THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



193 



and fine species for the border or 

 bed. 



Tulipa scabriscapa, the original of 

 the early bedding tulips, and a fine 

 subject. 



Galanthus plicatus, the Crimean 

 snowdrop ; flowers very large and 

 pure white. 



Scilla siberica, beautiful dwarf 

 species. 



Scilla campanulata, larger than 

 the last and later. All the scillas 

 are worth growing. 



Iris Germanica. — Any one who 

 chooses to visit Mr. Salter's nursery 

 at Hammersmith at the proper season 

 may see a collection of Iris Grerma- 

 nica in bloom, which, for variety and 

 richness of colouring, and for fan- 

 tastic markings and curious effects, 

 can only be likened to a collection of 

 the grandest exotic orchids. Yet, 

 strange to say, very few amateurs 

 plant such things, perhaps because 

 they do not last long; but theu ge- 

 rauium8 may be planted between 

 them, or, better still, pentstemons, 

 phloxes, and other proper inmates 

 of the mixed border. 



Iris Florentines, white, with blue 

 shadings. 



Iris pallida, very large and de- 

 licate. 



Iris pumila, very dwarf, flowers 

 blue, does well in front of a peat 

 bed. 



Iris Anglica, the " flag" of cot- 

 tage gardeus. There are some fine 

 varieties to be had in various colours. 



Mrythronium dens-canis, the dog's- 

 tooth violet, will grow finely in a 

 sandy soil, and makes a charming 

 bed. 



Eranthis hyemalis, the winter 

 aconite. Planted now in a bed, or 

 as a marginal line, or in clumps in 

 the border, it will produce in January 

 a delightful display of greenish- 

 yellow flowers when no other flowers 

 are to be seen. 



Lilies of several kinds may be 

 grown without prepared soil in any 

 good border, and are sure to repay 

 the little care they need. Now (ihat 

 is to say, bept. 1st) is the best time 

 to plant, and they ought to be all 

 planted before the month is out. 



Fritillaria Imperialis, the Crown 



Imperial, a favourite of the cottage 

 garden, has been much improved of 

 late, and the following varieties are 

 well worth growing: : — Crown upon 

 Crown, King of Holland, Double- 

 flowering Red, Double-flowering 

 Yellow, Maximum, and the varieties 

 with gold and silver leaves. 



The Roman Hyacinth, — Some 

 time ago, perhaps in the autumn of 

 1862, a correspondent of the Floral 

 World sent me a parcel of small 

 hyacinth bulbs, asking if I could give 

 an account of the variety, as it was 

 somewhat peculiar, and remarkably 

 useful for out-door purposes. I did 

 not recognize the variety by the 

 shape and size of the bulbs, and in- 

 deed there are very few bulbs that 

 can be named to a certainty until we 

 see the leaves and the flowers also. 

 But they were planted, and in due 

 time they flowered, and then I saw 

 at once that I had the Roman hya- 

 cinth, and I was glad, for I had not 

 seen it for more than twenty years 

 previous, my last interview with it 

 taking place at Covent Garden market 

 one spring morning at 5 a.m., when I 

 saw a lot unpacked at the house of a 

 trader in bouquets. Should this meet 

 the eye of the kind correspondent 

 who sent me the bulbs, I wish to make 

 an apology for not publicly acknow- 

 ledging the gift sooner than this ; and 

 the reason of the delay is that I lost 

 the name and address of the donor, 

 and always hoped that some day I 

 should meet with it among the 

 Floral World papers. I now bring 

 forward the Roman hyacinth in order 

 to recommend it for beds and bor- 

 ders. It is of dwarf growth, and 

 hence, if used in beds, it will be most 

 serviceable as an edging, or in clumps 

 along the front line. It has no pre- 

 tensions to be considered a florists' 

 flower ; the spikes are small, the 

 flowers are small ; but it flowers very 

 freely, is never hurt by severe 

 weather, and increases fast under- 

 ground. I recommended it last year 

 in quite an accidental way in another 

 place, and there was immediately so 

 much demand for it that the trade 

 parted with them almost instanter. 

 I hope this notice of it will induce 

 such of the readers of the Floral 



