158 HARDY PLANTS OF THE LTLT TRIBE. 



flowered varieties, which form a charming- contrast when grown with the others. 

 The bulbs are all to be procured in a dry state of the Florist at this season of the 

 year, and may be planted in patches near the edges of the border. Italica, amcena, 

 Siberica, prcecox, imperial-is, Peruviana, and campanulata, are among the best of the 

 blue-flowered species, and of nearly all of those named, there are white and flesh- 

 coloured varieties. 



The Allium azureum, A. moly, and A. acuminatum, notwithstanding the ideas 

 usually associated with the Onion tribe, are very handsome plants ; the last named 

 is at present rare, but azureum and moly we have found in most of the Seedmen's 

 lists of bulbs. There are also several other interesting species, but they are very 

 scarce, and confined to private collections. 



The Gageas, a genus allied to Ornithogalum, are pretty hardy yellow-flowered 

 bulbs worth cultivation; the G. lutea is an indigenous plant; but it is less orna- 

 mental than G. glauca, bracteolaris, and some others. 



Of more interest is the Calliprora flam or lutea, an extremely neat little plant 

 flowering in July and August, with yellow blossoms of some duration. It is quite 

 hardy, and increases very freely by offsets, which flower while small. It does best 

 in a rather shaded border of peat or other light soil. 



More interesting still is the Triteleia laxa, with beautiful blue flowers, produced 

 in July. This charming plant ripens seed freely, and ought, therefore, to have 

 been by this time within the reach of everybody; but it is still comparatively 

 scarce. Mr. Groom of Clapham Rise is the only party, to our knowledge, in 

 possession of this bulb, though it is, doubtless, in the hands of other Florists. It 

 is not quite so hardy as the Calliprora, but will need bnt little protection, except in 

 severe weather. There are two or three other species, but we are ignorant whether 

 they are to be procured in this country. 



The Brodiceas are no less deserving of general cultivation than the two preceding 

 plants. There are two species, grandiflora and congesta, both with bluish-purple 

 flowers ; and like the Calliprora, they are best grown in heath-soil, or in sandy 

 loam, in which old leaf-mould has been incorporated. The B. congesta is the 

 hardiest of the two species ; both of them may by procured for a very 

 trifling sum. 



The splendid genus Calochortus has already been noticed in our pages. They are 

 all, with the exception of C. luteus, too tender to permit of being classed with 

 hardy bulbs ; that species, however, succeeds with very slight protection in ordinary 

 winters, especially if sheltered from autumn rains. The allied genus Cyclobotlira is 

 more hardy, but alba is the only species readily obtainable. This may be had of 

 nearly all the London Florists, and will please all lovers of bulbous plants. It 

 ripens abundance of seed, and may be quickly increased in that way, as well as by 

 the buds, or gemma, which are produced on the stem. Should any of our readers 



