254 
THE FLOWER GARDEN. 
3in. deep where the bulbs lay. In each hole drop the bulb and 
fill up with good mould. The next spring the bulbs will have 
a perfectly natural appearance, there being nothing stiff or 
formal about their disposition in the turf. Chionodoxas may 
also be grown in groups or patches on the margins of borders 
or in beds on sunny rockeries. Plant iin. apart and 3m. 
deep in September. Saxifrages, Aubrietias and Herniarias may 
be planted over the bulbs, then the space occupied by the latter 
will not look bare in summer. Besides, a carpeting of dwarf 
plants adds to the beauty of the flowers of the Chionodoxas. 
Bulbs grown in borders or on rockeries should not be dis- 
turbed. Increased by seeds sown as soon as ripe in sandy 
soil in a cold frame ; also by offsets in August. Seedlings do 
not flower till five or more years old. 
Colchicum (Meadow Saffron). — The Colchicums belong 
to the Lily order (Liliacese), and are hardy bulbous-rooted 
plants. They usually flower in autumn, pushing forth their 
flowers before new leaves form. On this account they are 
often called Autumn Crocuses. The species are C. autumnale, 
purple-flowered, and its varieties album, white; album fi. pi., 
double white; maximum, purple; purpureum, rose; and 
striatum, rose and white. C. byzantinum is a native of the 
Levant ; flowers, rose. C. speciosum is a native of the Cau- 
casus, with flowers of a reddish or crimson-purple. In trade 
lists other species are listed as, for instance, Decasnei, flesh ; 
giganteum, rose, white throat; Parkinsoni, rose, purple and 
white, chequered ; Sibthorpii, rose, spotted purple ; varie- 
gatum, rosy-purple. The foregoing all flower between August 
and November. There are two or three species that blossom 
in spring, namely, crociflorum, purple striped ; hydrophilum, 
reddish-pink, fragrant; libanoticum, rose and white. These 
bulbs do best grown on grassy banks or in masses in turf 
in the wild garden. We cannot recommend them to be grown 
in borders or on rockeries unless the space they occupy is 
carpeted with Saxifrages, Arenarias, etc., to form a setting 
to the leafless flowers and to prevent them being spoiled by 
splashed soil. In all cases plant early in August, placing the 
bulbs 3in. deep and 4 to 6in. asunder. Once planted leave 
the bulbs alone, then they will increase, and a fine display of 
colour be obtained. Increased by seeds sown in sandy 
soil in a cold frame when ripe; but more generally by offsets 
early in August. 
Crinum. — Hardy bulbous plants belonging to the Daffodil 
order (Amaryllidaceae), and natives of S. Africa. Two species 
only are hardy. C. longifolium (Syn. C. capense) has large 
bulbs and strap-like leaves. The funnel-shaped flowers are 
