MILLA BIFLOKA. 151 



of long duration, but its blooming period is prolonged by tbeir opening in 

 succession ; in tbe case of specimens producing tbree or four blossoms, a period of 

 two or tbree weeks will usually intervene between tbe expansion of tbe first 

 and last. Altbougb tbe interest witb wbicb we view our floral treasures 

 undoubtedly reacbes its climax at tbe moment of blooming, it is by no means 

 confined to tbat period, but, commencing witb tbeir earliest growtb, is sustained by 

 tbe pleasures of bope, and followed by tbose of memory ; but for tbis bappy 

 constitution of tbe buman mind, by wbicb tbe joy of a moment becomes ' a joy 

 for ever', it may well be doubted wbetber the attention of weeks would be 

 lavished to be repaid by a transient blossom. 



The cultivation of the Ifilla is of the same character as that of most other half- 

 hardy summer bulbs. It succeeds admirably in pots, and perhaps the delicacy of 

 its snow-white flowers may render it advisable to restrict it to the window or 

 frame. But it is sufficiently hardy to endure the open borders, where it may be 

 planted about the end of April or beginning of May, in a mixture of sandy-loam 

 and leaf mould or peat, at a depth of two or three inches. As sharp frost may 

 occur about the period its leaves appear above ground, a small band-light should 

 be placed over the bulb until the middle of May or later, according to the tempe- 

 rature. When the flower stem appears, it should be secured to a slender incon- 

 spicuous rod, and about the end of July the blossoms will unfold themselves. After 

 the flowers and leaves have faded, the bulbs should be removed from the ground, 

 though so long as frost or excessive wet does not prevail, they may remain. The 

 growth of the leaves subsequent to flowering should, on no account, be checked, as 

 the longer they remain green, the greater will be the size attained by the offsets. 

 In wet adhesive or clayey soils, this bulb will not succeed unless a considerable 

 proportion of white sand and leaf mould are mixed with the earth of the borders. 

 In pots its growtb is generally taller than in the open ground ; and it succeeds so 

 readily that it is scarcely possible to fail in its culture. A pot of four or five inches 

 in diameter will be sufficient for tbe largest bulb ; it should be well drained, and 

 the soil employed must be that already recommended for its border treatment. It 

 should be grown on a sunny window, an abundance of light being indispensable. 



This bulb is usually sold at rather a high price by the London Florists, but may 

 be had at a cheaper rate of Mr. Saunders of St. Heliers, Jersey, by whom it 

 can be forwarded in a dry state. There is one other species known to exist, 

 the Ifilla uniflora, producing a flower of a pale lilac tint, and further distinguished 

 from the present species by its stamens being alternately smaller, those of liflora 

 being uniform in size. Our plant is a native of the temperate parts of Mexico, 

 whence it was introduced about 1826. 



This genus was named by Cavanilles, in honour of his compatriot, Julian 

 Milla, head gardener at the Royal Garden of Madrid. The flowers of our figure 



