July 16, 1885. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
51 
available for the ready increase of the plant. At the end of September, 
about which time the roots will begin to grow, they may be repotted in 
sandy loam, with a little peat or leaf mould, planting them, if large, singly 
in a 4-inch pot about an inch below the surfaoe ; but it is preferable to 
place from three to five or sis bulbs in one of rather larger diameter, a 
good drainage of potsherds or fragments of charcoal being indispensable. 
If the weather is mild the pots may remain in a warm nook out of doors, 
due precaution being taken to protect the plants from those pests of the 
gardener—slugs, snails, and worms ; but on the approach of frosts they 
should be removed either to a cold frame, cr, in the absence of this, to a 
cool window of south aspect, where plenty of air can be admitted in mil i 
weather. A dry hot atmosphere is injurious to the plant ; it should, 
therefore, be grown at a comparatively low temperature, and be removed 
to the sitting-room only when about to flower. If potted at the period 
named it usually begins to blossom about the end of March; but this 
depends in some degree on the temperature in which it has been kept. 
If the roots were preserved in a dry state until January or February, we 
think it highly probable that they might be planted in the open borders 
with the protection cf a handlight, and would then flower in May and 
June, but without this covering it would be imprudent to risk the bulbs. 
The treatment of all the winter and spring-flowering species may be 
assimilated to that of the 0. cernua. 
Our plant is not a recent introduction, having been brought as long 
since as the year 1767 from the Cape of Good Hope, of which country 
nearly one-half the species are natives. The trivial name of the plant is 
by no means distinctive, for there are many species the flowers of which 
droop before expansion ; nor is the term more applicable to the leaves.— 
W. T. 
SEASONABLE HARDY FLOWERS. 
Comparatively few are aware of the numbers of hardy 
herbaceous and bulbous plants which produce flowers at this 
season, and having before me a charming series of these plants 
I have thought a few words respecting them may not be out of 
place. I may remark that it would prove a great help to those 
desirous of making selections of hardy plants for planting later, 
on were they to pay occasional visits to nurseries where these 
plants abound, and make notes of the best in flower at each visit, 
with date, height, and predominant colour. By so doing a much 
better idea can be formed of the real value of these plants, 
together with their x*equirements. Descriptions are very well, but 
in many cases they fail to convey an adequate idea of the plants, 
and to see living specimens in groups impresses one with the 
effect which can be produced with such things when they are 
judiciously arranged, for in many instances the effect has been 
marred by an insufficient knowledge of the plants themselves. 
LILIES. 
Prominent among the noble race of Liliums is the true 
L. pomponium, a native of the south of Europe. This attains 
a height of about 3 feet, and having fine spikes of rich fiery 
scarlet flowers, at first sight not unlike those of the scarlet 
L. Martagon, an old acquaintance we meet still occasionally in 
cottage gardens in fine clumps. This very effective species 
delights in a rich, loamy, well-drained soil; and here I may 
observe that it must not be confounded with L. pyrenaicum 
rubrum, which has often been supplied as the plant in question. 
They are very distinct, however, the one under notice being far 
superior. Then I take a glance at the lovely flowers of L. Wash- 
ingtonianum, truly a grand Lily. This is seldom seen above 
4 or 5 feet high, but when well established in favoured situations 
in peaty or light loamy soils it will grow fully 6 feet high. Its 
delightfully fragrant flowers are sometimes white, in others 
delicate lilac, and are sometimes spotted; and then there is the 
variety purpureum, which is also very fine, this is spotted with 
black. Next I observe the soft apricot and orange-shaded 
flowers of elegans alutaceum, only a foot high, grand for pots, 
and one of the most telling and distinct, and near akin is elegans 
sanguineum. This has fine reddish-crimson orange-shaded 
flowers, and is one of the largest and earliest of this section. 
Next comes L. pardalinumpumilum, of somewhat slender growth, 
with flowers of a deep orange and densely spotted; and lastly, 
among Lilies which are now before me, is L. colchicum, a Lily 
of noble bearing, powerful in its fragrance, and one of the most 
lovely and graceful of its race. The flowers before me are a 
clear golden yellow. It is, however, somewhat variable in this 
respect, as I find in an old memorandum some few years since 
I had several distinct forms of this charming plant. The flowers 
are very substantial and much reflexed. It grows 3 or 4 feet 
high, and delights in a rich well-drained loam; sometimes the 
flowers are primrose and more or less covered with dark spots. 
CALOCHORTI. 
