ON HARDY BULBS AND TUBERS. 



327 



Crown Imperial (F. imperialis). They are essentially bulbs for the 

 hardy plant lover, as they thrive without any special attention. 

 For the shrubbery, the border, for naturalising, as well as for 

 the rockery, there are species that may be profitably utilised, 

 our native Snake's Head (F. Meleagris, Fig. 204) being one of 

 them. Though this has not gorgeous colours to attract attention, 

 yet its grace and refined beauty are sure to enlist admirers, as 

 those who have seen it in the fields around Oxford can testify. 

 Any well-drained soil will grow these bulbs, which should be 

 planted in autumn, and allowed to remain undisturbed until signs 

 of deterioration are evident. Propagated by seeds and by offsets. 

 The Crown Imperial, with its whorl of nodding flowers, 

 surmounted by a tuft of foliage, is best placed among the 

 choicer shrubs. The colours vary, but are chiefly yellow or red. 

 Far more graceful, however, are such species as F. aurea, pale 

 yellow, drooping, 4m. to 5 in. ; F. latifolia and F. Meleagris, in a 

 variety of colours, ift. ; F. pudica, deep yellow, drooping, 6in. ; 

 and F. recurva, orange- 

 scarlet, ift., one of the 

 best, though not as robust 

 as some. All the above- 

 named flower from early to 

 late spring, and should be 

 planted in fair-sized groups 

 when utilised in the beds or 

 borders. F recurva needs 

 to be planted in almost 

 pure sand. Fritillarias make 

 excellent pot subjects. 



Funkia (Plantain 

 Lily). — Foliage rather 

 than flower recommends 

 these to the notice of 

 the hardy plant lover. 

 They are shade-loving 

 subjects, and in such 

 positions their foliage 

 assumes a greater size, 

 as well as being of a 

 better colour. All the 

 hardy kinds can be 

 used with good effect in shrubberies, as lawn plants, or when 

 naturalised in woodlands: F. Sieboldiana (Fig. 205) is often used 

 for the last-named purpose ; it also makes a bold, permanent 

 edging. A good deep loam will grow any of the Funkias, 

 which may be propagated by division in autumn or spring. 

 Besides F. Sieboldiana and its varieties, F. ovata aureo-variegata 

 and F. undulata can be recommended for outside culture. 



Fig. 205. — Funkia Sieboldiana. 



