June 20,1895, 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTULE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
549 
and do likewise. They will almost certainly be well satisfied with the 
results that will eventually be attained. 
The first thing considered was the soil, and it was decided to put 
them in the ordinary soil, instead of making any special preparation for 
their reception. The mould is of a somewhat light nature, but is really 
very poor, as few things seem to thrive. Apparently it contains a 
certain per-centage of lime, as Mignonette is one of the few plants that 
grow well, and as it is frequently said this plant will not do well 
without lime in some form or another in the compost, consequently we 
have concluded it must be there. Perhaps it is considered a requisite 
for Saxifragas, and if so this, of course, will account in some measure 
for the welcome success. When the plants arrived the weather was so 
bad as to render planting an impossibility, so they had to remain in the 
package for upwards of a week, until the ground was in a fit condition 
for the work to be proceeded with. However, it was not by any means 
a long operation, and soon the whole were planted out and duly labelled. 
As this was in the spring, and the weather turning bright with 
warm sun, a small fiower pot was inverted over each plant every day, 
and removed in the evening. In addition to this, careful attention was 
given to the watering, a little being given whenever it was considered 
necessary or advisable. Despite these precautions, however, the plants 
flagged badly for several days, and it was thought they would not 
survive ; but it is a long lane that has no turning, and eventually the 
plants commenced to grow. After this all was plain sailing, and only 
one plant of the dozen succumbed. This was decidedly encouraging, 
and insured them every possible attention. It was not very long after 
the plants had become thoroughly established ere they commenced 
flowering, and the modestly beautiful little flowers have received a goodly 
amount of admiration, which they thoroughly deserve. At first people 
do not admire them—on the contrary, regarding them as insignificant ; 
but when once they have been induced to look closely into the flowers 
they have quickly discovered their beauty, and have been proportionately 
profuse in their expressions of approval. One lady became so far 
interested as to procure a magnifying glass, go down on her knees, and 
thoroughly examine them by its aid. It need scarcely be said to those 
who know and love these plants that her astonishment was very great 
at the discoveries she made. 
It may be interesting to some readers to know the names of the 
sorts that are grown. All are remarkable for their lowly beauty, and 
•not for any imposing appearance. The first little gem is S, Huetti, 
which has miniature yellow flowers, while S. Mooreana, apparently of 
the London Pride type, has small flesh-coloured blooms of great beauty. 
S. glaucum has whitish flowers, but the most exquisite of all is 
S. Andrewsi, with its star-shaped inflorescence about the size of a three¬ 
penny piece. The base of each of the petals, of which the ground colour 
is white, is chastely spotted with crimson, and adds a singular beauty to 
the plant. It is the diamond of the collection in my opinion. The 
remainder comprises Kingi, muscoides purpurea, leptophylla, Aizoon 
minor, hypnoides, decipiens, and Ha\worthi. It would be interesting if 
other readers who have grown Saxifragas in towns would give their 
experience on them as town plants. Their notes would be read with 
interest by many besides—A London Amateur. 
CALOCHORTUS BENTHAMI. 
This is a beautiful little Californian bulb, somewhat nearly related 
to C. pulchelluF, but distinguished by its bright yellow flowers, on the 
upper surface of the divisions of which are thickly clustered a number 
of short yellow hairs (see woodcut, fig. 98). It is very dwarf, seldom 
exceeding 8 inches in height, but is free both in flowering and growth. 
It is particularly well adapted for culture in pots, and with the 
protection of a cool frame it develops its flowers early in the year, and 
is much better than when grown in the open border. A pretty com¬ 
panion for it is C, Maweanus, which has bluish purple flowers about the 
same size as C. Benthami, and similar habit. This is, however, found 
near the coast, and in the neighbourhood of San Francisco. 
LILACS. 
It is doubtful if amongst the whole range of hardy deciduous shrubs 
any can claim so many admirers ss Lilacs. Not only are they enjoyed 
by the wealthy when grown “ out of season,” but when naturally 
flowered the plebeian may indulge in the pleasing perfume so freely 
emitted by the bulk of them. Now that new varieties are raised so 
assiduously by French nurserymen quite a large collection of varieties 
is obtainable. 
Too often Lilac bushes are left to take care of themselves, conse¬ 
quently they quickly become crowded when growing amongst other 
plants in the shrubbery. Nothing is done to renovate exhausted bushes 
by the removal of weakly overcrowded branches, or the prolongation of 
that necessary vigour to give annually the best results by the addition 
of a small quantity of manure or fresh soil to the roots. It is liberal 
and rational treatment that produces that magnificence of flower 
panicles that renders Lilacs so charming as compared with the puny 
blossoms from half-starved bushes. • 
The bulk of choice varieties are grafted or budded on seedling stocks, 
not only to increase their numbers, but to improve their growth. Too 
often the sucker-like growths which spring from the base of the stock 
are allowed to grow away at will, much to the detriment of the real 
Lilac bush. These growths make such rapid progress if at all neglected 
that in a very short space of time the original bush is nothing more nor 
less than the stock. Nothing could be more handsome than a vigorous 
naturally grown Lilac bush on the lawn. I know of one, S. vulgaris, 
20 feet in diameter, growing under these conditions, which was this 
season a mass of blossom. 
Having taken a note of deserving varieties as they appear, I will 
briefly allude to each with a view of assisting intending planters. The 
method of arranging the plants in the ihrubberies is a matter for 
individual concern, but to obtain a lasting effect not less than three 
bushes should be planted together. Some persons may still cling to 
S. vulgaris alba as a white-flowered Lilac, but those who are acquainted 
with Marie Legraye know quite well that the original variety is now 
superseded. Not only are the flower panicles so much larger, but the 
colour is even more pure. The habit of Marie Legraye is so much more 
Fia. 98.— CALOCHORTUS BENTHAMI. 
compact, the older variety having such a habit of “ running up,” while 
the newer form is less tall in its growth, although vigorous enough to 
give excellent results. 
Perhaps the most appreciated of all white Lilacs is the double 
flowered Madame Lemoine. The panicles and the individual blossoms 
are exceptionally large, and of the purest white ; indeed it is a grand 
acquisition to the Syringa family. The Siberian and Persian forms are 
distinct, yet pleasing; the semi-drooping panicles are freely produced on 
somewhat weakly-looking stems ; the latter, especially, is free and rich 
in colour. Charles X. is another single-flowered kind that everyone 
should grow. No variety that I know blossoms so freely. The buds 
before opening are bright red, the expanded flowers changing to a deep 
lilac. La Tour d’Auvergne buds are deep red, rosy lilac when fully 
expanded; a very fine double-flowered variety. Lemoineana flore- 
plena.—In colour soft lilac when fully expanded. Those who appreciate 
free-flowering varieties of compact growth should not miss having a 
plant or two of this Lilac. Leon iSimon is another double-flowered, 
medium-sized variety, having well-formed, light pink, mauve-shaded 
blossoms. President Grevy. — Lilac in colour, double • flowered. 
La Virginite.—Light pink changing to white, a beautiful double¬ 
flowering variety. President Carnot,—Semi-double ; in colour pale 
lilac, having a peculiar slaty appearance. 
Alphonse Lavall^e.—The double-flowered buds are rich rose, changing 
