THE DAY BEFORE SPRING 51 



The contemplation of Scillas, Squills, or Bluebells is 

 pleasant indeed, for they are among the loveliest of 

 spring flowers. They like a little shade and so for 

 woody places are ideal. In this garden we grow them 

 beneath the flowering trees and shrubs, but have not 

 nearly enough. There is S. sibirica, with spikes of 

 bright blue flowers three inches high, and S. bifolia, 

 blooming a little earlier, with dainty heads of azure 

 flowers; Sdlla nutans, the English Bluebell, growing 

 fourteen inches high with arching stems of drooping 

 bells, and S. hispanica (syn. campanulatd) , almost the 

 loveliest of all, with erect spikes fifteen inches tall carry- 

 ing bells of various colours white, lilac, and rose, but 

 none so satisfying as the blue. The bulbs of Scillas 

 should be planted five or six inches deep, and they will 

 thrive under evergreen trees where few other plants 

 will grow. 



Before April has got very far along her fairy way the 

 great Crown Imperials are in gorgeous bloom. This is a 

 plant of old times but is so truly magnificent and vi- 

 brant in its form and colouring that it should never have 

 gone out of fashion. Parkinson calls it sonorously, 

 Corona Imperialis, and considered it a Lily. Thus he 

 writes: "The Crowne Imperiall for his stately beauti- 

 fulness, deservith the first place in this our Garden of 

 Delight, to be here entreated before all other Lillies." 

 His quaint and appreciative description of this flower 

 that he so greatly admired is too long to give in full, and 



