Part II. SCILLA. 325 



cox. The name S.pracox, which occurs so often in gardens 

 and' in nurserymen's catalogues, does not really belong to a 

 distinct species, and, when most properly applied, refers to the 

 last-mentioned variety of .J. bifolia, which usually flowers some- 

 what earlier than the common form. 



SCILLA CKiKSKS\51,KT:K.— Bell-flowered Squill. 



A VIGOROUS species, long cultivated in England, one of the finest 

 ornaments among early-summer-flowering bulbs, and, though 

 a more southern species than most of the others, the most 

 robust of the family. It is easily known by its strong pyra- 

 midal raceme of pendent, short-stalked, large, bell-shaped flowers, 

 usually of a clear light blue. A variety known as ^. campanu- 

 lata major is larger in all its parts, and a noble early summer 

 flower ; and the white- and rose-coloured varieties, S. campanu- 

 lata alba and .S". c. rosea, are also excellent. It is never seen to 

 greater advantage than when peeping here and there from the 

 fringes of shrubberies and beds of evergreens, the shelter it re- 

 ceives in such positions protecting its very large leaves from 

 strong winds. It is, however, sturdy enough to thrive in any 

 position. Comes from the South of Europe, attains a height of 

 from twelve to eighteen inches, and deserves to be naturalised 

 alongside of wood walks, and in the semi-wild parts' of every 

 pleasure-ground. 



SCILLA TSKLIGA.— Italian Squill. 



A NATIVE not only of Italy but of Southern France and 

 Southern Europe generally. This Squill, with its pale blue 

 flowers, intensely blue stamens,- and delicious odour, is one of 

 the most interesting and distinct, if not the most brilliant, of cul- 

 tivated kinds. It grows from five to ten inches high, the leaves 

 somewhat shorter, slightly keeled, and oblique ; the flowers small, 

 spreading in short conical racemes, opening in May. It is per- 

 fectly hardy, living in almost any soil, but thriving best in sandy 

 and warm ones. Increased by division, which had better be 

 performed only every three or four years, when the bulbs 

 should be planted in fresh positions. It is worthy of a sheltered 

 sunny spot on rockwork, particularly as it does not seem to 

 thrive so freely in this country as some of the other species. 



