78 



THE CENTURY BOOK OF GARDENING. 



two years usually before they are strong enough to flower. 

 This is not the case with the vigorous-growing border 

 Auriculas, and these should be used freely in the garden 

 for the sake ol their fine colours and sweet perfume. 

 The shades of colour are wonderfully varied, and a 

 guild race may be secured bv carelullv weeding out 

 poor forms, retaining only the deep selfs, or shades 

 of one colour, which are effective in the garden. The 

 seeds are very easily raised, sowing them in shallow 

 boxes of fine soil in April under glass, and putting a 

 sheet of paper over the boxes. Prick out the seedlings 

 when large enough into other boxes, and from thence 

 transfer them to the open ground. The time to lift and 

 divide the mots, if necessary, is early autumn or after 

 flowering in spring, when they are probably transferred 

 from the beds to make way for the summer flowers. A 

 rather sheltered moist position should be chosen for their 

 summer quarters. When in flower it is easv to reject all 

 inferior varieties, and only in this way is it possible to 

 obtain a beautiful race of good colours. Raise seed saved 

 from the finest varieties only, and never fix upon one- 

 season for sowing. April is a good time, as already 

 stated, but it is far better to sow choicer varieties as soon 

 as the seed is ripe. 



II a collection of named kinds is required in the several 

 groups, it is better to apply to specialists, such as Air. J. 

 Douglas, ol dieal Hookham, Surrey, or Mr. Turner, of 

 Slough. 



BellflOWerS. — See Campanula. 



BlOOd root, Canadian, The. .V, Sanguinaria cana- 

 densis. 



BoCCOnia COrdata {Plume Poppy). — This is scarcely a 

 plant for the border, but it may be used for free groups 

 on the outskirts of the lawn, amongst other shrubs, or 

 wherever a shrub-like perennial of beautiful leaf colouring 

 is desired. Its admirable greyish-veined leaves and 

 ivory flower spikes add a note of colour to the garden 

 in autumn. If will thrive in ordinary soil, and is easily 

 multiplied by dividing the roots in spring. 



Bulbs requiring warm and sheltered positions 

 and well-drained soil. -A certain set of bulbs require 

 special positions, and when their peculiarities can lie- 

 satisfied they are very charming. The majority come from 

 South Africa and California, and a few are described in the 

 alphabetical list. The remainder, however, are grouped 

 together : Amaryllis Belladonna (Belladonna Lily) or 

 Jacobean Lily (A. formosissima) : Babianas, Brodireas, 

 especially the beautiful B. Howelli lilacina, which bears 

 its lavender flowers in spring; Bloomeria aurea, yellow; 

 Calochortus, Crinum Powelli and its variety album, 

 Homeria aurantiaca ; Early Irises, especially the rarer 

 species from Palestine; I\ias, Ixiolirion tataricum, a 

 graceful blue flower, very beautiful ; Oxalis, the white 

 Pancratiums illyricum and P. maritimum, Sparaxis, 

 Tiger - flowers (Tigridia Pavonia), T. conchiflora. 

 yellow with scarlet spots, and the varieties of T. 

 grandiflora, especially the lilac and purple lilacea, are 

 very handsome. Include, loo, T. violacea, rose ; also 

 Zephyranlhes Atamasco, white ; Z. Candida, white : 

 Z. carinata, rose : and Z. Treatise. Zephyranthes are- 

 very pretty in sunny sheltered borders, their flowers 

 reminding one of the Crocus. 



Buttercups. — See Ranunculus. 



CalOChorti. — The flowers produced by some forms of 

 these Californian bulbs are exquisite in colouring and 

 refined in shape. Given a certain amount of care in the 

 preparation of the bed, and a modicum of subsequent 

 attention, the culture of the more vigorous kinds, at all 

 events, should occasion little difficulty. The bed should 

 be slightly raised above the surrounding level, and 

 composed of road grit, leaf-mould, and silver sand, for a 

 well -drained compost, that will under all condition:, 

 remain porous, is essential. The bulbs should be planted 

 in October, at a depth of 3 i n . . and should be protected 

 from the heavy rains by the spare light of a frame, or 

 other method, until March, from which time they are 

 able to utilise all the moisture that may reach them. A 

 sunny border is most suitable for their requirements. 



