GARDEN AND FARM TOPICS. 



SQUILLS, SCILLAS, (Scilla.) 



AN extensive genus of very pretty bulbous plants, 

 nearly all of which are hardy, and very desirable on ac- 

 count of their early habit of flowering. They should be 

 planted in October, either in the open ground or in pots. 

 They prefer a light, rich soil. S. campanulata is a native of 

 Spain, and has beautiful blue flowers, of which there are 

 varieties with white and pink flowers. S. amcena, with 



blue flowers, from the 

 Levant, is a very early 

 flowering species. S. 

 bifolia, with red, blue, 

 or white flowers. S. 

 Sibirica, with intense 

 blue flowers. 



These are all beauti- 

 ful plants, and well 

 adapted to the open 

 border. They come 

 into flower with the 

 Crocus, and continue 

 in bloom much longer. 

 They may remain undis- 

 THK SQUILL. (Sciiia.) turbed where planted 



for a number of years, as crowding from their natural 

 increase does not seem to injure them. S. Peruviana 

 is one of the best for pot culture. It is a native of 

 Italy and Spain, and not of Peru, as is generally sup- 

 posed, and as its name would imply. Its flowers are 

 dark blue, and produced in long racemes. S. ciliaris is 

 also desirable for growing in pots. The last two are not 

 hardy. All the species are well worth a place in the 

 garden or the green-house. 



