FLORA AND SYLVA. 



the exertions of the late excellent and benevo- 

 lent Professor Henslow among the pupils of 

 his little village school if he had used any names 

 but the popular ones. Besides admitting to the 

 full all that can be urged against them from a 

 purely botanical point of view, we still may 

 derive both pleasure and instruction from trac- 

 ing them back to their origin, and reading in 

 them the habits and opinions of former ages. 

 In following up such an analysis we soon find 

 that we are entering upon a higher region of 

 literature — the history of man's progress and 

 the gradual development of his civilisation. 

 Some of the plants that were familiar to our 

 ancestors in Central Asia bear with us to this 

 dav the very names they bore there, and as 

 distinctly intimate by them the uses to which 

 they were applied, and the degree of culture 

 which prevailed where they were given, as 

 do those of the domestic affinities the various 

 occupations of the primeval family." 



THE WOOD LILIES (Trillium). 

 Few spring-flowering hardy perennials 

 are prettier than the Wood Lilies for 

 moist shaded corners of the rock-gar- 

 den, or grouping in plots of light, rich 

 soil, sheltered by trees, but where they 

 are not robbed by hungry roots. The 

 best and most vigorous kinds will do in 

 most gardens, save such as are dry or 

 much exposed, but wherever soil and 

 aspectare unfavourable success depends 

 upon some preparation for these dainty 

 woodland beauties. There are about a 

 dozen wild kinds, most of them found 

 in the moist peaty forests of North Ame- 

 rica, though some of them spread as far 

 as Japan and through northern Asia to 

 the Himalayas. They thrive best in light 

 cool soils, rich in humus, some kinds 

 growing well around bogs ; where they 

 are planted upon heavy ground it should 

 be improved by a rich dressing of leaf- 

 soil. When well planted they need little 

 care and may remain undisturbed for 



years with only a mulching of decayed 

 manure or rotten leaves in autumn. Im- 

 ported roots are often a year or two in 

 settling down in their new quarters, but 

 once started they spread into tufts which 

 become increasingly beautiful in size 

 and vigour, and by planting varieties of 

 colour the most charming woodland 



j effects may be gained. So grouped, the 

 drooping flowers are best seen upon a 

 gentle upward slope, and if in a sheltered 

 nook or hollow the early kinds are less 

 likely to suffer from cutting wind. The 

 large white kind (Trillium grandiflo- 

 rum)) the best and most easily grown, 

 will bear more sunlight than most, and 

 often does well amid masses of Rhodo- 

 dendrons, but if too much exposed its 

 beauty suffers. Though moisture-loving 

 plants they are unsuited to low heavy 

 land, where stagnant water is against 

 them,as arealso the severe winters,which 

 cause check in some districts. 



All the kinds should be 

 planted early in Septem- 

 ber, the roots starting into growth with 

 the first freshness of autumn ; old tufts 

 may then be divided and replanted at 

 about 4 inches deep in rotten leaf-mould 

 — their natural food. The leaves show 

 above ground in early spring,and though 

 quite hardy they gain by protection from 

 wind andslugs,which often mar the ear- 

 liest blossoms ; their graceful three-pe- 



i tailed flowers borne singly upon droop- 

 ing stems, last long in beauty and after 



l flowering the plants go to rest for the 



i summer, but must not suffer for want of 

 water in times of drought. Some kinds 

 grow well and are easilymanaged in pots, 



! and where they refuse to do in the open 