When the leafage has died down the bulbs should be 

 lifted and stored in a dry place until the planting time 

 again comes round. The whole race of Calochorti, 

 for some time after their introduction, were known as 

 Mariposa Lilies ; now, however, they are divided into 

 three sections, namely, Cyclobothras, Star Tulips, and 

 Mariposa Lilies. The first section produces one long, 

 broad leaf, and from six to twelve pendent, globe-shaped 

 flowers. The three best varieties are albus, white ; 

 amoenus, pink ; and pnlchellus, yellow. Of the Star 

 Tulips, the section is sub-divided into the Star Tulips 

 proper and the Giant Star Tulips. In this section the 

 flowers are open instead of globular. Distinct varieties 

 of the first sub-division are Benthami, yellow, caeruleus, 

 bluish white, collinus, lilac, lilacinus, purple, and 

 Maweanus, white ; while of the Giant Star Tulips, 

 apiculatus, straw-coloured ; Howelli, creamy ; and 

 I'urdeyi, white, covered with downy hairs, are particularly 

 handsome. It is in the third section, that of the 

 Mariposa Lilies, however, that the acme of beauty is 

 attained, some of the Venustus forms being marvellous in 

 the richness and delicacy of their colouring. The Mariposa 

 Lilies throw up a small, narrow leaf, from the base of 

 which springs a flower-stem, 2ft. or 3ft. in height, and 

 carrying a dozen or more flowers, some of these blossoms 

 being 4m. in diameter. Charming as are all the Mariposa 

 Lilies, the most beautiful are comprised in the sub-section 

 Venustus, of which the best are Venustus oculatus, white 

 with black eye, margined with bright yellow ; V. citrinus, 

 lemon yellow, with deep maroon eye shaded with orange ; 

 V. purpurescens, markings very similar to V. oculatus, 

 but ground colour externally a rich purple ; V. roseus, 

 flesh-tinted with maroon eye and rosy blotch on upper 

 portion of each petal ; V. Vesta, the most vigorous 

 variety of all the Calochorti, rosy white, with red-brown 

 base margined saffron. Of the remaining Mariposa 

 Lilies, not belonging to sub-section Venustus, the 

 following are handsome flowers : Clavatus and luteus 

 concolor, clear yellow ; Kennedyi, bright oiange ; 

 Lyoni and nitidus, white with dark spot ; and Plummera', 

 silver)' lilac. It is pleasant to see that these beautiful 

 flowers, like butterflies poised on slender stems, are 

 becoming far more popular, and it is t,o be hoped that 

 this popularity will increase. They are less troublesome 

 to manage than many suppose. True, certain conditions 

 are required, as one would expect when dealing with 

 plants from such a sunny land as California ; but with a 

 warm border and well-drained soils the Calochorti are 

 usually quite happy. The flowers are so beautiful in 

 form and colour that the family will certainly increase in 

 favour with flower gardeners. 

 Camassias [Quamash). — The Camassias may be planted 

 with bold effect in the rougher parts of the garden ; but 

 they are worth using in the mixed border too. C. 

 esculenta is the most common kind, the name esculenta 

 having arisen from the bulbs being edible. It is a very hardy 

 plant, and bears tall spikes of blue flowers throughout the 

 summer months. A pure white flowered variety is 

 pretty. When the spikes are cnt and placed in water 

 the buds open freely. When planted in the grass the 

 Camassias are delightful, although they are seldom thus 

 grown. C. Leichtlini has pale yellow flowers, and C. 

 Cusicki soft blue. These are the most charming of the 

 family. 



Campanula. — The Campanulas are Bellflowers, so named 

 from the bell-like form ol the flow ers. This is one of the 

 most interesting and important families amongst hardy- 

 plants. There is wide diversity of character in the many 

 species, some alpines of fair beauty, others noble 

 perennials, so robust that they may be associated with 

 shrubs even without harm. A few are useful for the 

 window, especially the pretty C. isophylla and its variety 

 alba, so that in many places the Bellflowers may be 

 grown. The majority are distinctly perennial, the chief 

 biennial form being the sumptuous Canterbury Bell or 

 C. Medium, and of annual kinds there are C. macrostyla 

 and others, as recorded in the chapter upon that division 

 of flowers. A few are native to our own land, the 



