134 PIGTOBIAL PRAGTIGAL BULB GROWING. 



quite Lardy, but they are failures in some gardens, notably in those 

 where the soil is very dry or where the winter rains do not pass away 

 freely. Such failures would be obviated were beds of rich soil made 

 up on a well drained site, and planting deferred until early sprirg. 

 Six inches is a good depth to plant. Wherever climate and circum- 

 stances admit planting is best done in the autumn ; a little Bracken, 

 litter, or Heather laid on the bed keeps the bulbs perfectly safe, but 

 will not be necessary in many gardens. The growth of Montbretias 

 closely resembles that of a small Gladiolus, but the spikes are 

 branched, reach a height of about 2 feet, and bear a profusion of 

 neat and brilliant blooms over a long period. Nor must the pot 

 culture of Montbretias be omitted, or a valuable conservatory plant 

 will be lost. Grown in the same way as Ixias and similar subjects, 

 but with five bulbs in each 6-inch pot, they provide a pleasing 

 decoration at a very small cost. 



Selection of Montbretias. 



Brilliant, orange scarlet. 



crocosmiflora, scarlet, 

 orange, and yellow. A 

 hybrid between Orocos- 

 mia aurea and Tritonia 

 Pottsii. 



Drap d'Or, cbrome yellow, 

 large. 



Etoile de Feu, vermilion, 

 lemon centre, red out- 

 side. 



Gerbe d'Or, golden yellow, 

 splendid flowers. 



Germania, orange yellow. 



Pottsii, orange and scarlet ; 

 strictly a Tritonia, and 

 one of the parents of 

 garden Montbretias. 



Rayon d'Or, rich yellow, 

 marked brown. 



Soleil Couchant, golden 

 yellow, dwarf. 



Solfaterre, bright yellow. 



CDapter XCll —n^uscaris. 



It is presumed that most readers have at some period of their 

 lives seen a few acres of Bluebells growing together, and have 

 thought that in its particular scheme of colour nothing could excel 

 such a display. But that thought only proves a lack of acquaintance 

 with some of the Muscaris, and notably with that exquisitely 

 beautiful one so appropriately named conicum Heavenly Blue. This 

 is so much the finest member of the genus that if only one can 

 be grown this should be chosen. If you have not seen J acre 

 of this charming hardy bulb in full bloom about the same time 

 that Dafibdils are aglow, or a hedge bank smothered with its 

 sturdy, clustering spikes of azure blooms, either of which you 

 may see at Barrs', or a bed of some early flowering shrub 

 car])eted with it, as at Kew, then you have missed one or more 

 of the most delightful sights the "merry spring'' aff'ords. It is 

 by no means an expensive subject, and when once established it 



