SCILLA. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



SCILLA. 



80 5 



in spring, and are of the simplest cul- 

 ture. 



In early autumn, when the plants are 

 at rest, they should be planted a few 

 inches deep in any good garden soil, not 

 too heavy. When established, they need 

 not be disturbed for years, except, perhaps, 

 for a slight yearly top-dressing of manure. 

 Some kinds, especially the many-coloured 

 varieties of the Spanish Scilla, are suited 

 for planting by the sides of woodland 

 walks, or on the margins of shrubberies, 

 and in the wild garden. Offsets may 

 be taken from established clumps during 

 summer. 



Raising Scillas from seed is interesting, 

 though slow. In some seasons the seeds 

 are produced plentifully, and many varie- 

 ties of merit, both as regards size and 



S. bifolia.- Not so well known as S. 

 sibirica, but quite as welcome, in the very 

 dawn of spring, and indeed often in winter, 

 this bears rich masses of dark blue flowers, 

 and forms handsome tufts. The flowers 

 are four to six on a spike ; and the plant 

 varies from 6 to 10 in. high, according to 

 the soil and warmth and shelter of the 

 position. It thrives in almost any position 

 in ordinary garden soil, the lighter the 

 better, but must be left undisturbed to 

 seed and increase as it likes. Although it 

 blooms earlier than S. sibirica, it does not 

 so well withstand the cold rains and 

 storms of winter and spring, and there- 

 fore some tufts of it should be placed in 

 warm sunny spots of the rock-garden or 

 of the sheltered border. Southern and 

 Central Europe. Of all Scillas, S. bifolia 



Scilla hispanica. 



colour, have been obtained in this way, 

 but there is room for improvement. We 

 retain the name Scilla as far prettier than 

 the English one of " Squill." 



The following are best kinds : 

 S. amoena (Star Hyacinth}. This 

 flowers in early spring, opening about 

 three weeks after S. sibirica. It is less 

 ornamental than any other kind, for its 

 flowers have none of the grace of S. cam- 

 panulata and the varieties of S. nutans, 

 nor the dwarfness and brilliancy of S. 

 sibirica. The leaves, usually about half 

 an inch across, are about i ft. high, and 

 easily injured by cold or wind, so that a 

 sheltered position is best suited for the 

 plant. It is not exactly suited for the 

 choice rock-garden, though worth growing 

 on sunny banks in semi-wild spots. Tyrol. 

 Seeds or separation of the bulbs. 



has produced the greatest number of 

 varieties. Most of the forms known in 

 gardens are better than the type. S. 

 prascox is a stronger grower, the flowers 

 larger, more abundant, and earlier. In 

 purpureo-ccerulea the ovary and base of 

 the segments are rosy-purple, gradually 

 merging into blue, which becomes intense 

 towards the tips, harmonising with the 

 black and gold-banded anthers. It is a 

 free flowerer, and the blooms individually 

 are nearly as large as a shilling. In the 

 Taurian variety, S. b. taurica, the flowers 

 are much larger than in S. bifolia, and, 

 with the exception of the white base, 

 greatly resemble those of some of the 

 forms of Chionodoxa Luciliae. They vary 

 from ten to twenty on each scape, and 

 the leaves are larger and broader than 

 those of S. bifolia. The white form of 