How lovely, still somewhat quaint, are the flowers of Calo- 
chorti and Cyclobothra, but how seldom seen. Did they but 
inhabit tropical climes, and extortionate prices demanded for 
them, we may see them more frequently. Can it be that they 
are not sufficiently known? It must be, for their elegance and 
somewhat novel form of some are sure to call forth admiration 
from those who first behold them. C. albus, caeruleus, pulchellus, 
Leichtlini, are among the be3t, and a fine flower of venustus, 
nearly the size of an ordinary Tulip, has large erect white 
blossoms, heavily blotched with purple at the base; the dense 
bearding of some forms is also a very distinct feature among 
these exquisite plants. 
POPPIES. 
In three colours I have Papaver nudicaule—namely, white, 
golden yellow, and deep orange, thus forming a trio of highly 
attractive and decorative plants at this time. These form 
compact tufts about a foot high, and are among the freest 
flowering plants of my acquaintance. For the rockery or front 
row in the border they are charming, and, being so easily repro¬ 
duced from seed, will take care of themselves, and 1 am of 
opinion that they may with telling effect be used on old ruins 
and the like. 
MISCELLANEOUS. 
Geum coccineum plenum, a showy scarlet flower, is highly at¬ 
tractive and very useful. The same may be said of the Armerias 
or Thrift, which are very useful as cut flowers. Triteleia laxa has 
large showy heads of purple flowers, very pleasing and effective, 
and a valuable hardy bulbous plant. Among the Alliums 1 may 
mention A. flavum and A. ciliatum, the former a pleasing yellow, 
and the latter small pure white flowers exceedingly good and 
useful. Cypripediums are represented by C. spectabile and 
C. acaule, both well known plants, and Irises are too numerous 
to give in detail, all good and beautiful, and among the most 
chaste of hardy plants. Among the English section are some of 
the most lovely, in which Mont Blanc figures as a splendid 
white. Every conceivable shade of colour may be found among 
these, and the germanica group, both of which are unparalleled 
in beauty ; indeed nothing can compare with them among hardy 
plants, and even among tropical Orchids they take no second- 
class place. Very fine somewhat pyramidal heads of pure white 
flowers are those of Ornithogalum latifolium, snowy in their 
whiteness, and a very ornamental hardy bulbous plant Pyre- 
thrum parthenium fl.-pl. produces small double white flowers in 
great numbers and is a very useful plant about 18 inches high. 
It becomes whiter after it has been in a room for some days. 
Last, but not least, among hardy plants at present is Heu- 
chera sanguinea, one of the loveliest introductions for many 
years. It is not only the most exquisite member of its genus, 
but one of the most beautiful rock plants yet introduced It is 
thus described in Mr. Ware’s list, “It thiuves in the open air 
without any care, a fact which bodes well for its future pro¬ 
sperity. It forms a neat compact tuft of deep cordate leaves, 
five to seven-lobed, and these again sharply crenated, of a light 
green, and slightly hairy; the flower stems are slender, 12 to 15 
inches high, covered with bright crimson flowers.” There is no 
doubt that so lovely a plant will meet many admirers. The 
individual flowers are not unlike drooping bells of a bright coral 
red.—E. Jenkins. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
July 14th. 
Though the exhibitions at Kensington are so frequent they continue to 
increase in interest, and that held on Tuesday last was distinguished by the 
diversity and quality of the contributions from numerous competitors, 
especially in the fruit and vegetable classes. The plants, except as regards 
the groups, were not of a remarkable character, and were, in fact, rather 
disappointing, but the occasion was signalised by the extraordinary group 
of Odontoglossum vexillarium from Mr. Hardy, which caused as great a 
sensation as the Ascott Carnations at the Rose Show last week. The 
entries in the twenty-six classes provided in the schedule, the non-competing 
collections, and the contributions before the Fruit and Floral Committees, 
filled all the available space in the conservatory, forming a highly 
satisfactory and varied display. 
FRUIT. 
Until th's Show a really good exhibition of fruit had not been witnessed 
in London this season, and even this proved rather early for some exhibitors 
who usually take prominent positions in the more important classes. This 
weakness was chiefly apparent in the white Grapes, most of which were 
slightly wanting in ripeness, and amongst the black Grapes several bunches 
were noticeable that would have been greatly improved by hanging a week 
or two longer on the Vines. Peaches and Nectarines were much better than 
might have been expected, and in some instances were exceedingly fine. 
Pine Apples, Melons, Strawberries, Figs, and Cherries were all well repre¬ 
sented. A superb collection of Peaches, Nectarines, and Cherries from 
Messrs. T. Rivers tfc Son, Sawbridgeworth, was greatly admired, and the 
silver-gilt medal awarded for it was a well-merited honour, for the fruits 
were the finest of their kinds in the whole Exhibition. The Cherries were 
particularly grand, and one dish of Early Rivers contained some magnifi- 
