LILIACE.E. 293 



to have the display as nearly as possible simultaneous in all 

 its variety. Blue generally comes away first, and next in order 

 red, white, and yellow. Blues should therefore be planted 

 deepest, say 7 or 8 inches, and the others proportionally shal- 

 lower, in their order. 



H. amethystinus {Amethyst HyacintJi). — This is a pretty little 

 species from southern Europe which blooms a little later than 

 the varieties of orientalis. It has not, so far as I am aware, been 

 productive of any variations. The leaves and stature are 

 similar to those of the orientalis varieties, only the former are 

 perhaps rather shorter and narrower than those of that group 

 generally. The racemes are loose and open, and the flowers 

 are bell-shaped, with six bluntish lobes, and are beautiful 

 amethyst blue. 



Lilium {Lily). — This is a grand and much-admired genus of 

 bulbous plants. A large number of important additions have 

 been made in recent years to the genus both in species and 

 varieties ; but there are many described and figured yet to 

 introduce. Most of the species are hardy in any part of the 

 country, and perhaps all are so in the most favoured districts. 

 Such, however, as L. giganteiim flowers too late in the season 

 to be available in most years, in any district, out of doors. 

 The majority of the recendy-introduced species and varieties 

 are both rare and expensive, and many are yet untried for out- 

 of-doors decoration ; but neither the expensive nor the untried 

 will be included in the following selection, as there are many 

 old favourites and well tried, from which selection may be made 

 without fear of loss and disappointment in the end. The Lilies 

 are a very brilliant group, comparatively neglected, but be- 

 coming more popular; their stately style, and elegant, gaily-col- 

 oured, and often perfumed flowers, are becoming better known 

 and appreciated; and the genus is doubtless destined in the future 

 to perform an important part in the hardy-flower garden. They 

 are capable of being grouped by themselves with splendid 

 effect, furnishing, as they do, ample variety of colour and fea- 

 ture to render such a group most attractive. And such groups 

 might be still further enhanced in efi'ect by having the surface of 

 the ground carpeted with low-growing plants, in green or grey 

 tones of foliage, or with dwarf-flowering plants, in tints har- 

 monising with those of the Lilies themselves. 



They are beautiful mixed-border subjects, the taller species 

 being fine background plants ; and the dwarfer ones, in fitting 

 positions, are equally telling and desirable in mixed arrange- 

 ments. The strong growers are also beautiful objects when 

 planted amongst dwarf shrubs, in such a way as that their in- 



