GRAPE HYACmTH 



erect glaucous leaves. The plant is well suited for the wild part of 

 the rockery; naturalizes readily at the edge of woods. Several 

 species are in cultivation, but the one that everybody knows is 

 Muscari botryoides, which means, "like a bunch of grapes." It 

 belongs in every garden; its dainty flowers are a part of the wel- 



Grapff Hyacinth. Muscari botryoides 



come to spring. Personally, I do not care what color Grape Hya- 

 cinths are, so long as they are blue; but misguided gardeners 

 sometimes cultivate varieties with white and with yellow or flesh- 

 colored flowers — a mistake. 



There is a species, Muscari commbsum, rather larger than bur 

 garden favorite, bearing violet-colored, oblong flowers; which 

 has a variety, monstrdsum, called Feathered Hyacinth. The in- 

 florescence is a panicle mass of aborted, contorted, blue jDeta- 

 lage; that the catalogues say is of "striking and handsome 

 appearance." 



39 



