82 A GUIDE TO FLORICULTURE. 



whorl of flowers near the top, forming- a crown ; hence the 

 name of the flower. We have the crown on crown which 

 consists of two whorls of flowers, and crown on that, con- 

 sisting of three whorls of flowers ; the latter are scarce and 

 dear. In making a selection get the red and yellow and 

 you will have distinct varieties ; not so with many with 

 names, for in some will be hut a shade in color, and that 

 barely perceptible ; or may "be some difference in habit of 

 no moment in the common course of cultivation. This 

 flower, until of late, has been called " Crown Imperial," but 

 is known now as Fritillaria Imperialis. This plant is an 

 old and acknowledged favorite, was introduced into Eng- 

 land before the time of Shakspeaie, as the following lines 

 will show, which I extract from his Winters Tale: 



" Bold oxlip, and 



The CROWN IMPERIAL; lillies of all kinds, 

 The fleur-de-luce being one." 



No doubt he mentioned this flower, being influenced by 

 its conscious beauty in enlivening the prospect of our spring. 

 We are indebted to Germany for this splendid acquisition 

 to our flower garden, which affords a secret satisfaction on 

 beholding its development at a season when the garden is 

 nearly deficient of floral beauties. / 



This plant is easily propagated by offsets, and will grow 

 in any common garden soil. The best time to remove the 

 bulbs is when the stem dies down in June, or they may be 

 allowed to remain in the ground for two or three years, but 

 is best taken up every season and packed away until Octo- 

 ber. If allowed to remain they will deteriorate the soil, 

 which ought to be avoided in a small garden. If these 



