HARDY BULBS AND TUBERS. 
253 
protected after flowering by covering with hand lights. In 
dry weather see the bulbs have plenty of water. Increase is 
effected by offsets at planting time ; also by seeds sown in 
sandy soil in cold frames in spring. Seedlings, however, do 
not flower for several years. 
C&ma.88ia. (Quamash). — The Camassias are bulbous- 
rooted perennials, belonging to the Lily order (Liliaceae), and 
natives of N. America. They have narrow graceful foliage 
and bear their flowers in elegant racemes. All the species 
below mentioned are quite hardy, and their flowers come in 
most useful for cutting for indoor decoration. The species 
are as follows : C. esculentea, pale blue, 12 to 3oin. ; C. 
Cusicki, pale blue, 3ft. ; C. Fraseri, pale blue, i8in. ; and 
C. Leitchlinii, creamy-white, 3ft. There are two or three 
varieties of C. esculentea, namely, flore albo, white ; atro- 
caerulea, dark blue, atroviolaceae, also dark blue. All flower 
in summer. The Camassias require a deep, light rich soil 
and a sunny position. Plant the bulbs 4m. deep and a foot 
apart in large groups in September or October. In dry 
weather copious waterings will be beneficial. It is advisable 
to lift the bulbs every three or four years, remove the offsets 
and replant these to make flowering bulbs. Increased by 
offsets in early autumn, also by seeds sown in sandy soil in a 
cold frame in March. 
Chlonodoxa (Glory of the Snow). — Hardy bulbous 
plants belonging to the Lily order (Liliaceae), and natives of 
Crete and Asia. Of all spring-flowering bulbs the Chiono- 
doxas are unquestionably the most exquisite and charming. 
The blue and white flowers borne on graceful racemes cannot 
be surpassed in grace or beauty. The only species we shall 
mention here is C. Luciliae, a native of Asia Minor. This 
produces flower stems 6 to 8in. high, which bear flowers over 
half-an-inch in diameter of a delightful blue colour with a 
white centre. There are many charming varieties, too, which 
are equally beautiful. Sardensis, for example, bears gentian- 
blue flowers, rather smaller than those of Lucilite. Then there 
is grandiflora, with flowers double the size of those of C 
Luciliae ; alba, white ; and Alleni, with white, blue and pink 
flowers. All flower in March and April. In their native homes 
they grow on the mountain slopes and push their flower spikes 
through the snow. The effect of the blue flower? with a 
carpeting of snow is an exceedingly pretty one, but nearly 
as delightful an effect may be obtained by growing the bulbs 
in the turf of the lawn or on grassy slopes in the garden. 
To grow Chionodoxas thus scatter the bulbs freely on the turf ; 
then by means of a dibber make holes an inch or so wide and 
