246 GLENN y's handbook 



meiit as the shrubby species of Spiraea, from which this genus 

 lias been separated. 



SCHIZOPETALON. [Cruciferfe.] S. Walkerl is a 

 liardy annual, more curious than beautiful, but withal worth 

 a place in any garden, not only for the singularity of its 

 appearance, but also for the fragrance which it evolves 

 towards evening. It is one of the cruciferous order, the 

 flowers of which have four petals ; but in this case these 

 parts are curiously fringed : they are white on the face, dull 

 bi-own on the back. It should be sown in April in mode- 

 rately light soil, and will flower about July, successional sow- 

 ings blooming on till September. A few plants grown with 

 some care in pots, and kept in a frame near the light, with 

 plenty of air, are interesting subjects for the greenhouse 

 when in blossom, but they are apt to get drawn under con- 

 finement. 



SOHQilNIA. [Compositfe.] A lovely greenhouse annual. 

 Light rich soil. Seeds. S. oppositifoUa, flowers rose colour. 



SCILLA. Squill. [Liliaceae.] A genus of bulbs, for 

 the most part hardy, and ranking among the prettiest orna- 

 ments of the early spring. They are far too much neglected 

 in gardens, though of the easiest culture, and very gay ap- 

 pearance at a season when flowers are scarce. They grow 

 very well in any moderately good garden soil, but have rather 

 a preference for soil containing a considerable portion of peat 

 earth, or a free light loam : this is especially the case with 

 several of the smaller kinds. They multiply rapidly by 

 means of offsets, and their culture is very simple ; for they 

 merely require planting in the autumn, the bulbs being placed 

 from two to four inches under ground, according to their size, 

 and they may then remain year after year, the patches of 

 bulbs increasing in size, until it is required to form new 

 plantations. Except for this purpose, or for the sake of in- 

 crease, the less they are disturbed the better. There are 

 something like three dozen species recorded as being in cul- 

 tivation, all of which are worth planting in a garden. All 

 beautiful in their wav. 



SCOLOPENDRIUM. Hart's-tongue Fern. [Poly- 

 podiacese.] Beautiful hardy evergreen ferns. Soil, loam and 

 peat. Division or spores. The curious varieties into which 



