HARDY BULBS 19 



in our gardens. The easiest to obtain is aurea, which 

 grows about one foot high and has an umbel of pretty 

 flowers, in July. The only other species, Clevelandii, 

 closely resembles it, but has smaller flowers and more 

 slender stems. They like a warm position in rich, sandy 

 soil, and may be planted in early autumn about two 

 two inches deep. 



BRODI^AS 



The Brodiaeas have of late been deservedly coming to 

 the front, and their use adds much to the charms of the 

 garden in June and July, although growers must make 

 up their minds to lose a few the first winter should 

 the season be a damp one. Many are very beautiful, 

 and well repay the little trouble they give. They vary 

 much in height, some sending up tall scapes with many- 

 flowered umbels, while others are quite dwarf. They 

 like a light soil and a sunny position, and ought to be 

 planted about two or three inches deep. 



Bridgesii and laxa bear some resemblance to each 

 other, and grow from one to two feet high. They have 

 flowers of a purple-blue. Candida resembles these, but 

 has paler bluish flowers. Capitata is another tall 

 grower with blue flowers, the white variety, alba, 

 making a good companion. Coccinea, whose proper 

 name is Brevoortia Ida-Mai, is a fine plant with tall 

 stems and scarlet, green-tipped flowers. Congesta is a 

 tall grower with purple-blue flowers ; and other tall 

 species with dark flowers are multiflora and californica. 

 A pretty section with yellow flowers is made up of 

 Hendersoni, with its yellow flowers striped with purple, 

 crocea, and ixioides and its varieties erecta and 

 splendens. The latter species is sometimes known as 

 Calliprora flava or lutea. Howelli is a fine species, with a 

 tall stem and porcelain flowers ; the variety lilacina is 



