THE GARDEN IN SPRING 39 



showy plant, growing upwards of four feet to the top 

 of its flower stalk in April or May. There are varieties 

 displaying various combinations of red, yellow and 

 orange. Parkinson placed it " before all other Lilies," 

 and Chapman referred to it as " Emperor of Flowers." 

 Valuable as it is, one is not disposed to place it on quite 

 such a pinnacle to-day. Most of the other Fritillaries 

 are dwarf bulbous plants, which thrive in rich, light 

 soil, preferably in the partial shade of deciduous trees. 

 The commoner kinds are very suitable for naturalisation 

 in grass or woodland. Most of the Fritillaries produce 

 sombre -coloured, curiously-chequered, snaky -looking, 

 pendulous flowers. 



Even in the seventeenth century Parkinson describes 

 twelve varieties, but since his day numerous species 

 have been discovered. Among those best for growing 

 are F. MeUagris and its varieties ; F. Moggridgei, an 

 Alpine species, with yellow bells beautifully marked 

 with brown and red on their inner surface ; F. aurea, 

 and the brilliant, though somewhat tender, F. recurva. 

 The Fritillary was so called because of its chess-board- 

 like markings, and for the same reason Gerard spoke of 

 it as the Ginnie-hen flower. 



The Grape-Hyacinths, or Muscari, do not seem to 

 have developed in popularity, as their beauty in colour- 

 ing and hardiness would have led one to expect. In 

 rich, deep, sandy soil, in the rock garden or border, 

 these bulbs thrive and multiply. Parkinson enumerated 

 eight varieties, which he called " The Ash-Coloured 

 Musk Grape Flower, the Red Musk Grape Flower, the 

 White Musk Grape Flower, The Dark-blue Grape 

 Flower, the Sky-coloured Grape Flower, the Branched 

 Grape Flower, the White Grape Flower, and the Blush 

 Grape Flower." The varieties which are most worthy 

 of garden cultivation are M. racemosum, with its fruit- 

 scented purple flowers and long drooping leaves; M. 



