320 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



— Camassia ESCULENTA. 



associated on the rockery with 

 some of the early Narcissi, like 

 JV. ?ninwms, 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. Lucilice 

 (Snow Glory) is a lovely 

 kind, with deep blue 

 flowers having a white 

 centre ; C. grandiflora 

 {C. giga?itea) 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. mcm- 

 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, 

 Aubrietias, Thymes, &c. 

 should be done as soon as the 

 bulbs arrive, and they should not 

 be often disturbed. A sunny 

 position and a sandy soil are what 



Planting 



Fig. 197.— Colchicum 

 speciosum. 



