314 



MY GARDEN. 



bulbs are sold by the hundred, and, when once planted, come up 

 annually without further trouble. The Scilla bifolia (fig. 672) is 

 another interesting plant, which should also be grown. There are 

 large scillas very much like the common bluebell, which are not 

 desirable for the alpineries, though they may be grown in the 

 ferneries. The bluebells {Scilla nutans) are grown by thousands 

 amongst our ferns, and a mass of this wild flower alternating with 

 yellow primroses adds much to the charm of the wild garden. 



" Where knots of bluebells droop their graceful heads."— Kirke White. 

 We plant in our alpineries a few of the common Crocus for effect, 

 as it is difficult to obtain many specimens of the wild species, of which, 

 however, we have six or eight. We grow, too, the Bulbocodium vernum 

 (fig. 673), which flowers without leaves in March and April ; also the 

 Colchicum aiitumnale (fig. 674), which flowers in October ; likewise the 



Fig. 672.— Scilla bifolia. 



Fig. 673-. — Bulbocodium verrum. 



Fig. 674. — Colchicum auttrrnsle. 



double variety, which is very showy when flowers are scarce. Amongst 

 the different species of crocuses I have I'sxq' Crocus luteus, brought 

 from Switzerland ; also the Saffron Crocus {C. sativus), and the common 

 C. reticulatus, which is the earliest of all crocuses. 



The Galanthus plicatus, or Great Crimean Snowdrop, grows in the 

 alpinery. This latter has much larger leaves, but not much larger 

 flowers, than the common snowdrop. 



The Anemones are very charming additions to our' alpineries, 

 and several species are grown. One common species, called the 

 Anemone nemorosa (fig. 675), is to be found in all our woods. It 

 has a white flower, and we grow it in some quantity in our ferneries ; 



