14,0 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[April, 
else. With all this we began to be a little 
anxious about Bulbocodium, when we happened 
in at Thorburn & Co.’s one day, and there was 
the very bulb staring us in the face, with a label 
as plain as could be written. Some Bulbocodi- 
ums were procured, and planted in autumn in 
a border with other bulbs on trial. One morn¬ 
ing, the date now forgotten, but very early in 
spring, on looking to see if the Crocuses had 
peeped, there was a breaking of the ground 
in another part of the bed. A look at the label 
showed that the early comer was Bulbocodium. 
In a few days, there was a clump of violet- 
colored flowers, fully opened, beautiful to look 
upon, while the Crocuses were just showing 
tlieir tiny spires. Then a snow-storm came, 
and Bulbocodium was rather laughed at for not 
knowing better than to be out so early. But 
what did it care for the snow ? As soon as the 
snow was off, it flowered all the more, and kept 
onjustasifit believed that snow was a fertil¬ 
izer. The engraving gives the flowers about 
half the real size, with the bulb attached. Of 
course a portion of the flower is below the 
surface of the soil. The individual flowers are 
not very beautiful when taken singly, as they 
have a tendency to become double and rather 
irregular; but a mass of them is very bright and 
cheering. The leaves appear after the flowers 
have withered; there is a kind with leaves 
variegated with yellow. The plant multiplies 
rapidly by the formation of new bulbs. Every 
one who plants bulbs is sure to have a plenty of 
Crocuses; but while the Crocus deserves its pop¬ 
ularity, we put in a claim for the Bulbocodium. 
It is a pity such a pretty plant had not a more 
The Variegated Abutilon. 
Having seen notices in the foreign catalogues of 
Abutilon Thompsoni, which had high commend¬ 
ations as a variegated-leaved plant, we were 
pleased to find a specimen of it from Messrs. Ben- 
VARIEGATED ABUTILON”. 
spring bulbocodium— \B. vernum.) 
popular name. Were it called something fanci¬ 
ful and pleasing, like Snow-drop or Snow¬ 
flake, it would be better known than it now is. 
nett and Davidson, sent at the same time with 
the Cyclamen, figured on page 137. The plant 
was introduced from Japan by the Messrs. Veitch, 
of London, and is without doubt the most novel, 
and at the same time, the prettiest new plant of 
the season. The ground color of the leaf is a 
bright green, which is shaded and mottled with 
yellow, the marking being so abrupt and dis¬ 
tinct as to give it in many 
instances the appearance 
of mosaic work. It is of 
as free and easy growth 
and management as the 
old Abutilon striatum , of¬ 
ten called “ Fairy Bells,” 
and more commonly and 
incorrectly the “ Flowering 
Maple.” It is suitable 
either for the parlor or con- 
servatoiy, and has proved 
to be a valuable plant for 
outdoor decoration, it 
peculiar marking and va¬ 
riegation being best developed by bright 
sunshine. The plant being a “novelty,” 
is now held at a high price, but the Abu- 
tilons are so easily propagated that it will 
probably soon become one of our popular 
plants. We give an engraving of a single 
leaf of the plant much reduced in size. 
Some Varieties of Garden Lilies. 
If the readers of the Agriculturist do not 
plant Lilies, it will not be because they 
have not been now and then reminded that 
they are among the most satisfactory and 
desirable flowers. They are hardy, multi¬ 
ply easily, keep in flower a long time, pre¬ 
sent an interesting variety in habit of plant 
and shape of flower, and give us colors 
from the purest -white to the most dazzling 
scarlet. A good sandy loam where the 
water will not stand suits most of the spe¬ 
cies. A winter covering of coarse manure 
will add much to the vigor of the bulbs. 
In spring planting, the bulbs should be 
removed very early, before the buds start. 
It is customary with florists to take up the 
bulbs in autumn, and pack them in sand in 
order to have them dormant for the spring 
trade. The bulbs of lilies have fleshy roots, and 
are more injured by drying than are most others. 
Many species and varieties are in cultivation, 
some of which are very rare. We enumerate 
some of those readily obtained from the florists. 
Golden Banded Lilt. —(Lilium auratum ).— 
2 to 4 feet. White, with chocolate crimson spots, 
and a golden yellow stripe to each petal; very 
fragrant. 75c. to $3.00, according to size. 
Japan Lilies. —( L. speciosum — L. lancifolium 
of most catalogues).—2 to 5 feet. Numerous 
varieties pure white, rose, and crimson, spotted, 
etc. 30c. to 75c., according to the variety. 
Long-flowered Lily. — (L. longiflorum ).— 1 
to 1^ feet. Long, white, fragrant flowers. 25c. 
White Lilt. —( L. candidum). —The oldest 
and best known. 3 to 4 feet; fragrant. 15c. to 20c. 
Turk’s Cap Lily. — (L. Martagon).— 3 to 5 
feet in bight. White to purple. 40c. to 50c. 
Chalcedonian Lily. — (A. Chalcedonicum.)— 
3 to 4 feet; flowers a most brilliant scarlet, of 
the shape shown in the eiTgraving. 35c. to 40c. 
Isabelle Lily. —( L. testaceum. — L. excelsum, 
etc).—4 to 5 feet; buff or nankeen color, with 
scarlet anthers. One of the most beautiful species. 
Umbel-flowered Lily. — (L. croceum — L. 
umbellatum, etc.)—2 feet in bight. Orange, and 
variously spotted, with flowers upright. 50c. 
The above prices are those of the leading New 
York florists, who vary slightly in their prices 
for different varieties, but a collection purchased 
from either would probably cost about the same. 
It is best to allow the bulbs to remain for several 
years without taking them up, as they then form 
clumps of strong flowering plants. There is a 
small caterpillar that is very destructive to the 
CHALCEDONIAN LILY. 
foliage. If a light-colored, semi-transparent spot 
is seen upon a leaf, a caterpillar will be found 
at work on the under side. Crush the rascal. 
