9 2 



FLORA AND SYLVA. 



RIVERSIDE COLOUR AT STRAF- 

 FAN. — At Straffan, Kildare, yesterday 

 (February 16), the spreading masses of 

 Snowdrops under the red-twigged Lime 

 trees on the lawn gave quite a beautiful 

 effect. They are on the lower lawn below 

 the flower-garden and are occasional- 

 ly flooded as the Liffey overflows, but 

 this only seems to increase their vigour. 

 Just at this season, however, the most 

 harmonious colour at Straffan is of the 

 crimson Dogwood and red Osiers along- 

 side the now full-flooded river and ex- 

 tending from the island to the great 

 bridgebelow. No words could give any- 

 thing like an adequate idea of the soft 

 and varied shades of colour, not alone 

 of the planted banks themselves but of 

 their still more soft and delicate reflec- 

 tions in the water below. This well- 

 wooded river scene at Straffan shows 

 how simply and naturally most cheer- 

 ful and ever-varying winter effects of 

 colour maybe obtained, and especially, 

 as in this case, near water. This river 

 scenery from Straffan Bridge is luckily 

 seen by many, as the Kildare Hounds 

 meet or pass there often during the hunt- 

 ing season, and it certainly affords a 

 lesson in planting for winter colour of 

 an impressive kind, showing that some 

 of the strongest and best effects obtain- 

 able in our home scenery are also easily 

 obtainable by simple means. — F. W. 



BURBIDGE. 



THE SPRING STAR-FLOWER 



( Triteleia uniflord) . 

 Throughout Southern England in sunny gar- 

 dens of light soil, few early flowering plants 

 give better effect than this little South Ame- 

 rican bulb, while its price enables it to be used 



in quantity and with the best effect. It is hardy 

 on all soils, but in cold stiff ground it is apt to 

 disappear. In more genial conditions it spreads 

 fast into broad patches, and when used either 

 as large irregular masses in open spots beneath 

 trees, or (as I have seen it) planted in a long 

 straight border of 200 paces and thick with 

 flowers, its value is great. In spite of its name 

 its flowers come very freely, and under culti- 

 vation, not infrequently in pairs. They vary 

 a good deal in shade from near white to lilac 

 and purple, and, in a scarcer form, to a pretty 

 pale blue with narrow petals and a yellow eye. 

 The best way is to plant in variety and let the 

 colours mingle at will. In shape the flower is 

 a little like the Lesser Periwinkle and about 

 the same size, but with separate petals. It loves 

 the sun, and is not in the least distressed by 

 weeks of drought, unfolding its blossoms with 

 the first warm days of March or April in a 

 profusion over which the bees make merry. 

 Unless planted to come up through evergreen 

 trailers — and it is often useful with other bulbs 

 to give colour upon such a groundwork when 

 it is itself out of beauty — the plants should be 

 massed closely, or the blossoms will suffer from 

 heavy rain. A very good effect may be got 

 by planting the bulbs thickly, mingled with 

 clumps of the Scarlet Windflower {Anemone 

 fulgens) ; they both delight in sunshine when 

 well planted, and the contrast in colour is rich 

 and uncommon. It is pretty also with the 

 Lesser Periwinkle in its white and blueforms, 

 but is less apt to spread with such a vigorous 

 neighbour. In the South of France it is now 

 naturalised in many parts and takes the place 

 of the Snowdrop, which is apt to disappear. 

 In warm districts in which the Star-flower 

 may be coaxed out too early for its own well- 

 being, it is best grown upon a warm border 

 at the foot of a wall giving some shelter from 

 wind and weather. Though charming upon 

 the plant, the flowers are of no value when 

 cut, owing to the strong odour of garlic given 

 off by the cut stems. For use indoors the 

 Triteleia is often grown in pots, blooming 

 early with little heat, lasting long, and of 

 the simplest culture. It is easy to have them 

 in little pots for table decoration, and, unless 

 their-leaves are bruised, there is no unpleasant 

 smell. 



