ON HARDY BULBS AND TUBERS. 



341 



Montbretia. — See Tritonia. 



Muscari (Grape Hyacinth). — Bulbous plants of great value 

 in the outdoor garden, as they are early to flower, easy to 

 cultivate, and bright as to colour. Being all of dwarf habit, 

 they should, when grown in the border, be allotted a front 

 position ; but they look best when naturalised on a bank, their 

 bright colours standing out well against the tender greens of 

 spring. The brightest gem in the genus is M. conicum. a rich 

 celestial blue, with a delicate fragrance, which latter considerably 

 enhances its value. M. armeniacum is a blue of a deeper 

 shade, flowering rather late ; while M. monstrosum (Feathered 

 Hyacinth), an old garden favourite (purple lilac), M. Szovitsia.7ium 

 (light blue), and M. botryoides pallidum grandiflorum (pearl 

 blue), are all worth growing. Muscari make nice pot plants. 

 The bulbs should be planted in September, and propagation 

 is effected by offsets at the same season. 



Narcissus. — Just as no summer garden would be considered 

 complete without its Lilies, so no spring garden would be 



Fig. 219. — Narcissus leedsii, Naturalised under Trees. 



furnished without its quota of Narcissi. No particular soil 

 or position is required to successfully grow the majority, and 

 all may be enjoyed if but the rudest of contrivances exist to 

 give them shelter ; and it is this freedom from cultural com- 

 plications which constitutes another of their chief charms. 

 They are flowers of the people, and by them have been grown 



