Encyclopaedia of Gardening 5 r 



flowers are scarce. It might be called a miniature Gladiolus, for 

 its leafage and flower spikes resemble those of the Gladiolus; it is, 

 however, much smaller. It is quite hardy, and a few clumps of it 

 look very cheerful in the border on a winter day. They should be 

 given a sunny, sheltered position and left to spread. The Kaffir 

 Lily is well worth growing in pots, and 3 plants put into a 5 -in. pot 

 in bulb soil in autumn will enliven the cool greenhouse in winter. 



Scilla (Squill). JBright little bulbs, charming in spring beds or on 

 the rockery. They will grow almost anywhere and bloom early. 

 Plant an inch deep and 6 ins. apart in autumn. They make pretty 

 margins, and also look well in grass. The Scillas come into bloom 

 with the Snowdrops, and make charming companions for those 

 dainty little flowers. Bifolia, dark blue; and Sibirica, bright blue, 

 are pretty dwarf species; and there are white varieties of both. 

 Campanulata, the wood Hyacinth, is a taller plant, and there are 

 now several good garden varieties of it, blue, white, rose, or lavender 

 in colour. Nutans is the English Bluebell, and there are white and 

 pink varieties of it. Peruviana, the Cuban Lily, is a handsome 

 plant, and there are white and pink varieties of this also. 



Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis). Pretty little hardy bulbs, the 

 Snowdrops never look nicer than when hanging their bells above 

 the grass. They are, of course, good for margins, for colonies near 

 the front of a border, for rockeries, and also for pots. They like a 

 cool, shady spot better than a dry, sunny one; and when they have 

 established themselves they should be left undisturbed. The bulbs 

 may be planted 2 ins. deep and 6 ins. apart. Both the common 

 single and double are good, but Elwesii and plicatus are larger. 



Snow flake (Leucojum). The Snowflakes succeed the Snowdrops, 

 flowering in spring and early summer. Both aestivum and vernum 

 have white flowers tipped with green, and are larger in bloom and 

 taller than the Snowdrops. Vernum is the earlier in flower, and is 

 fragrant. The bulbs may be planted 3 ins. deep and 9 ins. apart, 

 and a shady spot is desirable. One of the finest of all the Snow- 

 flakes is Vageneri, which flowers late in spring. 



Solomon's Seal (Polygonatum multiflorum). A distinct and 

 graceful plant, growing 2 to 3 ft. high, thriving in shade, and bear- 

 ing greenish flowers on a long, arching stem. It is perfectly hardy, 

 and may be planted out in autumn, but many grow it in pots, using 

 bulb soil and forcing it gently. 



Sparaxis. Cape bulbs, somewhat resembling Ixias, but flowering 

 rather earlier, and dwarfer. They are good for rockeries and the 

 front of borders, and thrive when planted in light, well-drained, 

 fertile soil; or they may be grown in pots like Ixias. The species 

 pulcherrima is quite distinct from the others, flowering in autumn 

 and growing several feet high. It is hardy in friable, well-drained 

 soil. 



Tigridias. Short-lived but richly-marked flowers, blooming late 

 in summer. They are fairly hardy, thriving in sandy, friable, well- 

 drained soil in a sunny spot; but not reliable in cold, damp soil. 

 Conchiflora, the shell flower, yellow spotted with red; grandiflora 

 alba, white, spotted; grandiflora rosea, pink; and Pavonia, red 

 with darker spots, are good sorts. 



