COMMON GARDEN FLOWEES. 



161 



or, failing such., among the Rhododendrons in peat 

 "beds. If placed in a sunny or exposed position, the 

 large soft green leaves are not. sufficiently developed, 

 and consequently the plant fails to become strong. 

 In a position much exposed to sun and wind I have 

 grown it to perfection by planting it in peat, and 

 keeping it covered with a clouded hand-glass so long 

 as the leaves were above ground. At Biddulph 

 Grange, Congleton, I first saw it in its true glory, 

 forming bushes of the healthiest green, more than 



rose or pale crimson spots at the base of the petals ; 

 it is one of the very handsomest of the group. The 

 blossoms are scarcely so large as those of T. grandi- 

 Jlornm. 



T. nivale has pure white flowers, and is of dwarfer 

 growth than T. grandiflortim, and distinct from it. 



T. ovatum is a rare Californian species, with dark 

 green ovate leaves, and pure white flowers slightly 

 recurved. 



T. sessile is so nimed from the flowers having no 



two feet high, and spreading out as fully as any 

 border plant. Every plant bore traces of flower, and 

 it may easil)^ be imagined what pictures of beauty 

 these plants must have been in spring. They were 

 planted in a moist spot, very much shaded by highly- 

 raised root and rock work, and shrubs perfectly 

 sheltered by the same. In like position it may be 

 grown as well as in its native woods. Depressed 

 shady nooks in the rock garden or hardy fernery 

 wiU suit it admirably." (Robinson's Alpine Flowers.) 

 It can be increased by division of well-established 

 bulbs. 



T. erectum, or atropurpiireum , is in striking con- 

 trast to the foregoing, producing erect flowers of a 

 deep rich purple, and should have similar treatment. 



T. erythrocarpum, the Painted Wood-lily, bears 

 lovely, pure white flowers, with three distinct bright 

 59 



foot-stalks, but fitting as it were immediately on the 

 end of the main stalk ; the leaves are marbled with 

 white, and the flowers, which are pale purj^le in the 

 original form, are found to vary in colour from pale 

 yellow to deep purple ; it is one of the earliest to 

 flower, coming in with the Snowdrop, 



T. recurvatum is of very dwarf growth, and quite 

 distinct ; the flowers purple and, as, its name implies, 

 very much recurved. 



We have seen in Lancashire fine plants of T. 

 grandiflorum grown in pots in a cold house, flowering 

 freely and abundantly in spring. They were growing 

 in a compost made up of yellow loam, plenty of leaf- 

 mould, and peat, the pots well" drained. An excellent 

 bed could be made up for Trilliums in a common dry 

 ditch shaded with trees. It would be necessary to 

 put a foot or so of coal-ashes and lime rubbish into it 



