544 



EREMURUS. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



EREMURUS. 



template the introduction of these beautiful 

 plants into their gardens. W. J. G. 



The Rev. F. Page- Roberts writes from 

 Scole Rectory : 



Eremurus robustus. 



" With a little trouble Eremuri may be 

 grown successfully by every lover of 

 beautiful flowers. All that is necessary 

 for their well-being is protection from 

 slugs, which soon scent them from afar. 



I keep a perforated zinc collar round 

 the crown and protect from spring 

 frosts. The plant early forces its way 

 up even through the frost-bound earth, 

 but the tender flower-spike, tender only in 

 infancy, is nipped in the bud if rain fall 

 on it and freeze. Protection also from 

 cutting winds which destroy the foliage is 

 needed. With such precautions and 

 planted in loam, deep, but not too stiff, 

 in a well-drained sunny border, and with 

 an occasional dose of weak liquid manure, 

 they will repay one for all the care given 

 to them." 



E. Aitchisonii. This is a very fine 

 species, nearly allied to E. robustus. It 

 was introduced a few years ago from Kar- 

 shatal, Afghanistan, where it grows on 

 ridges of the hills nearly 12,000 ft. above 

 sea-level, flowering in June. It is a rather 

 fine species, producing dense spikes of 

 pale reddish flowers. The robust and 

 very striking stems vary from 3 to 5 ft. 

 high. 



E. aurantiacus. A charming dwarf 

 plant somewhat resembling E. Bungei, 

 and perfectly hardy in gardens. It 

 flowers in April, the numerous spikes of 

 bright citron-yellow flowers giving quite 

 a character to part of the Hariab district, 

 where it is one of the commonest plants 

 on rough stony ground. It is very 

 interesting as the vegetable proper of 

 the Hariab district, and is said to be 

 the sole vegetable upon which the in- 

 habitants depend for at least two months 

 of the year. The leaves are simply cut 

 from the root-stock, as close to the 

 ground as possible, and cooked. It is 

 extremely palatable, and Dr. Aitchison 

 recommends its growth as an early spring 

 vegetable. 



E. Bungei. A pretty dwarf species 

 now plentiful in nurseries. The leaves, 

 contemporary with the flowers, are narrow, 

 linear, and about i ft. long. Flower- 

 stem somewhat slender, I to 3 ft. long. 

 Flowers bright yellow, the segments 

 reflexing from above the base, and 

 having a distinct green keel. The 

 stamens are about twice as long as the 

 perianth. Native of Persia, flowering in 

 July. 



E. himalaicus is a beautiful white- 

 flowered species, introduced to cultivation 

 by Mr. Gumbleton, and is one of the 

 most lovely hardy plants in cultivation. 

 In form and height it reminds one of E. 

 robustus, but it starts into growth later, 

 escaping spring frosts. The flower- 

 stems are 4 to 8 ft. high, the dense 

 raceme taking up quite 2 ft. of the 

 upper portion, with flowers as large as a 



