FLOWER CULTURE 59 



a charming plant. It is hard to get good bulbs of this early plant 

 in this country, and probably this accounts for its being scarce. 



The tallest plant of all the bulbs at this time is the crown 

 imperial, Fritillaria imperialis. It is a valuable addition to the 

 border on account of its height; it breaks up the flatness where 

 so many dwarf flowers are in bloom. There are several varieties 

 but the one named Rubra is by far the best grower. The guinea- 

 hen flower, Fritillaria meleagris, is also pleasing with its checked 

 flowers. 



The grape hyacinths are too seldom seen in gardens; they 

 are charming little plants, the species botryoides and its variety 

 alba are probably the most common. But the variety Heavenly 

 Blue and commutatum should be included. In borders clumps 

 of a hundred bulbs make a stunning effect in early spring. Irises 

 of the dwarf kinds are interesting at this time. Iris pumila and 

 its many varieties make choice plants for the front of the border. 

 Iris olhiensis is quite hardy and has many varieties. 



The white rock cress begins to bloom in April and makes a pleas- 

 ing mat of white. Arabis jirocurrens is a rarer kind but equally 

 hardy; it blooms in May. The spring bitter vetch. Lathy r us 

 vernns, is a very valuable plant and is the first of the pea family 

 to bloom. It grows in tufts about a foot in height and is covered 

 with bluish violet flowers. Alyssum saxatile or gold dust is one of 

 the most valuable of early yellow flowers. It likes to be grown 

 in exposed positions where it will get plenty of sunlight but does 

 poorly if water settles about it in winter. Trillium grandiflorum 

 and Uvularia grandiflora may be grown in moist, shady places. 



The first of the tulips to bloom is Tulipa Kavfma^iniana or the 

 waterlily tulip; it flowers about the middle of April and is a perfect 

 beauty. It should be in every garden, not in beds but in clumps in 

 the border. The early tulips begin to bloom towards the end of 

 the month, but they are so well known that we will pass them by 

 for the present. 



The Adonis xernalis is valuable on account of its large yellow 

 flowers. It is seldom seen in gardens probably because it does 

 not like to be disturbed often. Veronica gcntianoidcs is the first 

 of the speedwells and it makes a nice mat of blue in the front row 

 of the border. Viola palmata, i\ canadensis, and other species 



