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THE FLOWER GROWERS GUIDE. 



moisture in summer. Keep the crowns at least 

 6 inches below the surface. Flower in late sum- 

 mer. Among the hardiest are capense, pink, 2 to 

 4 ft. ; capense album, white ; Powelli, pink ; 

 Powell i album. 



Crocus. — Beautiful little autumn flowering species ; 

 sunny position in light soil. Hadriaticus, white ; 

 *iridiflorus, rich purple ; *longiflorus, purple ; 

 *pulchellus, pearl blue ; Salzmanni, lilac ; *specio- 

 sus, blue ; *zonatus, rose lilac. 



Ctclamex (Sow Bread ; Bleeding Nun). — The little 

 C. neapolitanum, with beautifully zoned leaves 

 and white or purplish flowers, should be grown 

 near the front of the border in half shade, 3 to 6 

 ins. ; flowers in autumn. 



*Galtonia. — An indispensable hardy bulb with pure 

 white drooping bells in autumn on stems 3 to 6 

 feet high ; good soil. G. candicans is better than 

 G. princeps. 



Gladiolus. — The exquisite varieties of G. gandavensis 

 should be largely grown ; also the nanceianus 

 and Lemoinei hybrids with the early flowering 

 varieties such as Colvillei, nanus, and others. *G. 

 byzantinus and *G. segetus may be grown as 

 hardy perennials without annual lifting, which 

 shoidd be followed with the others. 



"Leucoium. — For autumn flowering the exquisite 

 L. autumnale shoidd have a good place in the 



front of a choice border in light soil; 9 ins., 

 white and rose. 



*Montbretia. — A valuable flower for border decoration 

 or cutting. Good soil, not too dry, sun ; divide 

 frequently; colours range from pure yellow to 

 bright red, 2 to 2 % ft. There are now many 

 varieties, but the following are good. Pottsi, 

 scarlet ; aurea, yellow ; Etoile de Feu, scarlet ; 

 Golden Sheaf, yellow ; Phare, scarlet and yellow. 



Schizostylis Coccinea — A pretty plant with habit of 

 Gladiolus, crimson ; 2 to 3 feet. It flowers too 

 late for many gardens ; rich, moist soil. 



Sterjntbergia. — Pretty bulbous plants with yellow 

 crocus-like flowers in autumn; 6 ins. Do not 

 bloom in many gardens, and require a warm, sunny 

 position. Lutea, yellow ; macrantha, yellow. 



Tigridia. — Showy, half-hardy bulbs, valuable among 

 border flowers ; 1 foot. Plant in spring in good 

 soil with sunny exposure. The following are 

 desirable. Pavonia conchiilora, yellow, scarlet 

 spots ; grandiflora alba, white, ruby spots ; im- 

 maculata alba, white ; lilacea, lilac, white and 

 purple ; rosea, rose ; rubra, yellow, scarlet spots ; 

 violacea, 9 ins., rosy purple and white. Lift after 

 flowering. 



Zephyr anthes . — Beautiful bulbous flowers flowering 

 about July. The hardiest is Z. Atamasco, white ; 

 9 ins., moist soil. 



In warm gardens Ixias, Morphixias, Sparaxis, Tritonias and Babianas, may be 

 planted from October to January, 3 inches deep in light soil, and covered with litter 

 until spring. They flower variously from June until August. For names see 

 catalogues. 



HARDY LILIES. 



The garden without lilies is indeed incomplete, and it is possible to select from 

 among the many liliums now obtainable some suitable for almost any position in which 

 other border flowers will grow. Lilies have a wide range of colouring, from the pure 

 white of the Madonna Lily to the almost black of the Dalmatian Martagon. Nothing 

 can surpass the beauty of Lilium auratum — although it is seldom long-lived in the 

 border ; and in stature there is much variety, from the dwarf L. Thunbergianum, Prince 

 of Orange, only about six inches high, to the great spikes of L. giganteum, towering as 

 high as ten, or even fourteen, feet. Several are of the easiest cultivation, and succeed 

 perfectly among herbaceous plants. Where many spring and early summer flowers are 

 grown, the lily should be largely planted, as it will, in the later months, beautify the 



