320 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



Fig. 196. — Camassia esculenta, 



associated on the rockery with 

 some of the early Narcissi, like 

 IV. minimus, they are not likely 

 to be forgotten. For naturalis- 

 ing these bulbs are eminently 

 suitable. To frosts they are 

 not in the least susceptible; 

 while they withstand wet 

 weather better than most 

 spring - flowering subjects. 

 They should be planted 

 in autumn about 2in. 

 deep ; they increase very 

 rapidly. C. Lucilia 

 (Snow Glory) is a lovely 

 kind, with deep blue 

 flowers having a white 

 centre ; C. grandiflora 

 ( C. gigantea) is a larger 

 form of the same species, 

 and a little later flower- 

 ing ; while C. sardensis 

 is another variety bear- 

 ing deep blue flowers. 



Christmas Rose.— See Helleborus, 



Colchicum (Meadow Saffron).— The members of this genus 

 are chiefly autumnal flowering, though one or two, like , C. mon- 

 tanum, blossom in. spring. the genus is not well represented 

 in gardens, because of 

 the somewhat ephemeral 

 flowers and the bare appear- 

 ance presented due to the 

 foliage being produced at 

 another season. Though 

 suitable for borders and 

 rockeries, they are best 

 naturalised, as the grass 

 then forms a fitting carpet. 

 Even when utilised for beds, or 

 borders, a carpet of greenery 

 should be provided in the form 

 of some of the smaller Saxifrages, 

 Aubfietias, Thymes, &c. Planting 

 should be done as soon as the 

 bulbs arrive, and they should not 



be often disturbed. A sunny p- IG . ^.—Colchicum 



position and a sandy soil are what speciosum. 



