Plate 227. 



GODETIA WHITNEYI— LADY ALBEMARLE. 



This beautiful hardy annual was raised by Messrs. Daniel Bros., Seed- Growers, Nor- 

 wich, and is the result of four successive crossings of G. Lindleyana and G. Whitneyii. The 

 plants retain the dwarf compact habit and large flowers of G. Whitneyii with the narrow 

 foliage of G. Lindleyana, forming nice shrubby little plants not exceeding one foot in height, 

 profusely covered with flowers of a rich glossy crimson shaded with rosy lilac on the outer 

 edge, and each flower when fully expanded measures nearly four inches across. This variety 

 deservedly obtained a First Class Certificate when exhibited before the Eoyal Horticultural 

 Society at South Kensington on the 3rd ult. ; and we are informed that Messrs. Daniels have 

 other very promising varieties, also the result of these crossings, as white, rose, peach, 

 salmon, purple, striped, spotted, etc., and which bid fair at no far distant day to become popu- 

 lar for show and decorative purposes. Beiug perfectly hardy the cultivation of this variety 

 is very simple. The seed can be sown in autumn, in the open border for blooming early the 

 following summer, or in March or April in circles, drills, or beds, where intended to bloom 

 the following July and August, or raised in pots or boxes in a cool pit or frame, and trans- 

 planted into the open ground, one foot apart, when about 1 inch high. A few can be reserved 

 for planting singly in pots, and grown on in the usual way for decorative purposes ; but it 

 must be borne in mind they are perfectly hardy, and, in order to make them retain their 

 dwarf compact habit, must not be grown under glass, but kept as much as possible in a 

 fully exposed situation until the first few flowers expand. They can then be removed to 

 the greenhouse, conservatory, or window, and will amply repay all the care bestowed upon 

 them by such a profusion of rich coloured bloom as is seldom seen on a plant so small. 



Plate 228. 



EBYTHRONITJM GIGANTEUM. 



The Dog's-tooth violets, as the species of this genus are popularly called, form a very 

 attractive group of hardy spring flowering bulbs, and they all deserve a place in the most 

 select herbaceous border. The plant we now figure is one of the largest and most distinct 

 in the whole group, bearing flowers which suggest those of Lilium Sczovitzianum, while the 

 leaves are not unlike those of Tidipa Grieyi, both in shape and markings. It is a most de- 

 sirable plant which blooms in April or May, each scape bearing from two to ten pale yellow 

 bell-shaped flowers. This plant is said to be a native of Canada, and is much more 

 showy than E. Americanum, another yellow-flowered species from the United States. Seeds 

 are rarely produced, but the plant is a vigorous grower and well deserves culture, along 

 with all the other species and varieties. Our drawing was made from a plant in Mr. 

 Barr's bulb grounds early in the present year, and the plant withstood both wind, snow, 

 and rain for nearly a month, continuing in flower the whole time. It is a Lindleyan 

 species, but we believe our figure is the first hitherto published in this country. 



