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bulbils in the axils of the leaves, by which they may be freely increased if they are planted in a rich bed in a well-sheltered border.

L. bulbiferum (Orange Lily).-A very handsome and wellknown plant in gardens. It has been productive of some good varieties, but the variations, from a floricultural point of view, consist chiefly in slight differences of stature and shades of colour; and those of stature are, in some cases at least, more the result of soil and culture than fixed peculiarities of nature. It grows from 2 to 3 or more feet high. The stems are clothed with lance-shaped leaves disposed rather irregularly. The flowers are erect, open, bell-shaped, and marked inside with rough wart-like processes, and are deep orange-red. Flowers in June and July. Native of southern Europe and the Levant.

L. canadense (Canadian Orange Lily).-A beautiful species, growing 3 or 4 feet high. The stems are clothed with oval lanceshaped leaves arranged in whorls. The flowers are nodding or pendulous and bell-shaped, and the segments are somewhat reflexed; in colour they are pale orange, spotted with deep purplish-brown. Flowers in July and August. Native of Canada.

L. candidum (Common White Lily).—This is one of the commonest species in gardens. It grows about 3 feet high, producing the greatest abundance of its leaves at the roots and base of the stems. They are broadly lance-shaped, diminishing in size as they ascend the stem, and are arranged in a scattered alternate manner. The flowers are pure white, with no warts internally; are erect or nearly so, long, bell-shaped, and open, but slightly if at all reflexed at the mouth. Native of the Levant. Flowers in June and July. There is a doubleflowered form in gardens under the name L. candidum florepleno, and there are two or three sorts with different styles of variegated leaves, and there is a flowerless form which produces in the place of the flowers a spiral spike of lance-shaped pure-white leaves or bracts, which is more curious than ornamental.

L. Catesbæi (Catesby's Lily).—A very distinct species from Carolina. It grows about 18 inches or 2 feet high. The stems are clothed with narrow lance-shaped leaves, irregularly and alternately disposed. The flowers are erect, large, and open, with reflexed segments, yellow, and spotted with dark brown in the centre, and shading into deep red towards the extremities of the segments. Flowers in July and August.

L. chalcedonicum (Scarlet Martagon Lily).-This is an old inhabitant of gardens. It grows from 3 to 4 feet high. The stems are well clothed with flat lance-shaped leaves. The

flowers are pendulous, with much-reflexed segments, and are bright red or scarlet: they open in July and August. Native of the Levant.

L. davuricum (Dahurian Lily).-This species resembles L. bulbiferum in its large, erect, open, bell-shaped flowers, which are deep red, yellowish in the centre, and dark-spotted. The leaves are lance-shaped, and the plant grows 2 or 3 feet high. The flowers appear in July and August. Native of Dahuria.

L. longiflorum (long-flowered White Lily).-This species grows about 18 inches or 2 feet high, with shining lance-shaped leaves. The flowers are large, long, and bell-shaped, with spreading but not reflexed segments; they are rather dull white externally, but very pure white inside, and warted towards the base. Flowers in June. Native of China. There are some varieties of this species characterised by differences of stature and the size of the flowers, but, so far as I am aware, there is no variation in the colour.

L. Martagon (Martagon Lily).-This is another old inhabitant of gardens, and is pretty well known under the name Turk'sCap Lily. It grows about 3 feet high. The leaves are oval, lance-shaped, arranged on the stems in whorls. The flowers are pendulous, with much-reflexed segments, and are usually purplish red or livid red; and there is a white-flowered form also. Flowers in July and August. Native of Germany, France, and Italy.

L. monadelphum (Monadelphous Lily).-This species grows about feet high. The leaves are lance-shaped, clothing the stems rather thickly. The flowers are pendulous, pale yellow or lemon-coloured, and spotted in the centre with deep red; the segments are reflexed. The stamens are, as the name implies, monadelphous, or united at the base. Flowers in July. Native of the Caucasus.

L. philadelphicum (Philadelphian Lily).—This species grows about 4 feet high. The leaves are in whorls. The flowers are erect, open, bell-shaped, deep orange shading to yellow, and becoming spotted in the centre with dark purple spots, and the segments taper below into longish stalks. Flowers in July and August. Native of North America.

L. pomponium (Pomponian Lily).-This species grows about 3 feet high. The leaves are narrow, lance-shaped, blunt below, but becoming shorter and narrower and sharply pointed above. The flowers are pendulous, the segments reflexed and warted internally towards the base. Native of Siberia and south

eastern Europe. Flowers in June.

L. pyrenaicum (Pyrenean Lily).-This species grows about 2 or 3 feet high. The leaves are narrow, lance-shaped; the

flowers are pendulous, and warted and dotted internally, and yellow; the segments are reflexed and narrow, and bluntly lance-shaped. Flowers in June and July. Native of the Pyrenees.

L. tenuifolium (Small-leaved Lily).-A very dwarf species, attaining only I foot or 18 inches high. The leaves are narrow, lance-shaped, and scattered alternately on the stems. The flowers are pendulous, the segments much reflexed, and bright red or scarlet. They appear in June and July. Native of Siberia.

L. Thunbergianum (Thunberg's Lily).-This is related to L. bulbiferum, and bears considerable resemblance to it. It grows about 18 inches or 2 feet high. The leaves are lance-shaped, increasing in length as they ascend the stem, and are crowded or whorl-like under the flowers. The flowers are large, open, bell-shaped, with spreading, slightly-reflexed segments; are bright orange, but nearly destitute of the warts that are so conspicuous in the Orange Lily. There are many varieties of this species, some of which are to be seen in catalogues and gardens under the specific names L. atrosanguineum, L. venustum, and L. fulgens; and there are other varieties, distinguished by different shades of colour, by spots, and the degree of prominence in the warts; and there is a double-flowered form of deep colour, very handsome; but both it and some of the others are yet rare and expensive. Flowers in July and August. Native of Japan.

