ALBUCA. — ALLIUM. 



9 



ALBXJOA. 



A large genus of uninteresting bulbs, closely allied to 

 the Ornithogalum, mostly natives of the Cape of Good 

 Hope. There are more than twenty species ; they can 

 be grown in a frame in the same manner as the Ixias. 



ALLIUM. 



The Garlic and Onion. 



The name of garlic is so associated with the idea of 

 rank smell and flavor, and the plant itself is so repug- 

 nant to most persons of refined taste, that it seems diffi- 

 cult to imagine that the genus contains any species 

 worthy a place in the ornamental, or window garden. 

 Yet, so far from this being the case, there is, perhaps, 

 no genus of bulbous plants which contains more pretty 

 flowers than the genus Allium, or flowers of one genus 

 which possess more interest, from their great variety, 

 as they are quite distinct from each other, varying 

 widely in color and size, though still preserving so strong 

 a family likeness as to render it impossible to mistake 

 them. The genus abounds almost everywhere, most of 

 the ornamental species coming from the Cape of Good 

 Hope. The following are worthy of cultivation in the 

 border and window garden. 



A. Moly. — A low-growing species, producing, in 

 early June, a mass of golden-yellow flowers. After once 

 planting, it requires no further attention, being perfectly 

 hardy ; a native of the South of Europe. 



A. cceruleum. — A very pretty and showy species, 

 with bright blue flowers; a native of Eussia, and per- 

 fectly hardy. 



A. acuminatum. — A species common in the State 

 of Washington and Upper California. It has deep rose- 

 colored flowers, and is perfectly hardy. 



