806 SCILLA. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



SCILLA. 



S. b. taurica is very scarce. S. b. alba, a 

 pretty ivory-white form, has flowers not 

 larger than those of the type. 



S. hispanica (Spanish Sa'Ha\One of 

 the finest of early summer bulbs, and, 

 though a more southern species than most 

 of the others, coming from Portugal and 

 Spain, is the most robust of the family. 

 It is easily known by its strong pyramidal 

 raceme of pendent, short-stalked, large, 

 bell-shaped flowers, usually of a clear light 

 blue. A variety major is larger in all its 

 parts, and is a noble flower ; whjle the 

 white variety (alba) and the rose-coloured 



Scilla nutans (Bluebell). 



variety (rosea) are also welcome, the white 

 kind being much grown for market. S. 

 hispanica is never better seen than peep- 

 ing here and there from the fringes of 

 shrubberies and beds of Evergreens. The 

 shelter it receives in such positions pro- 

 tects its large leaves from strong winds, 

 but it is sturdy enough for any position. 

 It deserves to be naturalised by wood- 

 walks and in the grassy parts of the 

 pleasure-ground. S. Europe. Syn., S. 

 campanulata. 



S. italica (Italian S.} This kind, with 

 its pale blue flowers, intensely blue 



stamens, and delicious odour, is the most 

 brilliant of the Scillas. It grows from 5 

 to 10 in. high, the flowers small and 

 spreading in short conical racemes, which 

 open in May. S. italica is hardy in 

 almost any soil, but thrives best in warm 

 and sandy places sheltered from east 

 winds. Division should be done only 

 once every three or four years, and the 

 bulbs then planted in fresh positions. 

 Italy and S. Europe. 



S. nutans ( Wood Hyacinth or Bluebell}. 

 Though the Bluebell abounds in every 

 wood and copse, its beautiful varieties are 

 not too well known. Amongst the best 

 are the white variety, alba ; the rose- 

 coloured variety, rosea ; the pale blue 

 variety, coerulea ; and a pleasing " French- 

 white" variety. The variety bracteata 

 has long bracts, and cernua is a Portu- 

 guese form with reddish flowers. S. 

 patula is closely allied to the Bluebell, its 

 flowers being of a pleasing violet-blue, 

 but are not sweet or arranged on one side 

 like those of the Bluebell. They are larger 

 and more open, and have narrow bracts. 

 All these kinds should be planted here 

 and there in tufts among common Blue- 

 bells, along the margins of shrubberies, 

 near the rock-garden, or for borders or 

 woods. 



S. sibirica (Siberian S.) A minute gem 

 among the flowers of earliest spring, and 

 no rock-garden, or garden of any kind, is 

 complete without the striking and peculiar 

 shade of porcelain - blue which dis- 

 tinguishes this plant from all other Scillas. 

 S. sibirica has many other names, but, 

 unlike S. bifolia, it has sported into few 

 varieties, S. amcenula being the chief, 

 which, though not really distinct, is desir- 

 able, as it flowers a fortnight earlier than 

 the type. Varieties with larger flowers, 

 and with one on a stem instead of 

 two or five, are preserved in herbariums 

 and sometimes cultivated, but the differ- 

 ence 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 that have been 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, 

 afterwards being planted out in open spots 

 in warm soil, where in a year or two their 

 usual vigour will be restored. They may 

 then be lifted again 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, remain- 



