BULBS 137 



English one (S. nutans) is better known as blue- 

 bells. This is a little more than a foot high and 

 very handsome in the garden, as are also the taller 

 Spanish wood hyacinth (S. Hispanica, or campanu- 

 lata) and S. patula. Of the first two there are 

 white and pink variations, but the blue type is 

 preferable to them. 



The "glory-of-the-snow" (Chionodoxa) , which 

 has delicate blue star blossoms with a white center, 

 is another inexpensive bulb that sadly needs recog- 

 nition of its charms. It blooms in March and 

 masses beautifully. There are several species; the 

 one generally planted is C. Luciliae, which now 

 has pink and white varieties. 



Snowdrops would be worth planting for pos- 

 sible February bloom even if their little white bells 

 were not a welcome sight at any time. The old 

 snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis) has a double form 

 that may appeal to some; but it is inferior to the 

 single, and neither is the equal of the giant snow- 

 drop (G. Elwesii) for garden effect. The Crimean 

 snowdrop ( G. plicatus) is another tall species, and 

 there are half a dozen more if these do not offer 

 variety enough. The somewhat similar spring 

 snowflake (Leucojum vernum) and summer snow- 

 flake (L. aestivum), the one blooming in April and 

 the other in May, are hardly less useful. 



Other thoroughly reliable spring bulbs are the 

 spring star flower (Triteleia uni flora), which has 

 deliciously fragrant bluish white blossoms; the In- 

 dian quamash (Camassia esculenta) with tall spikes 



