136 FLOWER GARDENING 
others to do is to get a better understanding of 
the superiority of the new named spring crocuses 
over the old. As with hyacinths, it is inexcusable 
to buy mixtures when there are such fine named 
varieties, with larger bloom, for producing sheets 
of early spring color—at about one cent a bulb 
by the hundred. These improvements of C. vernus 
and C. aureus answer ordinary garden purposes 
so well that there is no special need of extending 
one’s knowledge of the spring-blooming species. 
Of the host of other spring bulbs the fritillaries 
have two very hardy representatives that have been 
gradually disappearing from old gardens without 
being asked to enter new ones. Yet one of these, 
the crown imperial (Fritillaria imperialis) is a 
grand and stately figure in the hardy garden in 
spring; the yellow, orange or red bloom is rich 
in color and the form of the plant unique. The 
other is the snake’s head fritillary, or guinea-hen 
flower (F. meleagris). The white or nearly white 
kinds are best for garden pictures; the dull purple 
shades do not show up well at any distance. There 
are many other charming fritillary species, but most 
of them are for specialized culture. 
For intense blue in March the Siberian squill 
(Scilla sibirica) is unrivalled unless it is by the 
early S. bifolia of the Taurus mountains. These 
two, which have white varieties, are the most de- 
sirable of the very low scilla species that are usually 
called squills. The taller May-flowering species 
are distinguished as wood hyacinths, though the 
