576 



HISTORY OF THE VEGETABLE KINGDOM. 



The Chakedoiiia (i. susUana), lias finely 

 Btriated leaves, a scape a span high, and the 

 largest and most magnificent corolla of all the 

 species. Its petals are of a delicate texture, 

 almost as broad as a hand, purple or black, striped 

 with white. It flowers in the beginning of June, 

 is a native of the Levant, and was cultivated by 

 Gerarde in 1506. It thrives best in a loamy 

 soil, and sunny, wann situation, protected in 

 winter from rain and frost. 



Bulbous rooted, or Spanish (i. xiphium), has 

 channelled leaves, convoluted in their whole 

 length, and awl-shaped at the tip. The flowers 

 of the wild plant are blue, with emarginate 

 petals, and appear in June; but cultivation has 

 produced a great number of varieties, with yel- 

 low, white, violet, and variegated flowers. It 

 is a native of the south of Europe, and was 

 cultivated in Britain by Gerarde, in 159G. 



The Great bulbous rooted, or English (i. xiphi- 

 oides), is much larger in every respect than the 

 ibnner. The flower stalk is nearly twice the 

 lieight, and the flowers more than double the 

 size. It runs into numerous varieties. 



Both these species are much cultivated and 

 esteemed by florists. They are raised in a light 

 sandy loam, with an eastern exposure. They are 

 multiplied abundantly by offsets, and may also be 

 readily raised from seed. For this purpose the 

 seed may be sown in drills early in autumn. 

 With no other care than frequent weeding, they 

 may remain in the seed bed for three years; for 

 they are much more hardy than most kinds of 

 seedling bulbs, and therefore will not even require 

 protection from the frosts. In the autumn of 

 the third year, it will be necessary to transplant 

 them into beds at one foot distance, row from 

 row, and the bulbs six inches apart; and in two 

 years from their removal, most of the strongest 

 will show blossom, and nearly all in the year 

 following, or the sixth from the seed. The 

 flovrering bulbs should be taken up every third 

 year, in August, and, if possible, they should be 

 replanted in September, as those kept out of the 

 ground till Chi'istmas rarely blossom in the suc- 

 ceeding summer. These roots are seldom or 

 never forced, 



Fkitiliauy ( fritillaria ) . Natural family 

 lilece; hexandria, monogynia, of Linnaeus. These 

 are also showy flowers, natives of Asia and of 

 Europe. Three species are cultivated as garden 

 flowers. 



The Crown Imperial (f. imperialis). This 

 has a scaly bulb, from which spring strong stems 

 from two to four feet in height, furnished with 

 numerous broad, shining, green leaves; and 

 crowned with a whorl of shovty, pendulous 

 flowers, yellow, red, striped, and variously 

 coloured, which make their appearance in March 

 and April. " The singular nectary of this flower," 

 •ayg Professor Martin, "cannot but engage the 



attention of tljc curious observer; it is a white, 

 glandular cavity at the base of each petal, and 

 has a drop of limpid nectareous juice standing 

 in it, where the flower is in vigour. Another 

 of the wonders of nature may be observed in 

 the peduncles, which bend down when the plant 

 is in flower, but become upright as the seed 

 ripens." There are several varieties of this flower, 

 indicated by colour and the disposition of the 

 stripes. 



The Persian Fritillary (f. Persica). This 

 species has a large round root, the size of an 

 orange ; the stem is three feet high, and the flowers 

 appear in a loose spike at the top, forming a 

 pyramid. They are of a dark purple colour, 

 and appear in May ; but seldom produce seeds in 

 this country, its native climate being Persia. 

 There is another variety with a shorter stem, 

 and smaller leaves and flowers. 



The Common Fritillary, or Chequered Lily 

 (f. meleagris). This species has a solid tuber, 

 about the size of a nut; a stem from twelve to 

 eighteen inches in height, with linear leaves, and 

 one or more pendulous flowers on the top of the 

 stem. It is a native of Britain, and flowers in 

 April and May, or in mild seasons, as early as 

 March. Thei-e are about twenty varieties, with 

 white, red, purple, black, striped, and double 

 flowers, besides an umbellate variety, a mule 

 between this species and the crown imperial. 



The common method of propagating the fri- 

 tillaries is by offsets; but they may also be raised 

 from seed, which ripens readily, and is to be 

 treated in a similar manner as that of the tulip. 



The seedlings of the crown imperial flower in 

 the fifth or sixth year, and those of the two 

 other species in the third or fourth year. The 

 bxilbs should be planted in a light soil, not too 

 wet, or with much dung. It should be dug 

 deep, the bulbs to be put six inches below the 

 surface, and from eighteen inches to two feet 

 distant every way. They, however, look to most 

 advantage not in beds, but in a mingled flower 

 border. 



The roots require to be taken up only every 

 third year, and should be again quickly planted. 



The Lily (lilium). Natural family liliacece; 

 hexandria, monogynia, of Linnaeus. This genus 

 contains at least twenty species of beautiful 

 flowers. The name is from the Celtic word li, 

 signifying whiteness, the lily having been long 

 considered an emblem of whiteness and purity. 

 A few of the most interesting species are as 

 follows : 



The White Lily (I. candidum). This has a 

 large scaly bulb, a leafy stem, from three to four 

 feet in height, terminating in large, pure, white 

 flowers, on peduncles. It is a native of the 

 I^evant, and was common in English gardens in 

 Gerarde's time. There are above eight varieties 

 of this species. 



