306 THE GARDENER. [July 



spring flowers. M. moschatum is too late in flowering to be fit to 

 recommend as a spring flower, but any mention of the genus would 

 be incomplete were it left unnoticed, on account of its delicious frag- 

 rance. M. botryoides cornosum, and its monstrous form known as 

 the Feather Hyacinth, and M. racemosum, are the best known, and 

 are indispensable ornaments of the garden in spring ; but the hand- 

 somest of the genus is M. Szovitzianum. It is nearest in general 

 character to racemosum, but is greatly superior to it in colour, and is 

 also neater in foliage and habit. It is blue, but such an unapproach- 

 able blue as I have never met with in any other flower. It is a very 

 scarce plant, but should be added to every collection of choice 

 things. 



Ornithogalum, or Star of Bethlehem, may be passed over with 

 the remark that, though very free-flowering plants, they are somewhat 

 common, not to say vulgar looking. They are capable of producing 

 a good effect in glades in woods, and in suchlike positions, but they 

 are apt to give a collection of choice plants a somewhat untidy and 

 ordinary appearance when any considerable number of them are culti- 

 vated. They are all white-flowered. 



Scilla (Squill). — This is one of the loveliest of the genera of 

 spring flowers. S. amoena, bifolia, campanulata, italica, nutans, and 

 sibirica, are the principal of the spring-flowering sorts, and all should 

 be grown in quantity. Of bifolia, campanulata, and nutans, there are 

 several varieties that are useful as famishing materials for a variety 

 of decorative effects. 



Trillium grandiflorum. — A very choice and beautiful plant, some- 

 what singular as well in structure and aspect. The flowers are pure 

 white, and appear in ordinary seasons in the end of April, and last till 

 the end of May. 



Tulipa (the Tulip). — This furnishes some of the most splendid 

 flowers of spring. The later-flowering varieties, which are derived 

 from T. Gesneriana, are unsurpassed in the variety and brilliancy of 

 their colours • and the earlier-flowering ones, which, if less varied, are 

 not less brilliant, are derived chiefly from T. suaveolens, both species 

 being natives of southern Europe. Two of the best early-flowering 

 species are T. Clusiana and T. irrcecox, the latter bright scarlet, the 

 former purple, white, and red. 



W. Sutherland. 



Craigleith Nursery, Edinburgh. 



■*T~S^3^S^^— 



