[LYCORIS] squamigera.—This distinct Japanese plant is closely related to the Belladonna Lily (see [p. 51]). It has rather long-necked roundish bulbs, 2 to 3 inches in diameter, and strap-shaped leaves about a foot long. From July to September, after the leaves have withered, the large sweet-scented rosy-lilac flowers (see [Plate 32], fig. 116) are borne on a stout stalk 2 to 3 feet high. This plant may be grown out of doors in the milder parts of the kingdom in warm sheltered spots, such as against a well on a south border. It likes rich well-drained sandy loam and leaf-soil, but grows freely in ordinary good garden soil. There are other species that may probably succeed in the open air in the same way, such as aurea, golden-yellow; straminea, pale yellow with a pink central line and red dots; and radiata, bright red.
[MERENDERA] Bulbocodium.—A pretty Pyrenean plant closely related to Bulbocodium vernum. It grows only 3 or 4 inches high, and produces its rosy-lilac funnel-shaped flowers in autumn at the same time as some of the true Colchicums. The narrow sickle-shaped leaves appear after the flowers are over and remain fresh and green till spring. There are a few other species, but they are practically unknown in gardens. The Merendera may be grown exactly in the same way as the Colchicums, in the border, rock-garden, or best of all in the grass. The stock may be increased by offsets and seeds.
[MILLA] biflora.—There is now only one Milla, the plants formerly known under that name being now included in the genus Brodiæa (see [p. 56]). M. biflora has rather small bulbs with fleshy roots and narrow, grass-like, blue-green leaves. The pretty pure white salver-shaped blossoms appear in August and September usually two to four on stems about 6 inches high. Being a native of Mexico, M. biflora should be grown in warm sheltered spots in the rock-garden or border, in a rich sandy loam, the bulbs being planted about 4 inches deep. Increased by offsets.
[MUSCARI] (Grape Hyacinth).—A charming class of plants with roundish bulbs about 1 inch in diameter, narrow leaves, and conical clusters of urn-shaped or tubular blossoms drooping from stems 3 to 6 inches high. Although the Grape Hyacinths may be easily grown in patches or edgings in the ordinary flower border, there is no place that shows off their sheets of brilliant blue blossoms so well as a grassy bank, or a nook in the rockery, where they should be planted in large numbers. They naturally like a rich and well drained soil with plenty of grit or sand in it, and some leaf-soil. The bulbs should be planted about 3 inches deep in September and October, and when naturalised in the grass may be left for several seasons without being disturbed. Most of the kinds blossom in March, April, and May, and are easily increased by offsets. Seeds may also be sown (see [p. 36]).
The following is a selection of the best kinds. The flowers are blue in all cases, except where otherwise mentioned, and the general appearance of the blossoms is as shown by M. conicum in [Plate 12], fig. 48:—Armeniacum; botryoides, with a white-flowered variety album; comosum, the monstrous form of which, with twisted and wavy bluish-violet filaments, is known as the [Ostrich Feather] Hyacinth; conicum (see [Plate 12], fig. 48), of which there is a beautiful brilliant blue variety called "Heavenly Blue." Heldreichi, like botryoides, but larger; Maweanum; neglectum; racemosum; amphibolus porcelain blue; and Szovitsianum.
There are other colours besides blue among the Grape Hyacinths. Thus the "[Musk Hyacinth]" (M. moschatum) has sweet-scented blossoms which change from purple at first to greenish-yellow tinged with violet. It has a yellow flowered variety called flavum or macrocarpum. Some forms of neglectum are salmon-pink, while the blossoms of M. paradoxum might be described almost as black.
[NARCISSUS] (Daffodil).—What so charming in the spring-time as "a host of Golden Daffodils"? The varieties are now almost legion, and they are still being added to by enthusiastic hybridists in various parts of the kingdom. The crossing of one section with another may possibly worry the botanist, but there is no fear that the gardener will not welcome any new variety that may be raised. Although thousands of the older Daffodils may be bought for a few shillings, the rarer varieties still command a respectably high price, and will naturally continue to do so until the stock has been considerably increased.
There is scarcely a nook in the garden, large or small, where Daffodils cannot be grown. And yet it is astonishing to note their general absence from suburban gardens, where they would not only grow freely, but also make a cheerful picture in the spring-time.
