The Book of Bulbs. Arnott Samuel
Arum-like plants grow in rather sandy soil, and prefer partial shade. The hardy species are ringens (syns. præcox and Sieboldi), which has green, white, and purple flowers in spring; and triphylla, which has green and brown spathes in June and July. They are increased by seeds or division, and are best planted either early in autumn or in spring.
The favourite flower which bears the name of Lily of the Nile, or Arum Lily, is not an Arum, and will be found spoken of as Richardia africana, but there are a few true Arums which may be grown for their singularity, if not for the beauties they reveal to those who examine them carefully. The hardy species like a rich, rather sandy soil, with plenty of moisture in it. They should not be planted out the first season until spring, but may afterwards be left in the open ground. Dracontium, the "Green Dragon"; Dracunculus, the "Common Dragon"; italicum; maculatum, our native "Lords and Ladies"; orientale; palæstinum, or sanctum (only hardy in mild places); proboscideum, whose true name is Arisarum proboscideum; and tenuifolium are all hardy.
These fine hardy plants are closely allied to the Asphodeluses, and may be grown in deep sandy soil with plenty of water during the growing season. The leading species are: – brevicaulis, yellow and green, about one foot high; damascena, two feet high, yellow; liburnica, wo feet high, yellow; and lutea (syn. Asphodelus luteus), about four feet high, yellow; its double form is desirable. Taurica (syn. Asphodelus tauricus) has white flowers on stems about two feet high; and tenuior, now cretica (syn. Asphodelus tenuior), has yellow blooms on a stem about a foot high. The most imposing of all is imperialis, eight feet, with reddish white flowers.
Asphodels are useful and ornamental in borders and in wild gardens. When well-grown, plants of A. ramosus, the King's Spear, are truly handsome. They like a rich, sandy loam with some manure added, and should always have plenty of water when growing. The principal species are the following: – acaulis, pink, flowering in May, an Algerian species and a little tender; fistulosus, white, in summer, and one a half foot high; and ramosus, five feet high, in summer, with white blooms striped with brown. Albus is a form of the last.
This distinct, Iris-like plant is usually known as Pardanthus sinensis, and is too seldom met with in gardens. It is a little tender, but may be cultivated in a sheltered position in light soil. It grows about two feet high, and has orange flowers spotted with brown, and Iris-like leaves. I prefer to plant it in spring.
Bloomerias are pretty, hardy, golden-yellow flowered plants, which are but little grown, but deserve a place in our gardens. The easiest to obtain is aurea, which grows about one foot high and has an umbel of pretty flowers, in July. The only other species, Clevelandii, closely resembles it, but has smaller flowers and more slender stems. They like a warm position in rich, sandy soil, and may be planted in early autumn about two inches deep.
The Brodiæas have of late been deservedly coming to the front, and their use adds much to the charms of the garden in June and July, although growers must make up their minds to lose a few the first winter should the season be a damp one. Many are very beautiful, and well repay the little trouble they give. They vary much in height, some sending up tall scapes with many-flowered umbels, while others are quite dwarf. They like a light soil and a sunny position, and ought to be planted about two or three inches deep.
Bridgesii and laxa bear some resemblance to each other, and grow from one to two feet high. They have flowers of a purple-blue. Candida resembles these, but has paler bluish flowers. Capitata is another tall grower with blue flowers, the white variety, alba, making a good companion. Coccinea, whose proper name is Brevoortia Ida-Mai, is a fine plant with tall stems and scarlet, green-tipped flowers. Congesta is a tall grower with purple-blue flowers; and other tall species with dark flowers are multiflora and californica. A pretty section with yellow flowers is made up of Hendersoni, with its yellow flowers striped with purple, crocea, and ixioides and its varieties erecta and splendens. The latter species is sometimes known as Calliprora flava or lutea. Howelli is a fine species, with a tall stem and porcelain flowers; the variety lilacina is pleasing. Lactea and pedunculata are both good white species, and the late-blooming Orcutti has light blue flowers.
A charming set of dwarf forms will be found among grandiflora, Purdyi, rosea, and stellaris, with blue or purple flowers; volubilis is a curious twining species, which needs support when it makes growth. It grows about five feet high.
The only Bulbocodium to be met with, except in a few collections, is ruthenicum, almost universally known as vernum, a pretty early spring flowering plant with rosy purple flowers, and much resembling a Crocus in bloom. It thrives in any soil, but should be protected from slugs. There is a variegated-leaved form. These should be planted about two inches deep.
CHAPTER IV
HARDY BULBS
The Calochortus, with which is now included the Cyclobothra, is one of our most beautiful bulbous plants, its appearance well justifying the names of Butterfly Tulip or Star Tulip applied to it. With a little protection in the way of rough litter, it will thrive outside in mild districts, but those who have any fear for the safety of their bulbs can grow these flowers in frames. They like a raised bed of light, dry soil in which they may be planted in September or October three inches deep, and protected with dry straw or spruce branches. When danger from severe frost is over, this may be removed and plenty of water given. If grown in frames, the lights may be removed at that time. There are now many species and varieties in cultivation, but the following form a good selection for those who wish to begin their cultivation: – albus, pulchellus, cæruleus major (these like a soil largely of leaf-mould, in half-shade), Purdyi, luteus, splendens, and any of the venustus varieties, especially those of the "Eldorado" strain. After the leaves die down, the bulbs should either be lifted and dried, or covered with a frame.
The Camassias, or Quamashes, are handsome plants with long leaves and tall spikes of flowers of much beauty, although rather fugacious. The blooms are generally blue, but there is a white variety of the pretty C. esculenta and a creamy-white one called Leichtlinii. Fraseri is very pretty, and Cusickii and Engelmanni are also worth growing. They like a rather moist, peaty soil and a little shade when they bloom in May or June.
Colchicums or Meadow Saffrons are of much value in the garden in autumn, and in large clumps or masses produce a splendid effect. The few spring species are of less merit and are only desirable for those who like collections of uncommon flowers. They like a rather rich soil, and a sunny position. As the leaves appear in spring, the Colchicums should be grown through grass or other herbage where the flowers can have some support. The best time for planting is immediately after the leaves become yellow. The tops of the corms or bulbs should be about three inches below the surface. Colchicums are very poisonous and must not be planted where there can be any danger of their being eaten for edible tubers. The finest in cultivation are Bornmulleri, Sibthorpii, and speciosum, in several forms, including maximum, rubrum, and the new white album. Byzantinum is a good species, and some of the double forms, ascribed to autumnale, are possibly varieties of this. These double varieties are very useful, the best being album fl. pl., roseum fl. pl., and striatum fl. pl. The ordinary autumnale, of which there are several colours from white to purple, is rather weak in the flower-tubes and is much injured by bad weather. Other good Meadow Saffrons are cilicicum, Bertoloni, Decaisnei, alpinum, variegatum, Bivoniæ, and montanum. The spring-blooming crociflorum, with white flowers lined with violet, is small and much affected by slugs. The new hydrophyllum, which likes a damp spot, is a neat little spring species; luteum, also blooming in spring, does not appear to be so hardy as any of the others.
The cultivation of the Lily of the Valley out of doors calls for no special remarks beyond saying that it likes shade and some moisture. It is also desirable to mention that there are varieties with pink flowers; with double white flowers; and with gold-striped leaves. The first of these shows its colouring much better outside than when grown under glass. Fortin's variety and prolificans are