lain-blue, and the ovary or seed-vessel is greenish white, and furnishes an agreeable contrast to the blue of the corolla, as it is conspicuous immediately the flower opens. Flowers in early April. Native of the Tyrol and central Europe and the Le

vant.

S. bifolia (Earliest Squill).—One of the most beautiful as well as the earliest of our hardy Squills. It forms tufts of spreading dark-green leaves 6 to 9 inches long, narrow, lanceshaped, channeled throughout, and incurved near the point, where the margins ultimately meet and form a thickened point. The scapes are about the length of the leaves, slender, and terminating in a one-sided raceme of deep-blue flowers. The flowers open in February, March, and April. Native of southern and central Europe, the Levant, and Russia. There are numerous varieties in cultivation, and amongst the best are S. bifolia præcox, syns. S. bifolia major and S. præcox, in which the colour is the same as the type, and the chief distinctions are in its earlier-blooming quality, and the larger size of the flowers ; S. bifolia rosea, syn. S. rosea, a very beautiful form, with fine rose-coloured flowers; and S. bifolia alba and S. bifolia candida, both with white flowers, but in the latter they are pure white, and larger than those of the former.

S. campanulata, syn. Endymion campanulata (Bell-flowered Squill). This approaches in character some of the varieties of S. nutans, the Blue-bell. It is a large-growing species, producing channeled, linear, dark-green leaves, about I foot long and 1 inch wide, sharply pointed. The flower-scapes are about I foot high, and stout, supporting a pyramidal raceme of open bell-shaped flowers, deep blue in colour. It is a variable species in cultivation as regards the colour, there being many shades of blue, and pink, or rose, and an excellent pure-white variety, named S. c. alba. It is a native of southern Europe. Flowers in May and June.

S. italica (Italian Squill).-A vigorous species, growing about 9 inches high. The leaves are lance-shaped, bright green, about 6 or 9 inches long. The flower-scapes are erect, supporting an upright short conical raceme of small pale slatyblue flowers. Flowers in April, May, and June. Native of central and southern Europe, and a free-growing species in any soil. There is an excellent white variety, named S. i. alba.

S. nutans, syns. Hyacinthus non-scriptus and Endymion nutans (Blue-bell Squill).—This is the common Blue-bell Hyacinth so abundant in groves in many parts of England. There is no good reason why it should not be made as abundant in northern woods as it is in southern ones. It is indigenous

and hardy, increases rapidly, and in naturalising it would require similar treatment to the Snowdrop. It is much like S. campanulata in growth, stature, and habit, but is easily distinguished from it by the gracefully-arching one-sided racemes of nodding cylindrical flowers, the segments of which are sharply rolled back at the points. The most common colour is blue, but there are numerous other shades, of which the following are the most distinct, S. n. alba, S. n. cærulea, S. n. rosea, and S. n. carnea. Besides being indigenous, it is a native of southwestern Europe. Flowers in May and June.

S. peruviana (Corymbose Squill).—The nearest claim that this grand Squill has to be considered Peruvian is, that it is found in Spain and other parts of south-western Europe, but it has never been found in South America. The leaves are broad, linear, or lance-shaped. The flower-scape is stout and erect, and terminates in a corymbose raceme at first, very flat, but lengthening out in flowering into conical shape. The flowers are fine deep blue, and the stamens conspicuously white. They appear in May and June. It flowers freely only in warm sunny aspects, and in light, rich, warm soil. There is a good white variety.named S. p. alba.

S. sibirica (Siberian Squill).-A lovely small-growing species, which, till recently, was surrounded with confusion in gardens at least. It bore many names, as many as six synonyms being quoted by Dr Masters in the 'Gardeners' Chronicle' in 1868, in an article in which he cleared up the confusion, and confirmed the name sibirica by right of priority. The leaves are from 4 to 8 inches long, and 1⁄2 inch wide, are strap-shaped, and contracted and thickened at the point. The flower-scapes are angular, slender, and at the time of flowering exceed the length of the leaves somewhat; but the leaves ultimately become longer. The flowers are beautiful azure-blue, somewhat bell-shaped, with open spreading segments. There is a variety named S. s. amanula, with smaller and paler flowers; but it appears to be the only variation in colour recorded, and is inferior to the type. Native of Persia and Asia Minor. Flowers in March and April.

Trillium.—A very beautiful and singular genus from North America. Not any of the species are common in cultivation, and they are reputed difficult to keep; and they are undoubtedly so if their requirements are not attended to. They are naturally shade and moisture loving plants, delighting in deep, moist, cool soil, not fastidious as to the components of the soil nor its texture if the points of depth and moisture, without stagnation, are secured; and, provided with these conditions, they may be grown with fair success in positions exposed to the full sun; but

their development is better under partial shade. They are beautiful border or rockwork ornaments, and excellent for fringing the margins of beds of shrubs, where they may have some chance of shelter from rough wind. They are propagated by division of the roots, but they do not increase rapidly, and should be disturbed as little as possible for that purpose when they are doing well. They thrive best, and increase most abundantly, in deep peat and loam. The best time to divide is immediately after the leaves decline.

T. grandiflorum (Large-flowered T.)-This is the handsomest of the family, and a very beautiful as well as singular plant. It grows from 6 to 18 inches high. The leaves are three in number on each stem, arranged opposite each other at the summit; they are broadly egg-shaped, dark olive-green, and conspicuously ribbed and veined. The flower, one to each stem, springs from the centre of the leaves on a short stalk, and is supported in a slightly pendulous position; it consists of three green sepals and three pure-white petals. They open in April, May, and June.

