ON HARDY BULBS AND TUBERS. 



345 



long. These flower right up to May. Some good varieties are 

 C. J. Backhouse, Gwyther (Fig. 225), Frank Miles, and Leedsii. 

 A list of varieties for general purposes will be found in the 

 " Appendix." 



Propagation is usually 

 effected by offsets, which 

 should be separated from 

 the older bulbs, and 

 planted out; and by 

 seeds. The latter process 

 is, however, too long 

 for the man of little 

 leisure to undertake. 



Nerine (Loxanthes). 

 — Though the com- 

 monest species (N. 

 samiensis) is known 

 popularly as the Guernsey 

 Lily, it is not a native 

 of that island. It can 

 only be grown out-of- 

 doors under especially 

 favourable circumstances, 

 as the leaves are pro- 

 duced after the flowers, 

 and, if not protected in 

 some way, they are in- 

 jured by frost. The 

 bulbs are on the market 

 in late summer, and they should be planted at once. The 

 blossoms are gorgeous, being of a bright scarlet, and produced 

 in umbels. Some cultivators grow TV", curvifolia major in warm 

 borders, but it is usually wintered indoors. Propagated by 

 offsets at planting time. As a pot-plant, N. sarmensis excels. 



Ornithogalum (Star of Bethlehem). — A few species of this 

 genus deserve to be mentioned, for if they are not showy, they 

 provide gardeners with several good subjects not only 

 for the rockery, the border, and the grass, but also for bare 

 places under trees. They flower in either spring or early 

 summer. 0. nutans is much prized for cutting, as its silvery- 

 grey colour, shaded with green, blends well with any other 

 flower; it is about isin. high, and will grow in either shade or 

 sunshine. 0. umbellatum (true Star of Bethlehem) is another 

 most useful species for under trees or grass, smothering the 

 ground with its lovely white flowers. The plant usually sold 

 as Star of Bethlehem in early spring is Allium neapolitanum. 

 Stately kinds, like O. pyramidale, may be used with excellent 



Fig. 225. — Narcissus Gwyther. 



