350 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



commerce are usually grown in the borders or on the rockery, 

 a sandy loam being preferable. .S. grandifioriwi (purple) and 

 S. g. album (white) are charming when used in combination, 

 their gracefully-sheathing leaves being light and delicate (Fig. 230). 

 These like a somewhat shaded situation; S. benjmdia?ium is of 

 dwarfer growth, and bears violet flowers. The season of 

 flowering is in early summer. They should be planted in 

 October, and are best propagated by division of the roots. 



Spar AXIS. — Cape of Good Hope bulbs of exceeding beauty, 

 but, like their relatives the Ixias only to be grown in favoured 

 positions outside. If, however, such can be assigned them, they 

 should undoubtedly be tried. S. puk/ierri??ia (now known as 

 Dierama piilcherrima) has bell-shaped flowers, numerously 

 disposed on thin, graceful stems, 4ft. to 5 ft. high. They vary 

 considerably as to colour, the most striking being striped, and 

 are produced in summer. Propagated by offsets. 



Sternbergia (Mount Etna Lily). — Hardy bulbs, yet but little 

 known in gardens, though extremely useful. Three or four 



late autumn. 



TiGRiDiA (Tiger Flower). — Another genus of bulbs, several 

 kinds of which should be accommodated in the outdoor garden if 



Fig. 231. — TiGRiDiA pavonia alba. 



species are in cultivation, 

 the best known being S. 

 lutea (Winter Daftbdil ; 

 Yellow Star Flower). It 

 is a Crocus-like flower, 

 produced in late autumn, 

 and some good patches 

 brighten up the garden 

 at that season. There 

 is a variety of it {Fischer- 

 iana) which flowers in 

 spring. Of late years 

 there has been intro- 

 duced another very 

 handsome kind in 

 inacrantha^ bright yellow, 

 flowering in autumn. 

 Sternbetgias thrive best 

 in a warm, sandy loam 

 and a sunny position. 

 They should be planted 

 in autumn, affording the 

 bulbs a little protection 

 in winter. They are 

 impatient of disturbance. 

 Propagated by offsets in 



