36 THE BOOK OF BULBS 



The Crown Imperial, F. imperialis, is so well known 

 that its noble appearance and its value for the garden 

 need no praise. There are several varieties, which 

 range in colour from pale yellow to deep red. In 

 addition, we have a form, called " Crown upon Crown," 

 which has two tiers of flowers ; one with a fasciated 

 stem ; and two with variegated leaves, one having white 

 and the other yellow margins, and bands on the leaves. 

 These make fine plants. The smaller Fritillarias should 

 be planted about two inches, and the Crown Imperials 

 about four inches deep. The latter like a good rich 

 soil, and all should be as short a time out of the ground 

 as possible. All can be grown in pots. 



FUNKIAS 



Funkias, or Plantain Lilies, are among the most orna- 

 mental of our hardy flowers, and look exceedingly 

 ornamental in borders or by the margin of water, where 

 their fine leaves are in keeping with their surroundings. 

 They all like some shade, but to induce F. subcordata 

 (syn. grandiflora) to flower well it should have a warm, 

 sunny place. They are best planted in spring. F. lanci- 

 folia has pretty leaves and purple flowers. There are 

 several varieties, such as undulata, alba, variegata, and 

 albo-marginata. Ovata has handsome large leaves and 

 purple flowers, and the variety aurea-variegata is particu- 

 larly fine. Sieboldiana has ornamental foliage and pale 

 lilac flowers. It and the variety marmorata, with mar- 

 bled foliage, are fine for groups. Fortunei and its 

 variety variegata are both splendid plants, and glauca is 

 another good species. 



GALANTHUSES 



The Galanthus, or Snowdrop, is one of our chastest 

 and most beautiful flowers, and its pure blossoms are 



