, and of a clear pale yellow. They open in June and last for a couple of months. Native of Siberia.

Hyacinthus (Hyacinth).—This is a very familiar genus of beautiful bulbs. The species H. orientalis is the parent of the innumerable and brilliant varieties so largely imported from Holland, to meet the demand for it in this country, both for forcing and hardy-flower garden embellishment. Most people know something of the management of these bulbs in pots and glasses, but few amateurs appear to be aware of the fact that they may be cultivated out of doors at less cost per hundred than they pay annually per dozen for the kinds usually grown in rooms and small greenhouses by them. The same roots will last for years without any diminution of vigour if they are properly cultivated. They will succeed in any sunny bed or border, and may be planted in masses, lines, or clumps, as fancy directs. The ground should be well dug and manured with old dung; and if it is of a heavy clayey texture, it should be well mixed with sand and leaf-mould. The ground must be prepared to receive the bulbs early in October, when a fine sunny day should be chosen for planting them. Plant them about 3 inches deep and 6 inches apart, and finish by laying a mulching of roughish stable-litter, old tan, or coal-ashes on the surface of the bed or clump. Should frost prevail in spring, when the leaves begin to get near the surface of the ground, the mulching should be increased in depth so as to protect them from injury; but this is rarely necessary. They require no further attention beyond that of keeping the surface of the bed trim and clean after the leaves and scapes pierce the ground, and supporting the flowers when necessary, till the end of May or the beginning of June, when they may be lifted in order to make room for summer-flowering occupants, and laid closely together, with a little soil over their roots, in a moderately sunny warm spot to mature their growth, after which they may be cleaned by removing the decayed leaves and fibres, and stored away in a cool room till planting time. There are special selections of unnamed sorts, in different shades of blue, white, red, and yellow, made by nurserymen and bulb-merchants for this purpose; and they may be procured in mixture or in separate colours, the mixed roots being least expensive. The different colours of Hyacinths do not all bloom at one time; and for massing in mixture purposes, and continuous mixed lines, it is necessary on this account to plant at different depths in order

to have the display as nearly as possible simultaneous in all its variety. Blue generally comes away first, and next in order red, white, and yellow. Blues should therefore be planted deepest, say 7 or 8 inches, and the others proportionally shallower, in their order.

H. amethystinus (Amethyst Hyacinth).-This is a pretty little species from southern Europe which blooms a little later than the varieties of orientalis. It has not, so far as I am aware, been productive of any variations. The leaves and stature are similar to those of the orientalis varieties, only the former are perhaps rather shorter and narrower than those of that group generally. The racemes are loose and open, and the flowers are bell-shaped, with six bluntish lobes, and are beautiful amethyst blue.

Lilium (Lily). This is a grand and much-admired genus of bulbous plants. A large number of important additions have been made in recent years to the genus both in species and varieties; but there are many described and figured yet to introduce. Most of the species are hardy in any part of the country, and perhaps all are so in the most favoured districts. Such, however, as L. giganteum flowers too late in the season to be available in most years, in any district, out of doors. The majority of the recently-introduced species and varieties are both rare and expensive, and many are yet untried for outof-doors decoration; but neither the expensive nor the untried will be included in the following selection, as there are many old favourites and well tried, from which selection may be made without fear of loss and disappointment in the end. The Lilies are a very brilliant group, comparatively neglected, but becoming more popular; their stately style, and elegant, gaily-coloured, and often perfumed flowers, are becoming better known and appreciated; and the genus is doubtless destined in the future to perform an important part in the hardy-flower garden. They are capable of being grouped by themselves with splendid effect, furnishing, as they do, ample variety of colour and feature to render such a group most attractive. And such groups might be still further enhanced in effect by having the surface of the ground carpeted with low-growing plants, in green or grey tones of foliage, or with dwarf-flowering plants, in tints harmonising with those of the Lilies themselves.

They are beautiful mixed-border subjects, the taller species. being fine background plants; and the dwarfer ones, in fitting positions, are equally telling and desirable in mixed arrangements. The strong growers are also beautiful objects when planted amongst dwarf shrubs, in such a way as that their in

florescence may be seen overtopping the shrubs. And they are so easy to cultivate in any position, that there is no obstacle in the way of their being generally adopted for any of the purposes indicated. They like light, warm, rich loams, with a good deal of slowly-decomposable vegetable matter in them, best; and do worst in heavy clays or close tenacious loams and poor sandy soils. They are especially fond of peat, and when plenty of it is available, it matters little what may be the nature or texture of the soil if the drainage is good, because a free admixture of peat and sand will make the compost all that is required for them. The Lilies should be lifted and replanted every three or four years, but not oftener than every three years, for mere cultural reasons; although, if they are not allowed to lie too long out of the ground, they may be lifted every year, if considerations of arrangement or other circumstances should require such a course. The best time for lifting and replanting Lilies is in the autumn, when the stems have become ripe; and, as before stated, the roots should not be allowed to lie about exposed to the weather, but kept as short time as possible before being replanted. There is a popular notion that bulbs at rest cannot be injured by being exposed to the sun and air for a length of time; and so far as bulbs of the types of Gladiolus, Hyacinth, and Tulip are concerned, the notion is well enough founded: but with bulbs of a scaly nature, of which those of the Lily are the type, it is different, for they suffer very much indeed by great and continued exposure; and hence the frequent failures in bought bulbs, which may have been long and badly stored in the shops. The bulbs should be planted from 4 to 6 inches deep, according to the climate of the locality and the character of the soil. If the climate and soil are wet and cold, the bulbs should be placed the deeper, and if they are warm and light, they will be safe at the shallowest figure; but the greater depth will protect them from any frost we are likely to experience in this country. Additional precaution may, however, be taken with the more rare species and varieties, till they become more plentiful, by laying some protecting material, such as old tan, stable-litter, coal-ashes, or, where it is available, old peat, to the depth of several inches, over the place occupied by the roots; but indeed, even when not required for the purpose of protection, a mulching of a manurial kind is advisable, as it gives additional strength to the plants. Lilies are in fact gross feeders, and make a handsome return for generous diet. They are increased by offsets from the bulbs, which are in most species freely produced. Certain species also, such as L. bulbiferum and L. tigrinum, produce