224 THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. [ October, 



leading varieties of Colchicurii, to conceive liow decorative they are in the flower- 

 garden, and how valuable for prolonging the succession of flowers. In September 

 and October, and even in November, the display produced by the Colchicum at our 

 experimental grounds is a source of attraction to many friends. We have every 

 species and variety which we have been able to procure, so that we have tlie 

 earliest and the latest, the smallest and the largest, the single and the double, 

 ranging from the purest white to the intensest purple. Some of the varieties 

 have beautifully chequered flowers, and most of them are so floriferous as to 

 cover the ground with a sheet of blossom, and as the leaves do not appear till 

 spring, the effect at a little distance is peculiar, there being nothing but colour. 



" The natural position for the Colchicum in the economy of the flower garden 

 is the mixed flower and shrubbery border, and the woodland walks, but its 

 accommodating habits readily admit of its utilisation in flower beds to prolong the 

 decorative season. In beds of dwarf plants, or where Geraniums are not crowded 

 together, the roots of the Colchicuin^ lifted when at rest, should be planted, 

 making holes all over the flower bed with a common dibber, and in each hole plant- 

 ing a Colchicum, and covering it with soil. These roots throw up their large 

 masses of Crocus-like blossoms just as the summer flowers are dying off, and 

 yield a most pleasing and distinct effect to the summer decoration. C. hyzantimnn, 

 with its rose-coloured flowers, C. variegatum, with its chequered blossoms, C. 

 aatumnale^ with its rose-purple flowers, and the purple, the variegated, and the 

 pure white doubles, each with its distinctive character, might be intermingled or 

 arranged separately in distinct beds." 



C. autumnale ; rose-purple. 



— plenum; lilac, very double. 



— plenuiii striatum; lilac, striped with 



■^vhite. very double. 



— aUmiit ; pui'e white. 



— album plenum ; pure white, very double. 



— pallidum ; pale rose. 



— roseum ; rose-lilac. 



— roseum striatum ; rose-lilac, striped with 



white. 

 C. hyzantinum ; beautiful rose, very abundant. 



— variegatum ; leaves variegated. 



C. rhionense ; rose-lilac, beautifully chequered, 



segments I'eflexed. 

 C. crociflorum ; intense purple-crimsou, shading 



ofl' in age into white stripes. 

 C. montanum ; rich rose-lilac. 

 C. speviosum ; beautiful rose, like 0. byzan- 



tinum, but twice the size. 

 C. variegatum ; rose-purple and white, 



chequered like a chess-board ; also 



called C. tessellatuiu and C. Agrip- 



piiice. 

 — pallidum ; rose, chequered white. 



DRACAENA IMPERIALIS. 



'his is the finest variety which has yet been introduced to public notice 

 amongst those which have the leaves variegated with white and red, the 

 leaves being not only bolder, but better marked. Mr. Bull, to whom our 

 thanks are due for the use of the accompanying cut, describes it as 

 follows : — "• A South Sea Island Dracaena, and one of the most beautiful which 

 has yet found its way into our plant stoves. The variegation is in this case of a 

 clear white combined with deep rose, and is most effective. The leaf-stalks are 

 marginate ; the blade narrowly elliptic-oblong, tapered at the apex, and narrowed 

 into the marginate petiole. The colour is a deep sap green, breaking out freely 

 in the young leaves into white, whicli is most pi'ominent near the base of the 



