HARDY SUMMER- AND AUTUMN-FLOWERING- BULBS. 899 



many species and varieties, as they are all so beautiful, but to those who 

 think of introducing these beautiful flowers into their garden I would 

 recommend as a beginning the varieties of C. venustus as being the most 

 robust growers and of easiest culture. 



Allium. — In addition to the flowers already mentioned for the month 

 of June, I must include the following as being of beauty and interest : 

 A. acuminatum, azureum, Moly, Ostroicshianum, Bosenbachianum, and 

 triquetrum, all easily grown in any good light soil and suitable for 

 borders, rock work, or to naturalise in woodlands. 



Bloomcria aurea. — A fine showy Californian bulb, bearing umbels of 

 golden-yellow flowers, height 15 inches, thriving in any good light soil. 



Brodicea. — Very decorative bulbous plants from California, flowering 

 from June to July, and suitable for sunny nooks in the border or on rock- 

 work in a light, well-drained soil. Unfortunately, one sees them too 

 seldom in our gardens. Amongst the best are : B. calif arnica, coccinea, 

 grandiflora, Hendersoni, Howellii lilacina, ixioides splendens, laxa, and 

 Murrayana. Brodiaa grandiflora is a lovely little dwarf blue flower for 

 carpeting the ground in spring. 



Gladioli. — The early section commences with the species byzantinus, 

 flowering at the end of May, followed by Colvillei, and the hybrids of 

 ramosus, blandus, and trimaculatus, which carry on a display into July. 

 For grouping in borders, forming beds, or as pot-plants they are equally 

 useful, while all of them are of the greatest value for cutting. Byzantinus 

 and Colvillei are fine plants to naturalise in wild gardens &c. Colvillei, 

 ' The Bride,' with its fine spikes of snowy white flowers, is, of course, well 

 known ; but of the ramosus, blandus, and trimaculatus hybrids I would 

 mention the following as being of special merit : ' Ackerman,' Cardinalis 

 clegans, 1 Fire King,' ' General Scott,' ' Madame Cousin,' 'Peach Blossom,' 

 ' Pink Perfection,' and 1 Queen Wilhelmina.' As to culture, a genial 

 situation protected from cutting winds should be given, and the soil should 

 be light and friable. In preparing the ground, dig deeply and work 

 plenty of old manure into the underspit. Plant the bulbs from October 

 to January, four to five inches deep, and cover lightly with straw litter or 

 other material until March. 



Ixiolirion tataricum. — An elegant border plant, with umbels of rich 

 dark blue tubular flowers ; height 1\ ft. ; thriving in a sunny situation 

 and light, well- drained soil. 



Hyacinthus amethystinus. — A pretty little alpine Hyacinth, with 

 flowers of a beautiful amethystine blue ; height nine inches. A charming 

 plant for grouping in borders and on rockwork ; there is also a white 

 variety of it. 



Lilium. — The principal Lilies flowering in June and of easy culture are 

 L. elegans, umbellatum, Broiunii, candidum (the ' Madonna ' Lily), the old 

 cottage-garden Orange Lily (croceum), and tcstaceum. For herbaceous 

 borders these are all highly decorative ; they should be planted in groups 

 or clumps and allowed to remain undisturbed, as when established they 

 bloom much better than the first season after planting. For the successful 

 culture of Lilies generally, it should be borne in mind that the bulbs like a 

 cool rooting medium, and a soil which is thoroughly well drained. These 

 conditions can be easily arranged for in hardy herbaceous and shrubbery 



h 2 



