852 SCILLA. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. SCOLOPENDRIUM. 



very good for early forcing, and nnilti- 

 ftora, an early variety blooming three 

 weeks in advance of its parent. Varieties 

 with larger flowers, and with one on a stem 

 instead of two or five, are preserved in 

 herbariums and sometimes cultivated, but 

 the difference between these and the type 

 is trifling, arising often from the conditions 

 in which the plants are placed. S. sibirica 

 is hardy, and thrives best in a good 

 sandy soil. Bulbs used for forcing should 

 never be thrown away, for they thrive 

 well if allowed to fully develop their 

 leaves and go to rest in a pit or frame, 



Scilla festalis (Bluebell). 



afterwards being planted out in open spots 

 in warm soil, where their usual vigour 

 is soon restored. They may then be lifted 

 and forced as before. It is unnecessary 

 to disturb the tufts, except every two or 

 three years for division, when they grow 

 vigorously. S. sibirica flowers a little later 

 than S. bifolia, but withstands the storms 

 better, remaining also much longer in 

 bloom. In places where it does not thrive 

 freely, whether from coldness of the soil 

 or from other causes, give it a sheltered 

 position, to prevent injury to its leaves. 

 The Siberian Squill may be used as an 



edging to beds of spring flowers or choice 

 alpine shrubs. 



OTHER CULTIVATED KINDS. Amongst 

 Scillas not generally found in gardens, but 

 hardy in dry situations, may be named 6". 

 peruviana, a large species, with beautiful 

 broad leaves, Yucca-like and very dis- 

 tinct ; it stands well in sheltered nooks, 

 or even in the open border in southern 

 districts. The numerous fine blue flowers 

 are in a superb umbel-like pyramid, which 

 lengthens during the flowering period. 

 There are varieties, one named aZoa, and 

 there are reddish varieties, such as 

 elegans, also whitish and yellowish forms. 

 Tufts of the Peruvian Scilla should be 

 taken up every three or four years, when 

 it is at rest. Divide the bulbs and re- 

 plant immediately. The variety C/usia\so 

 succeeds. S. mariiima is properly a 

 greenhouse species, but in the places indi- 

 cated for S. peruviana it may be grown 

 outside without hurt, though it rarely 

 flowers. S. lilio-hyacintha is hardy, whilst 

 .V. kyacinthoides, S. pratensis (ametJiys- 

 tina\ S. obtusifolia (an Algerian species), 

 autumnaliS) Aristidis,pattda, and its vari- 

 ous forms, including cernua and others, 

 differ little from one another. 



SCIRPUS (Bulrush}. Sedge- like 

 plants fringing lakes and ponds. There 

 are numerous native species that might be 

 readily transplanted, and the best of these 

 are S. trlqtieter, S. sylvaticus, and ^V. 

 lacustris. These are from 3 to 8 ft. high, 

 and effective on the margins of lakes or 

 streams with other tall plants. A distinct 

 kind is S. Eriophorum from North 

 America, a handsome grassy plant with 

 drooping heads of a cinnamon-red colour. 

 S. cernuus has very graceful drooping 

 stems, and 5. vallidus runs easily to a 

 height of 6 or 8 ft. in rich alluvial soil. 

 Handsome variegated forms with alter- 

 nate bands of green and yellow are S. 

 Holoschanus zebrinus and S. Taberna- 

 montani zebrinus. There is also a scarcer 

 but very pretty variegated form of S. 

 maritimus. Increase by seeds, suckers, 

 or division. 



SCOLOPENDRIUM (Harfs-tongue]. 

 S. vulgare is one of the best known of 

 hardy evergreen British Ferns, and broken 

 into numberless interesting forms and 

 varieties, some being very beautiful. It 

 prefers shade, and though sometimes met 

 with on dry stone and brick walls, its 

 favourite place is by the side of a stream 

 in a shady ravine. Fine specimens have 

 been seen between the joints of brickwork 

 at the tops of old wells, the fronds develop- 

 ing fine proportions. A suitable soil con- 

 sists of equal portions of fibrous peat and 



