162 HARDY PERENNIALS AND 



petals, each one being delicately tipped with pale green ; they are 

 produced on long thick stems, each flower having a somewhat 

 lengthened pedicel, by which they are suspended bell-fashion. 

 The foliage is of the common daffodil form, but longer ; bulb 

 small. 



There are, it is said, two varieties of this species, which have 

 generally become mixed ; the other variety is said to be more 

 dwarf and later in flowering ; if this is correct, possibly these 

 mixed varieties may have something to do with the long time 

 which they are known to continue flowering. 



Not only for the sake of preventing the tall growths from 

 heading over should it be grown in broad masses, but when so 

 planted this flower is more effective. It will grow in any kind of 

 soil, but it seems most at home amongst dwarf shrubs, where its 

 flowers are always of a more delicate colour than when exposed. 

 Propagated by division of the roots during autumn every third 

 year. 



Flowering period, May to July. 



Leucojum Vernum. 



SPRING SNOWFLAKE; Nat. Ord. AMARYLLIDACE^:. 

 A HARDY bulbous species from Germany. It is not necessary 

 either to describe or praise this beautiful flower, beyond stating 

 that in every way it closely resembles the snowdrop ; it is larger, 

 however, whence the appropriateness of its name, Snowflake, 

 in relation to that of the snowdrop. It will thrive anywhere but 

 in wet, sour situations ; it most enjoys fine light soil and the 

 partial shade of trees, where it rapidly increases by offsets of the 

 bulbs ; these may, with advantage, be divided every three or four 

 years. 



Flowering period, March and April. 



Lilium Auratum. 



GOLDEN-RAYED or JAPANESE LILY; Nat. Ord. LILIACE.E. 

 THIS is a hardy Lily, and though this particular species is 

 comparatively new to our English gardens, it belongs to a 

 noble genus which has had a place in our ancestors' gardens 

 for ages. It was long thought that this bulb from Japan could 

 not endure our winters, and though it is proved to be perfectly 

 hardy, there are yet many who only cultivate it indoors, and 

 seem surprised when they see it in beds and borders, where it is 

 allowed to remain year after year. 



The flowers vary very much in size, from Sin. to Sin. across ; 

 the divisions are richly tinted (golden-rayed), beautifully spotted 

 and reflexed ; the stems, at the height of 3ft. to 6ft., are 

 furnished with flowers, mostly about five to eight in number. 



