246 A GUIDE TO FLORICULTURE. 



STAR OF BETHLEHEM. 



(ORNITHOGALUM. ) 



Of this variety of bulbous rooted plants there are over 

 one hundred, and nearly the whole tribe is worthless. The 

 one best known throws up a scape about four inches high, 

 having a number of white star-like flowers, which appear 

 in the spring. The leaves are similar to the Crocus, with 

 a white stripe up the centre. It is generally planted along 

 the edge of the borders of the beds, where it shows to the 

 best advantage. There are one or two suitable for the 

 green-house, but we seldom see them there, their places 

 being filled with more desirable plants. 



There are Frenchmen periodically traveling this coun- 

 try, selling plants, and shrubs, and bulbous roots ; the bulbs 

 generally are healthy looking, and well calculated to de- 

 ceive. The larger kinds are sold for the Josephine (an 

 Amaryllis Lily), and it generally turns out to be an infe- 

 rior kind of the Ornithogalum ; those of a smaller kind 

 are sold for the Belladonna. It would be well for persons 

 to be on their guard and purchase no plants or bulbs ex- 

 cept of regular established gardeners or seedsmen, who 

 pride themselves on a reputation ; and in case of any mis- 

 take, you have always some resource for a correction. 

 This is not the case with the warranty of a stranger, who 

 generally sends another as honest as himself the following 

 year, with another set of flaming pictures of nondescript 

 plants, with colors contrary to the nature of flowers, in 

 plants which they Dretend to represent. 



