268 
THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA. 
blooming as far as possible, and the Crocus will be the 
first to be considered. 
Crocus, of which there are numerous species, should 
be planted chiefly along the approaches to the rockery 
because of the untidiness caused by the ripening foliage. 
A few of the choice varieties could be planted in incon- 
spicuous places in the main part of the garden and some 
later growing plants set with them to fill the space after 
the Crocus are past. Those species which flower between 
November and March are of little use in this section 
owing to the climatic conditions. Should it be neces- 
sary to have these flowers in a large bed or mass, Tril- 
lium grandiflorum and Scilla nutans and S. nutans alba 
could be planted with the Crocus, as they would come 
into bloom after the Crocus were past and keep up the 
display of bloom as well as hide the decaying foliage of 
the Crocus. 
The Snowdrop is one of the most charming of spring 
flowers. There are about half a dozen species all very 
much alike in appearance. They can be used in any de- 
flowering bulbs similar in growth to some of the Scillas 
with flowers a delicate blue marked through the center 
with a darker shade. 
The Spring Meadow Saffron, Bulbocodium vernum, is 
i me of the best as well as earliest of spring bulbs for 
planting on rockwork. The flowers are rosy purple and 
appear before the leaves. They sometimes bloom before 
the Crocus. 
There are no spring flowers of more value in the rock 
garden than the various species of Daffodils. They are 
perfectly hardy and vary much in color, size and form. 
The few kinds that bloom during autumn and winter 
cannot be grown out of doors in this part of the country. 
X. Cyelamineus, N. Bulbocodium, N. gracilis, N. junci- 
folius. N. triandrus albus, N. moschatus of Haworth, N. 
minor and minimus and many others are splendid varie- 
ties in a rock garden. The large 1 Iybrid Narcissi always 
seem to me to be out of place in a rockery. 
The beautiful Iris reticulata is the only species of 
bulbous Iris that has proved satisfactory with me. Marly 
Primulus. Hcllcboris 
( Christmas 
sired number, as the foliage ripens quickly and can be 
cut off without injury to the bulbs. 
The Spring Snowflake, Leucojum vernum, is allied 
to the Snowdrop and is a pretty plant with drooping bell- 
like white flowers marked with green inside and out. 
The Summer Snowflake. Leucojum aestivum, differs 
from Leucojum vernum but little, growing somewhat 
taller and blooming a few days later. These plants are 
disappointing at first but when well established are sure 
to do well. 
The hardy Squills or Scillas are indispensable to every 
rock garden as they are beautiful and flower earlv. Scilla 
sibirica, Scilla amoena and Scilla bifolia are the earliest 
to flower. Scilla campanulata. S.c. rosea and S.c. alba 
are a little later while S. nutans, and S. nutans alba are 
the latest to bloom. 
Chionodoxa Luciliae has beautiful blue flowers grad- 
ually merging into pure white in the center and about 
an inch across. There is a pure white variety which is 
very pretty. 
Puschkinia scillioides is another gem among the spring 
Niger. Trillion Graixdiilora. 
Rose) 
other kinds were tested, but they either failed to live 
through the winter or died out after once blooming. This 
Iris comes into bloom with the Crocus and is perhaps the 
most beautiful of spring flowers. The flowers are violet 
and yellow and sweet-scented. 
Camassia esculenta, blue, and C. Leichtlinni, white, are 
quite pretty and bear a loose raceme of numerous flowers 
on stout stalks one to three feet high. C. Cusickii is 
similar in color to C. esculenta but taller growing, and 
the bulbs are subject to a disease which kills them out 
after a few years. 
The Grape Hyacinths are not out of place when planted 
in the rock garden. The flowers are bell shaped and 
white or blue in color, borne in dense racemes on stalks 
8 inches high. 
The Dog's-Tooth Violet, Erythronium Dens-Cam's. 
is a very lovely plant with flowers rosy purple or lilac, 
borne singly on short stems and drooping gracefully. 
Krythronium Americanum bears yellow flowers on stems 
(> to 9 inches and is not so reliable as the first mentioned 
kind. 
