HARDY PLANTS OF THE LILY TKIBE. 157 



Far less common than the above is the Agapanthus umbellatus, or African Lily. 

 This plant being a native of the Cape of Good Hope, is generally treated as a 

 green-house subject ; but as it is dormant in winter, if planted from eight to twelve 

 inches deep in a sheltered border, it will succeed admirably, and flower far more 

 abundantly than in pots. It does best in rich sandy loam, and is easily increased 

 by suckers. The flowers of the species are blue ; but there is a white, and also a 

 variegated variety. 



The Funckias are very ornamental, and their flowers are deliriously fragrant. 

 Two species, ovata and ccerulea, have blue flowers ; those of undulata, Sieboldiana, 

 and lanceolata, are lilac ; and in albo-marginata, they are also lilac, but beautifully 

 edged with white. Their average height is about eighteen inches, and most of them 

 flower during the summer months. As they may be had at a cheap rate at the 

 London and most provincial nurseries, we strongly urge those of our readers who 

 may not be already in possession of some of the species, to add them forthwith 

 to their collections. They prefer a dry situation, and are all increased by 

 division. 



Allied to the above are the species of Hemerocallis, one or two of which are old 

 inhabitants of our gardens. Flava, graminea, disticha, and speciosa, are the most 

 desirable species, far more so than fuha, the species most usually seen. All 

 those we have named have yellow or orange flowers produced in May, June, or 

 July. 



Closely associated with the two preceding genera, are the species of Anthericum, 

 of which liliastrum and sulphureum are hardy. The first is by no means rare ; it 

 grows rather more than a foot high, and has white flowers of some size. Their 

 relationship render it probable, that this and the previous genera would intermingle 

 by hybridizing. 



The Blue variety of Ornithogalum pyramidale, or Star of Bethlehem, is a beautiful 

 plant when in flower, and the white species are also desirable from their hardiness. 

 We notice this rather common genus, however, chiefly with a view to draw the 

 attention of amateurs to the possibility of obtaining hybrids between the hardy 

 white species, and the more tender yellow ones from the Cape of Good Hope. We 

 have very little doubt that these would live in the open ground, if slight protection 

 were afforded them, and their beauty renders them fully worthy of a little extra care ; 

 but even should they prove too tender, their hybrids with the common white species 

 would certainly bear our winters, and be a valuable addition to our hardy bulbs, 

 The only one of the yellow Ornithogalums readily attainable, is aureum, which may 

 he had of some of the London Florists ; we have seen it in the catalogue of Messrs. 

 Henderson, Pine Apple Place, Edgeware Road. 



Scilla. — These are among the prettiest of the dwarfer section of the Order. The 

 majority have blue flowers, of various shades ; but there are white, pink, and lilac- 



