170 BULBS AND TUBEBOUS-ROOTED PLANTS. 



inches high, producing very elegant and delightfully fra- 

 grant flowers, pure white, with a green spot on each 

 petal near the point. The flowers resemble the Snow- 

 drop, but are much larger, and appear about a month 

 Liter. It is one of the most desirable of early flowering 

 bulbs, and is suitable for rock-work or borders. The 

 plants delight in a sheltered, partially shaded situation, 

 and a light, well drained soil. This species is indigenous 

 to Central Europe, abounding in woods and shaded sit- 

 uations. It was introduced in 1596, and was dedicated 

 to St. Agnes. In Parkinson's Herbal it is described as 

 the Great Early Bulbous Violet. It is rapidly propa- 

 gated by offsets. See Engraving, Page 96. 



L. sestivum (The Summer Snowflake). A very 

 pretty drooping flower, with bright green spots on its 

 white petals ; but it is much less ornamental than the 

 spring Snowflake. The leaves of this species are of a 

 bright yellowish green ; a rather uncommon condition, as 

 the leaves of most bulbs have a bluish tinge, except when 

 they are beginning to decay. It is a native of Europe, 

 flowers in June, and is propagated by offsets. Cultiva- 

 tion is the same as for the foregoing species. 



LIBERTIA. 



A beautiful genus of Iridaceous plants, natives of 

 Australia, Tasmania, Xew Zealand and China. But 

 few of the species are what might be termed half-hardy. 

 They are charming plants when they can be grown in 

 the border, but will not endure much frost. They are 

 not adapted to greenhouse culture. 



L. formosa. A beautiful plant, either for sum- 

 mer or winter, owing to the color of its foliage, which is 

 a dark shining green, and it produces spikes of flowers 

 of snowy whiteness, with a delicacy of some of the finer 

 Orchids. It is neat, dwarf and compact, and has flow- 

 ers much larger than those of the other species. 



