SUMMER BLOOMING BULBS. 53 



ful stems which make a pleasing effect when planted in clumps, and 

 are useful for cutting. They are native of Texas and Mexico. In 

 connection with this bulb I would like to divert from the alphabeti- 

 cal order and mention two other bulbs which are often classed with 

 Bessera, and called the three Mexican gems, namely, Cyclobothra 

 flava, a very graceful plant with bell-shaped flowers, bright yellow 

 dotted brown, and Mitta hi flora, often called Mexican star of 

 Bethlehem, producing the purest waxy white flowers imaginable, 

 often measuring about two inches in diameter. A class of summer 

 bulbs recently come into prominence are summer blooming Callas, 

 or correctly spoken of as Richardias. Several new and valuable 

 varieties have been produced, and introduced during the past few 

 years, among them I will mention the following: Aurata, called 

 the lemon calla has a light lemon yellow flower with a chocolate 

 patch in the throat, which brings out a conspicuous contrast of 

 color; the foliage is spotted white. Mrs. Roosevelt is a late intro- 

 duction and sometimes comes very fine; the flowers are white, 

 tinged with lemon, not very free flowering. Rhemanni, largely 

 advertised as the "pink calla sensation," is a dainty little flower 

 much smaller than most of the other Callas, and I am inclined to 

 think it is useful as a novelty only. Pentlandi certainly produces a 

 very beautiful flower of a rich golden yellow, but the bulb seems to 

 be weak and not very prolific, so it appears that if a yellow calla is 

 wanted (and I believe it is) we have everything that can be desired 

 in the variety Elliottiana "the peer of them all"; not a new one 

 by any means, but one that is not known as it should be. I have 

 seen quantities of this calla on a commercial place grown and 

 treated just about the same as one would treat potatoes, and the 

 sight when in flower is indescribable. You can get some idea of it 

 when I tell you the flower is nearly, if not quite, as large as the 

 ordinary white calla of the greenhouse, and the color a beautiful 

 deep golden yellow, not simply tinted yellow or lemon, but actually 

 golden yellow, and every bulb will produce a bloom; its time of 

 flowering is July. It must be taken up in the fall and cared for 

 about the same as a gladiolus bulb. 



Cooperia pediinculata, commonly known in the South as rain 

 lily or fairy lily, is a bulb that produces a beautiful little white 

 waxy, fragrant flower which opens usually at night, and remains 



