86 GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS 



colour harmony. Following these, and keeping within the 

 same colouring, will be the purple Fritillary, and some of 

 the white variety, and this white kind will also be near a good 

 planting of the beautiful Scilla italica alba, a plant not 

 common in gardens. Further back will be patches of the 

 tall Snowflake (Leucojum azstivum) while its earlier relative 

 L. vernum will be in connection with the patch, or rather long 

 straggle, of Scilla sibirica. Winter Aconites and Snowdrops 

 are too early for this bit of garden, so their homes are else- 

 where ; and as the space is somewhat shaded, possibly neither 

 the brilliancy of Anemone fulgens nor the splendour of Iris 

 reticulata can be depended on, but this condition will make 

 it all the better for Anemone apennina and the best of the Wood 

 Anemones. 



The Ferns will be few in number of kinds, and these will 

 be nothing out of the common the Male Fern, Lady Fern, 

 Dilated Shield Fern, Hart's Tongue, and Polypody, perhaps 

 these and no others. Plant mostly in long drifts and sink a 

 few large stones in the earth, partly for appearance' sake 

 and partly for comforting coolness and moisture to the roots 

 of the Ferns ; let there also be some tufts cf Iris fcetidissima, 

 a plant whose dark-green sword-shaped leaves would make a 

 distinct contrast to the feathery light-green fern-frond masses. 



The following are amongst the most important bulbs for 

 the garden : 



Blllbocodium vernum. An early spring-flowering bulb, bearing 

 rosy purple flowers about four inches long, and growing to a height of 

 six inches. This is one of the earliest plants of the year, and for that 

 reason should be planted in the rock-garden in some warm, sunny spot, 

 where we may enjoy its fresh, welcome beauty in comfort. It is a 

 native of the European Alps, may be increased in July by separating the 

 bulbs, and requires to be put about two inches deep. It is not a bulb 

 for quite a beginner, unless a collection is wished for. 



The Calochorti. The Californian Tulips or Mariposa Lilies are a 

 charming group of bulbs, not exactly for quite the beginner with a very 

 small garden, but for those who have a sunny border, as Calochorti revel 

 in warmth. In their native country of California they are found plenti- 

 fully in some districts, but usually the various species are found growing 

 by themselves. Although the writer has never seen the Californian 

 Tulips growing wild, travellers have told him of the glorious picture 

 created by the flowers, sheets of butterflies dangling on the slender 

 stems, spotted and dabbed with colour. The bulbs must not be dotted 

 about the borders ; they must be planted in masses, and it is wise to 

 devote a small part of the garden to them, as then their requirements 

 are easily supplied. The dwarf-growing species, the Cyclobothras and 

 Star Tulips are best in little corners and ledges facing south in the 

 rock-garden. Among these, C. Purdyi. white and quite downy from its 



