786 ZEPHYRANTHES. THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



ZINNIA. 



series it is known as Andromeda 

 cassiniafolia and A. speciosa, and its 

 variety Z. pulverulenta as A. dealbata 

 and A. pulverulenta. 



ZEPHYRANTHES ( 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 require rest during win- 

 ter, 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 greenhouse, four or six 

 being planted in a pot. Offsets. The 

 valuable species are : 



Z. ATAMASCO (Atamasco Lily). A 

 native of N. America, where it is a con- 

 spicuous 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 inches long, and borne singly upon 

 a scape 6 inches high. 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 E. and S.E. 

 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. citrina 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 inches across, 

 prettily flushed with rose on the outside. 



Z. CARINATA. This lovely plant has 

 narrow leaves, and its flower-stem, which 

 is about 6 inches high, bears a delicate 

 rosy flower, 2 or 3 inches long. It blos- 

 soms freely in the open border if kept 



dry in winter, and should be grown in 

 light sandy loam. S. America. 



Z. MACROSIPHON. A scarcer plant coin- 

 ing near carinata, the flowers a little smaller 

 but more abundant, and sometimes re- 

 newed in autumn. 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. 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 inches long, flushed with red while in 

 bud and delicately fragrant, come as some- 

 thing of a surprise. If grown in the open 

 air it should be in a warm border like that 

 recommended for Z. Candida, with a good 

 layer of ashes to protect the roots in 

 winter. Florida. 



Z. TUBISPATHA. A handsome plant, 

 bearing a white, slightly fragrant flower, 

 2 or 3 inches long. Native of Antigua, 

 and of the 'Blue Mountains of Jamaica. 

 Though a stove plant, it will thrive and 

 flower well in mild localities, if well pro- 

 tected in winter. A pretty pink hybrid 

 between this species and Z. carinata is 

 sometimes met with under the name of 

 Z. Spofforthiana. 



ZIETENIA (Z. lavandul&folia}. 

 Dwarf, creeping, half-shrubby peren- 

 nial of a greyish hue, 6 to 12 inches 

 high, with purple flowers in summer, 

 borne in whorls, forming a spike about 

 6 inches long, with a slender downy 

 stalk. Suitable for the margins of 

 borders and the rougher parts of the 

 rock garden, but, I fear, not quite 

 hardy. Division. Caucasus. 



ZINNIA. Half-hardy annual plants 

 of splendid colour and thriving best 

 in our country on good warm soils. 

 Among the most effective of summer- 

 blooming plants, they flower well until 

 autumn, their blooms not easily injured 

 by inclement weather, but retaining 

 freshness and gay colour when many 

 flowers present but a sorry appear- 

 ance. In mixed borders, and in 

 beds among sub-tropical plants, well- 

 grown Zinnias are always attrac- 

 tive, but require a deep loamy soil and 

 a warm open situation. Seed should 

 be sown in gentle warmth. Nothing 

 is gained by sowing before the middle 

 or end of March, as, if the young plants 

 have to stand before being planted, 

 they become root-bound and seldom 

 fully recover. If the tissues once 

 harden so much as to bring the young 

 plants to a standstill, there will be 