T. pendulum (Pendulous-flowered T.) Similar in aspect to the last, this differs from it chiefly in the leaves being more sharply rounded at the base, and more abruptly sharp-pointed. The flowers are white, but more decidedly drooping, and the petals are broader at the base, and are more acutely pointed. The plant grows from 6 to 9 inches high, and the flowers begin to open with those of the Large-flowered T., but do not continue so long.

T. sessile (Stalkless-flowered T.)-Not less interesting and singular, this species is less beautiful than either of the last two. The leaves are oval, tapering gradually to both ends from the centre. The flower sits stalkless and erect on the top of the stem between the leaves. The sepals are spreading, the petals erect, not opening wide as in the two previously described. They appear about the same time, and the plant grows about the height of the last species.

Triteleia uniflora, syns. Leucocoryne uniflora and Milla uniflora (One-flowered T.)-So far as I am aware, this is the only species of this handsome genus of bulbous plants that has been proved capable of culture in the open ground. They are American plants, mostly from the southern parts of that country; and there are four or five species, including the present subject, in cultivation. This is one of the handsomest. It produces linear flaccid spreading leaves about 9 or 10 inches long. The flower-stalks are about the length of the leaves and erect. The flowers tubular, with a broad-spreading limb divided in 6

segments; they are pure white, with a line of delicate blue along the middle of each segment, spreading wider as it descends to the base of the segment. The flowers are delicately scented if they are not bruised in handling; but on being bruised, both the flowers and leaves smell like garlic. They appear in spring and early summer. It grows freely in any ordinarily good soil, but should have good drainage to prevent stagnation, but will take ample supplies of water when growing. Easily increased by means of the offsets from the bulbs. Native of Buenos Ayres. Other beautiful Triteleias are T. conspicua odorata, alliacia, and porrifolia. They are all handsome pot-plants, and easily managed in that way in a cold frame, the pots being plunged and kept rather dry in winter; and they may be flowered in rooms or in the greenhouse.

Tritoma. A splendid genus of plants, and all the more valuable that their display is produced very late in autumn. It is limited in species, and two of those that are in cultivation are not hardy in the northern parts of Britain. These are T. Burchellii and T. Rooperii, both fine plants, but inferior in effectiveness to T. Uvaria, which is undoubtedly hardy in all parts of the country. In the south those two more tender and laterflowering species may succeed in warm sheltered spots—and I have seen T. Rooperii stand mild winters in the north, reserving its flowers till the month of May. T. Burchellii I have not seen tried in this way, but it is less handsome than Rooperii, and scarcely worth much trouble when we have the alternative in the same type of the gorgeous Uvaria. They all prefer light, rich, sandy loam, or peat and loam, well drained, but delight in heavy drenchings of water in the summer and autumn. pagate by division of the crowns.

Pro

T. media, syn. Kniphofia media (Smaller T.)-This is an old inhabitant, and not an uncommon ornament of shrubbery borders. It grows from 18 inches to 2 feet high, producing masses of soft, fleshy, sub-glaucous leaves, about as long as the plant is high. The flower-scapes are erect and the spikes short, and the flowers are orange red. They appear irregularly, never many spikes together, from early summer till early or late winter; and often in mild winters they continue sending up a spike occasionally throughout that season. Native of the Cape of Good Hope.

T. Uvaria, syn. Kniphofia Uvaria. In the west of Scotland they have dubbed this splendid plant "Bailie Nicol Jarvie's Poker," and the name fits the plant better than a spike of it would have served the Bailie in his perilous circumstances. The plant has become very popular within the past twelve or

fourteen years, and deservedly so, for we have no more beautiful autumn-flowering hardy subject. Its style of growth and gorgeous colouring are grand and unique. There are several varieties of it, all of which are of high merit, but the one which is most free in flowering is that named T. U. glaucescens. It has leaves of great length, often in rich soil 3 or 4 feet long, at first erect, but ultimately arching outwards; they are very narrow, and deeply channeled and prominently keeled, and the sectional outline is sharply triangular; their colour is glaucous, and the edges and keel are rough from short bristles. The scape, when luxuriant, attains a height of 4 or more feet, and as the spike lengthens and becomes heavy, it becomes top-heavy and falls over if not supported. The flowers are cylindrical, fine yellow at the tips, shading quickly into the rich vermilion of the lower part of the tube; and the spike itself is somewhat club-shaped, being widest in the centre, owing to the flowers taking a more horizontal position there, and being pendent both above and below. It flowers in August, September, and October; and in very late localities, where it flowers imperfectly in autumn, I have seen it throw up a few spikes in the earlier months of the succeeding summer; but in most parts of the country its flowering is done in autumn. The next most useful variety is T. U. grandiflora, and a fine plant it is in the south, but quite valueless in the north, owing to its later-flowering quality. At this place (Minto) it grows freely, and is perfectly hardy; but the scapes are so late in moving, that the spikes are never fully developed in all their beauty before the rigour of winter sets in and cuts them down. Often in early summer we get a crop of weakly spikes of the previous season's formation, but they are never fine. It is very distinct, and as Tritomas are characterised, it might fairly pass muster as a species. The leaves are shorter and much wider at the base than those of T. U. glaucescens; they are never erect, but from the first have a tendency to arch outwards and recurve. They are destitute of any glaucous tint, and their edges and keel are smooth, or nearly so. The scape is rigid, upright, very stout, and tapering from the base upwards, and never inclines to break over unless in exposed positions, where they may suffer damage from storms of wind. The spike is pyramidal, being widest at the base and tapering somewhat upwards, and the flowers nearly uniform scarlet, or faintly marked with yellow at the tips. T. Uvaria is a native of the Cape of Good Hope, as are all the species of Tritoma.

Tulipa (Tulip).—This splendid genus has been of the highest interest to florists for centuries-much less so now than it was two hundred years ago, when large fortunes changed hands often