164 HARDY PERENNIALS AND 



way, I may state that my garden is naturally well drained, has 

 light soil, and a south aspect. Under a west wall I planted 

 small bulbs in the manner already stated, and though I have 

 often seen this Lily nearly twice as tall as ever I grew it, I have 

 not any cause to complain about the quantity of bloom. I never 

 either water or put down stakes as supports. If the situation is 

 moist no water is needed, and it is next to impossible to send 

 down stakes without coming in contact with the large bulbs. 

 Doubtless a few good waterings with liquid manure would be an 

 advantage, but where L. auratum is esteemed as satisfactory 

 with short stems, this need not be given. 



When once a clump or batch of this Lily has become estab- 

 lished, it should not be disturbed for several years, when, if the 

 stems are becoming too rank to allow them to wave without 

 damaging each other's flowers, or if there are many young 

 unflowered stems, they may profitably be dug out in a careful 

 manner when the bulbs have ripened, which will be the case 

 when the tops have become thoroughly dry ; there will then be 

 found to be numbers of nice clean young bulbs, which, with a 

 year's extra patience, will probably form a more vigorous batch 

 than the parent one. Such bulbs are properly called " home 

 grown." 



Flowering period, September to November. 



Linum Flavum. 

 YELLOW FLAX; Nat. Ord. LINAGES. 



THIS handsome shrub-like Flax comes from Austria, and is a 

 comparatively new species in English gardens. It is not only a 

 distinct form, but from the large quantities and more durable 

 quality of its flowers, it proves itself a very useful subject for 

 flower-beds and borders, where it should have the most select 

 companions. It is classed as a hardy, herbaceous perennial ; its 

 woody character, and a few green leaves which it carries through- 

 out the winter would, however, show that it is not strictly 

 herbaceous. Its hardiness, too, will be questioned by many who 

 have tried to winter it outside, more especially in the northern 

 parts of Great Britain. It is only hardy under certain con- 

 ditions, which, in effect, is saying that it is not perfectly hardy. 

 It requires a light warm soil and a dry situation, besides which, 

 if the winter is severe, it should be protected with a thick 

 covering of ashes or cocoa fibre. This special treatment has 

 been found needful in Yorkshire, but more south it has been 

 proved hardy without such precautions. The neat habit and 

 clusters of rich yellow flowers of this plant render it deserving 

 of the little extra care above indicated ; this, together with the 

 fact that it is hardy in many parts, is a sufficient reason for 

 naming it amongst hardy plants. 



