26 GARDEN FLOWERS. 



often eaten raw. They were, too, in former 

 ages, the common food of the peasantry of 

 Italy and Southern Europe. The French term 

 the Star of Bethlehem Epi de lait, (milky 

 blade.) The yellow kind is a pretty and com- 

 mon flower. One species of this plant, the 

 officinal squill, (^Ornithogalmn sqiiilla,) is the 

 medicinal plant mentioned by the ancient 

 Greeks, and one of the very few named by 

 them which is used in modern times. It blooms 

 in April and May : it has white blossoms, and 

 is common in the Greek islands. Its root is of 

 a great size, and is said by Loudon to be often 

 as large as the human head, and shaped like a 

 pear. The leaves — often a foot long — continue 

 • green all the winter, and die away in spring ; 

 after which rises the tall stem with its pyramid 

 of white blossoms, that continue in flower two 

 or three months. 



That pretty little favourite flower, the dog's- 

 tooth violet, is now opening in the garden 

 border. Unlike the violet in all but its early 

 appearance, it is a lovely little vernal bulb, 

 with petals of deep lilac, reddish stem, and 

 twin spotted leaves. The species now in flower 

 it the common kind, (Erythronmm dens cants.') 

 Its drooping flowers are sometimes quite of a 

 deep purple, but sometimes vary to white 5 

 and a species with yellow flowers, {E^'ythronium 

 Americanum) is found in our gardens a month 

 later. This latter flower requires skill and 

 management with us, but in its native forests 

 it is very luxuriant and beautiful. There its 



