■DIELTTEA GPECTABILIS. LEUCOJTTM. 



115 



low growth of grasslike foliage. It is hardy, and very 

 suitable for vases, edges, or groups on flower borders. 

 It likes a mixture of loam and peat. It is also pretty, 

 gay, and lasting for pots in windows, or elsewhere. It 

 flowers in July, and the moment the seed is ripe it 

 should be sown, when it will produce bulbs, which will 

 flower the next year. It is said to require protection 

 from frost, but we have had pans of roots left out all 

 the winter, without injury. 



The Dielytra spectabilis is a chai^ming tuberous rooted 

 plant, fit for forcing in pots for early hloom, or for plant- 

 ing in good tufty groups, in any warm sheltered border. 

 Its delicate and peculiar shaped flowers and prettily cut 

 foliage, resemble those of the common fumitory. It 

 requires a rich light soil, and is easily increased by 

 division of the root, as in the dahlia, or by cuttings. 

 It flowers in spring. 



The Leiicojum, Snowflake, or St. Agnes' Flower, is a 

 sweet little white flower, of a pretty drooping habit, like 

 the snowdrop, only larger, and growing several on a 

 stalk. The roots increase abundantly, flower in spring, 

 and do well for planting an aquarium. Sow the seed 

 as it ripens. 



The Ornitliogalum umhellatum^ or Star of Bethlehem, 

 is a pretty flow^er, of a clear decided white, and quite 

 hardy. It will do for years on the same spot. 



The Oxalis is a tuberous root, of which there are 

 many varieties, producing showy flow^ers of various 

 colours — red, rose-colour, purple, and yellow. The 

 culture is the same as for the ixia, and many of them 

 require protection in winter. Most of them may be 

 bought for '2s, per dozen or less. 



The Scilla is a pretty bright-coloured spring flower, 

 which is quite hardy, and will grow^ in any good garden 

 soil. 



The Winter Aconite is almost the earliest blooming of 

 bulbs. It likes a light soil, and a w^arm open diy 

 situation. 



The Zephyranthes are Cape bulbs, which produce 

 elegant flowers, one on a stem. Some of them are 



I 2 



