38 BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS 



are unsuitable. Powellii and capense, the former rose, the latter 

 pink, are two of the best for the open air. 



Crocuses. The charm of many of the species of Crocus will 

 be referred to (see Rockery Flowers), and bulb specialists are quite 

 likely to make a little collection of them. Whether that be done 

 or not, the value of the cheap Dutch Crocuses, which bulb-dealers 

 sell for a few shillings a thousand, will not be forgotten by the 

 majority of flower gardeners. Very hardy, very cheerful, very easy 

 to manage is the little Crocus. The Golden Yellow is particularly 

 bright, and it has comparatively large flowers. It has a very 

 enlivening effect when flowering in a broad mass. There is a whole 

 grassy hill of it at Kew, where thousands of flowers sparkle in the 

 March sunshine. Unfortunately, the birds are very prone to pulling 

 the flowers to pieces. Apologists for the feathered marauders say 

 that the latter are merely in pursuit of insects or water, but that 

 does not put the flowers together again. Lines of black thread should 

 be stretched above the flowers as a protection. Oddly enough, the 

 birds rarely attack the white, purple, and lilac Crocuses when there 

 are yellow ones near. As a change from Crocuses they will pull 

 Primroses to pieces, and again it is yellows which fare the worst. 

 This shows that the birds have a sense of colour. Why, though, 

 do they consider that yellow Crocuses contain more insects or more 

 moisture (which is it, apologists ?) than the other colours ? 



The Crocuses are charming in lines to beds and borders, also 

 in grass and under trees. They are so cheap that they can be 

 planted in any quantities, and if the grower wants somewhat larger 

 flowers than the common, unnamed blue, white and striped yield, 

 he may buy larger varieties under name at a cost which, though 

 a trifle higher than for the others, is still very low. 



The Crown Imperial (Fritillaria Imperialis) is a very hand^ 

 some plant with large yellow, orange or red flowers, and it will 

 thrive in most soils. The Snake's-head Lily (meleagris) is also 

 a Fritillary, and a very interesting plant, but it has none of the 



