936 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



ZEPHVRA> 



twig, being 3 to 5 in. long, tapering to 

 a point, i^ 10 2^ in. wide, slightly hairy 

 on both sides, and edged with coarse sharp 

 teeth. The longer points, sharper teeth, 

 more numerous nerves and leathery texture, 

 together with the fact that they hang longer, 

 may enable anyone to tell the leaf of the 

 Japan Zelkowa from that of the better-known 

 Z. crenata. The timber is hard, durable, and 

 fine-grained, taking a high polish, and valued 

 for its many industrial uses. Japan. The 

 tree is fully hardy with us, and not difficult to 

 suit as to soil. 



Z. crenata {Commoii Zelkowa). — A quick- 

 growing, handsome tree of marked character- 

 istics, the main branches rising erect from 

 one point, and spreading so slightly as to give 

 a peculiar and easy recognised form. Each 

 branch is as it were a tiny tree in miniature. 

 Mature trees are 80 to 100 ft. high, with a 

 fine columnar stem covered at first with 

 smooth bark like a Beech or a Hornbeam, 

 though in old trees it becomes furrowed and 

 falls away as in the Plane. The leaf is often 

 like that of the Elm, only smoother, more 

 glossy, and wilh more rounded teeth ; but this 

 character is so variable that leaves like an 

 Elm, a Beech, and a Hornbeam may often 

 be found on the same branch, to the bewilder- 

 ment of the uninitiated. Asia Minor and 

 Caucasus. Syn. Planera Richardi. 



Of lesser importance are Z. cretica, a grace- 

 ful small-leaved tree of 15 to 20 ft., with 

 leathery dark-green leaves, thickly coated 

 with short grey hairs on the under side and 

 upon the stems and young branches ; and 

 Z. japonica, a small-leaved species from 

 Japan, with roughly down-covered leaves. 



ZENOBIA. — Z. speciosa is one of the 

 most beautiful shrubs in the Heath family, 

 about a yard high, with small roundish 

 leaves of a pale green. In the variety 

 ptilverule?jta, the leaves are almost white, 

 covered with a mealy glaucescence ; 

 flowers, white and wax-like in form, 

 like those of Lily of the Valley, coming 

 in summer in beautiful loose drooping 

 clusters. A well-flowered specimen is 

 most charming, and lasts for some weeks 

 in beauty, thriving in a peaty soil or a 

 sandy loam. It comes from the South- 

 ern United States ; and is therefore 

 not absolutely hardy. In nurseries it 

 is known as Andromeda cassinicefolia 

 and A. speciosa., and its variety Z. pul- 

 verulenta as A. dealbata and A. pul- 

 veriilc7ita. 



ZEPHYEANTHES {Zephyr-flower).— 

 This beautiful flower has been termed the 

 Crocus of America. There are about 

 fourteen species, — low-growing bulbous 

 plants, with grassy leaves, which appear 

 in spring with or before the Crocus-like 

 flowers, which are white or rosy-pink, 

 large and handsome. Zephyranthes re- 

 quire rest during winter, and at that 



season are best kept dry. In spring they 

 should be planted out in the full sun in 

 sandy soil. They do well in the green- 

 house, four or six being planted in a pot. 

 Offsets. The valuable species are : — 



Z. Atamasco {Atamasco Lily). — This 

 handsome plant is a native of N. America, 

 where it is a conspicuous ornament of damp 

 places in woods and fields. Its glossy leaves 

 appear at the same time as the blossoms, and 

 slightly exceed them in height. The white 

 flowers are striped with rose, are about 3 in. 

 long, and borne singly upon a scape 6 in. high. 

 It flowers from May to July, and is very 

 beautiful where it succeeds, but it is seldom 

 really happy with us in the open air, even in 

 light soils and in the warmest gardens. 



Z. Candida {Swamp Zephyr flower). — 

 The hardiest and best of the group, mak- 

 ing tufts of evergreen Rush-like leaves, and 

 glistening white flowers with golden stamens, 

 opening flat in the sunshine from August to 

 October. The buds are prettily shaded with 

 rose on the outside. In warm sandy soils the 

 bulbs do well, planted like the Belladonna 

 Lily in narrow borders against a greenhouse 

 or any place — even a gravel walk — where they 

 get a thorough baking and plenty of moisture 

 from time to time. Cool and heavy soils do 

 not suit the plant at all, nor does it seem to do 

 so well in the west as in the drier climate of 

 east and south-east Britain, often failing to 

 flower when it does not die out. In the light 

 soils of Surrey, and at Kew, it is charming, 

 ripening seeds which germinate and grow 

 readily, spreading into groups of beautiful 

 effect as an edging to warm borders, or even 

 as a carpet plant. Z. ciirina is a scarcer kind 

 allied to Candida but distinct in form and in its 

 golden flowers. A cross between these two 

 species has given Z. AJax, which is like Candida 

 in character and time of bloom, but quite new 

 in its soft yellow flowers over 2 in. across 

 prettily flushed with rose on the outside. 



Z. carinata. — This lovely plant has narrow 

 leaves, and its flower-stem, which is about 6 

 in. high, bears a delicate rosy flower, 2 or 3 in. 

 long. It blossoms freely in the open border it 

 kept dry in winter, and should be grown in 

 light sandy loam. S. America. 



Z. macrosiphon is a scarcer plant coming 

 near carinala, the flowers a little smaller but 

 more abundant, and sometimes renewed in 

 autumn. The plant is easily grown and seeds 

 freely, but unless amply protected the bulbs 

 should be lifted in the autumn. 



Z. rosea, a beautiful species, with flowers 

 of a bright rose, is a native of the mountains 

 of Cuba. 



Z. Treatise from Florida resembles 

 Z. Atamasco, but is found in damper places and 

 blooms somewhat later — April to June. The 

 leaves are weak and narrow and the bulbs so 

 small that the large white flowers 3 ins. 

 long, flushed with red while in bud and deli- 

 cately fragrant, come as something of a surprise. 

 If grown in the open air it should be in such a 

 warm border as that recommended for Z. can- 



