HARDY SUMMER- AND AUTUMN-FLOWERING BULBS. 



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July. 



I now come to July, which on the whole is rather barren in bulbous 

 flowers. Some of the L ilium elegans varieties and other species already 

 mentioned are still in bloom in the early part of the month, also some of 

 the early Gladioli. The following Lilies may also be noted : L. chalcedo- 

 nicum, longiflorum, Martagon album and dalmaticum, canadense, and 

 jnrdalinum. The last two delight in shady, damp situations, where the 

 bulbs can find plenty of moisture below to root into. The margins of 

 streams or brooks afford such conditions. 



Camassia. — I would mention the Camassias or Quamashes, remark- 

 ably elegant hardy plants from California and North- West America. 

 They readily establish themselves in the herbaceous border, requiring 

 only a rich light soil and a fair amount of moisture when in full growth. 

 The finest are Cusickii, Leichtlinii, Leichtlinii alba, and Fraseri. 



Alstrcemeria. — Perhaps the most decorative and showy of border 

 flowers for July are the Alstroemerias or Peruvian Lilies. With the 

 exception of A. Pclegrina and pu>lchra (syn. tricolor), they may be con- 

 sidered as hardy, providing a suitable situation is accorded to them. A 

 well-drained and fairly light soil is necessary, and a warm sunny situation, 

 such as at the foot of a south wall or hedge. The fleshy roots should be 

 planted from October to November, the tops being four inches below the 

 surface, and for the first winter a light covering of leaves or litter should 

 be given ; when established they will not require this. Should the garden 

 soil be heavy it should be taken out two or three feet in selected spots 

 and the necessary compost filled in after securing a good drainage. When 

 in full growth the plants should be occasionally well watered, and a 

 mulching of old manure may be advisable at the same time. By remov- 

 ing the seed-heads when they appear, the plants will be greatly benefited. 

 Established masses of Alstrcemeria aurantiaca, lutea, and chilensis 

 hybrids present a gorgeous blaze of colour, maintaining a show in the 

 garden into August, and even sometimes September. For cutting, the 

 Alstrosmeria is most valuable, as it lasts long in water and mixes well 

 with other flowers. 



August. 



Gladioli. — The most important bulbous plants for the garden in August 

 are Gladioli, Montbretias, Lilies, and Tigridias. Commencing with the 

 old but still valued scarlet Gladiolus brenchleyensis, we have a succes- 

 sional display of flowers from the different sections right up to the middle 

 of October. We owe much to Mons. Lemoine of Nancy for what he has 

 done in hybridising the Gladiolus, the result being the beautiful varieties 

 of Lemoinei and nanceianus. By crossing some of the best varieties of 

 gandavensis with the species jnirpureo-atiratus, he obtained a very 

 distinct class of hybrids, now known as 1 Butterfly ' Gladioli (G. Lemoinei 

 hybrids). By again crossing these with the species Saundersii the 

 section called nanceianus resulted. Both classes are distinct and good, 

 and form valuable acquisitions to our gardens. The ' Butterfly ' Gladioli 

 have all more or less the characteristic hooded flowers of the parent, 

 fmrpureo-aurcktus, although of much larger size, and possess a wide range 