L. tigrinum (Tiger Lily).—This is one of the most common species. It grows 3 or 4 feet high. The leaves are lanceshaped, alternate, clothing the stem rather thinly. The flowers are pendulous, and the segments much reflexed, warted internally, and bright salmon-red, with dark-brown spots. Of this species there are also several varieties, some of which are yet rare and expensive. Flowers in July and August. Native of China.

Muscari (Grape Hyacinth).-A very pretty group of dwarf spring-flowering bulbs. Two of the species selected are well known and very generally cultivated; the other two are not so familiar, although one of them is the most effective, as regards colour, in the group, and the other is one of the most deliciously perfumed of flowers, whether hardy or tender. They are easily grown in any ordinary garden-soil, are propagated by offsets, and for that purpose may be lifted every second year; but otherwise they should not be disturbed oftener than every four years, when they will be the better for being divided and receiving a change of soil.

M. botryoides (Grape Hyacinth). This species produces erect, narrow leaves, from 6 to 9 inches long. The flowerscapes are about the length of the leaves, bearing a lax raceme of globose lively blue flowers, which open in April and May. Native of many districts of southern Europe. There is a handsome white variety.

M. comosum (Tasselled Grape Hyacinth).-This has broadlylinear leaves, flaccid and spreading and glaucous. The flowerscape is from 6 inches to 1 foot high, bearing a very open long raceme of somewhat angular cylindrical flowers, and having six rather long spreading teeth at the mouth of the tube. They are purple, and supported on stalks about twice their own length. Native of southern Europe. Flowers in April and May. There is a singular monstrosity of this species, commonly known as the Feather Hyacinth. It exceeds the species both in stature and in ornamental effect. It grows about 18 inches or 2 feet high. The flowers are cut into numerous threadlike processes, and the pedicles and main stalk assume the same colour as the flower, and the whole inflorescence often exceeds 1 foot in length, and has a charming and graceful appearance.

M. moschatum (Musk Hyacinth).—So far as colour is concerned, this is one of the least attractive plants imaginable. They are green or greenish yellow, and set in most rigid style on the short stiff scape; but they are deliciously fragrant-and for that reason, if for no other, it should be in every collection of plants. But apart from the colour of the flowers, it is a neat little subject, forming handsome tufts of stout, channeled, glaucous leaves, arching outwards, and lasting longer green and pleasing than those of any of its kindred. Flowers in May, June, and July. Native of the Levant.

M. racemosum (Starch Hyacinth).-A very common springflowering bulb in most old gardens. It produces long flaccid leaves, pale green, and more or less prostrate. The flowerscapes are erect, about 6 inches high, terminating in close racemes of egg-shaped, deep purplish-blue flowers, with the teeth closing the mouth of the tube white. Flowers in April and May. Native of southern Europe.

Ornithogalum (Star of Bethlehem).—This is an interesting and pretty genus of hardy and half-hardy bulbs. The hardy section are mostly spring-flowering plants, and are less numérous and varied in character than the tender section. They are easily cultivated in any good garden-soil, and need not be frequently disturbed when doing well; and once every four or five years will be often enough to divide them. They are propagated by offsets.

O. arabicum (Large-flowered O.)-This grows about I foot or 18 inches high, producing an umbellate corymb of pure-white flowers. The leaves are narrow, linear, and channeled. Native of Sicily and the Levant and northern Africa. Flowers in April.

O. exscapum (Short-scaped O.)—About 4 inches high, with a wide-spreading corymb of white flowers. The leaves are linear, with a silvery middle line. Flowers in April. Native of Italy.

O. narbonnense (Narbonne O.)—About 1 foot or 18 inches high. The scape terminates in an oblong raceme of white flowers. The leaves are narrow, linear, and channeled. Flowers in June and July. Native of France and Italy.

O. umbellatum (Common Star of Bethlehem).-About 6 to 9 inches high, with linear, channeled leaves, having a silvery line down the centre. The scape supports a wide-spreading corymb of pure-white flowers. Flowers in April, May, and June. Native of southern and central Europe, and in Britain at least naturalised.

Scilla (Squill). This is a lovely genus of chiefly early-flowering bulbs. They are indispensable where spring flowers are in request for any purpose, whether for furnishing cut-flowers or decorating the parterre or rockwork or mixed border. They are easily cultivated in almost all kinds of soil, but prefer good strong rich loam to any other, and dislike light, dry, sandy earth most. They are best left undisturbed if doing well; and as they do not, in most cases, increase very rapidly by offsets, and so become quickly overcrowded, there is little reason for frequent removals; and in soils which do not agree well with them there often ensues considerable disaster therefrom. This applies mainly to the very early and smaller species, such as S. bifolia and its varieties, and S. sibirica and its varieties. Others, such as S. italica and S. nutans, being more fertile in the production of offsets, may be divided more frequently; but they, too, make the finest displays when left undisturbed for years together. When division becomes necessary, it should be attended to immediately after the foliage declines.

S. amœna (Pleasing Squill).—This is a handsome and vigorous species. It is sometimes grown as S. sibirica, to which it is related and bears some resemblance. The leaves, when the plant is growing in congenial soil, are often a foot long and an inch broad, and are pale but lively green, flaccid, and nearly equal in width throughout, and abruptly sharp-pointed. The flower-scape varies in height from 6 to 9 inches, is erect, and sharply angular, and supports several large, flatly-bell-shaped flowers, with six wide-spreading divisions. They are dark porce

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