DESCRIPTIVE AND SELECTIVE. 257 



the genus in cultivation. As the specific name indicates, 

 it resembles a Soldanella. It bears fringed, rose- 

 coloured flowers in March, and is well worth a place 

 on the rockery, where it should have a compost of very 

 sandy peat, with partial shade and abundance of 

 moisture. It is not likely to extend very rapidly, but 

 if it should do so it may be propagated by division. 



SCHIZOPETALON WALKERI. —An annual, 

 which may be sown in spring where it is to bloom for 

 the purpose of filling any bare spot on the rockery. 

 Its Httle white flowers are prettily fringed and are 

 pleasing in appearance, but its principal virtue is its 

 truly delicious perfume, which makes it desirable for 

 sowing near windows, so that its fragrance may enter 

 the house. 



SCHIZOSTYLIS COCCINEA (Winter Gladiolus). 

 — It is remarkable that this beautiful plant is not used 

 more by flower-lovers, for it has handsome and brilliant 

 flowers, and is as likely as not to be in bloom at mid- 

 winter. It has long spikes of scarlet flowers, and has 

 quite a Gladiolus look. It will be found hardy in most 

 places where the soil is gritty, loamy and well-drained. 

 It can be bought from bulb-dealers. Although not 

 the plant for a mere chink on a small rockery it may be 

 planted to form a group in a large rock garden. 



SCILLA (Squill). — Few of the smaller early bulbs 

 are more familiar than the little blue Scilla Sibirica, 

 the Siberian Squill. It is a bright and cheerful flower, 

 and so cheap as to be available in large quantities. 

 It is not only suitable for planting in bulb and other 

 spring beds, but also for naturalising. Hardy, not 



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