274 
THE FLOWER GARDEN. 
frame ; and by seeds sown as soon as ripe in loam, peat and 
leaf-mould in a cold frame. Seedlings do not flower till four 
or five years old. 
Milla.. — M. biflora, the only species grown, is a Mexican 
bulbous plant, bearing deliciously fragrant white blossoms 
in August. The leaves are narrow and grassy. This charm- 
ing plant can be grown outdoors in the south, and then only 
in a warm sunny border or on a rockery. Sandy loam suits 
its requirements best. The bulbs should be planted in March, 
and lifted, dried and stored away in September or October 
after flowering, where there is any risk of their being killed 
by damp in winter. Nat. Ord. Liliaceae (Lily family). 
Muscari (Grape Hyacinth). — The Muscaris are charming 
hardy bulbous plants, suitable for growing on rockeries, in 
masses in the mixed borders, in the woodland garden, on 
hedge banks, or in turf. They belong to the Lily order 
(Liliaceae). M. armeniacum, a native of Armenia, growing 
6in. high, and bearing fragrant ultramarine blue flowers in 
March, is a very beautiful species. M. botryoides (Italian 
Grape Hyacinth) is another pretty European species, bearing 
sky-blue flowers in small dense spikes in March. Album 
(Pearls of Spain) is a white form of it ; candidum, another 
variety, with white and rose-tinted flowers ; and pallidium 
grandifiorum, a pale azure-blue variety. Height 6 to ioin. 
M. comosum (Tassel Hyacinth) is a curious and interesting 
species, bearing blue flowers in loose racemes or tassels in 
April. Its variety monstrosum (Feather Hyacinth) bears 
sterile bluish-violet flowers, the filaments of which are twisted 
and waved into a feathery mass of inflorescence. Height min. 
M. conicum (Heavenly Blue) has lovely gentian-blue flowers 
possessing a delightful fragrance. The flowers have long 
stalks and are useful for cutting. A splendid kind for natu- 
ralising in grass, borders or hedge banks. A native of 
Trebizond. Height 6in. M. Heldreichii (Greek Grape Hya- 
cinth) bears blue flowers in large racemes in April. Other 
interesting species are M. moschatum (Musk Hyacinth), with 
purplish-violet sweet-scented flowers borne in March and 
April; M. neglectum majus (Starch Hyacinth), blue-black, 
flowering in March; M. paradoxum (Caucasican Starch Hya- 
cinth), blue-black; and M. plumosum (Ostrich Feather 
Hyacinth), mauve, borne in tassel-like plumes in spring. 
Plant the bulbs 3in. deep and 3in. apart in good ordinary 
soil in early autumn. Best grown in bold masses. Once 
planted do not disturb the bulbs. Increased by offsets in late 
summer or early autumn. 
