CALOCHORTUS VENUSTUS (84) CALOCHORTUS ALBUS (85) CALOCHORTUS PULCHELLUS (86)CALOCHORTUS VENUSTUS (84) CALOCHORTUS ALBUS (85) CALOCHORTUS PULCHELLUS (86)
The Spanish and English Irises flourish in ordinary good and well-drained garden soil containing a fair amount of sand or grit, and humus. The English varieties on the whole require a somewhat moister situation and rather heavier soil than the Spanish. They flower profusely, and their many shades ofcolour make the long-stalked blossoms great favourites for decorative purposes. The different colours can be had separately from the nurseryman or florist, but a mixed collection will afford great pleasure to those who do not wish to be burdened with the fancy names given in catalogues.
The smaller kinds of Bulbous Irises—like those shown onPlate 3—require to be treated a little more carefully than the Spanish and English varieties. Indeed many of the choicer and rarer varieties are safer grown in pots of rich sandy soil in cold frames. They flower early in the year, and, if exposed in the open border or rock-garden, the blossoms would be probably not only considerably disfigured, but the cold rains and frosts might kill the bulbs. When grown in the open air, warm sheltered spots should be selected for them, and the soil should be a well-drained sandy loam with a little leaf-soil. If the plants are flourishing, they may be left in the same spot for three or four seasons. After this it is better to lift them when the leaves have withered, and then any offsets may be detached to increase the stock. As a rule the best time to plant bulbous Irises is in September or October, but not later.
IXIA(African Corn Lily).--If the reader will turn to Plate 1, he or she will at once admit that the Ixiasare a charming class of bulbous plants. The picture was prepared from specimens kindly supplied by Messrs. Wallace & Co., of Colchester. There are many other shades and combinations of colour besides those represented, and happy would be the amateur who succeeded in raising such lovely flowers in his garden—either in the open air or under glass.
The Ixias are natives of South Africa, and have smooth or fibrous-coated, round and flattish corms, about an inch in diameter. The sword-shaped leaves are strongly veined, and the beautiful blossoms are borne on stems 1 to 2 feet, during June and July. Some of the best varieties are shown on Plate 1, and attention is especially directed to the charming soft sea-green flowers ofI. viridiflora, having a dark blotch in the centre. To these may be added the deep-red or crimson-floweredspeciosaorcrateroides.
It is a pity that such elegant flowers cannot be grown in the open air in every part of the British Islands. Unfortunately they are not hardy enough for this, and consequently the best results out of doors are only likely to be secured in the mildest parts of the kingdom. The best time to plant is from September to November. The corms should be about 3 inches beneath the surface of the soil. This should be a light, sandy loam; if inclined to be heavy, itshould be raised in small beds above the general level to secure better drainage, and a little sand may be placed round each corm, also with the same object in view. In the event of cold rains and frosts in winter, the bulbs should be protected with litter, bracken, &c., to be removed at the end of February or March when the leaves begin to appear.
Where it is impossible to grow Ixias successfully in the open air, they may be grown in pots in cold frames or for the decoration of the greenhouse or conservatory. The corms should be potted in September or October, and kept under ashes or fibre in the open until roots have developed, after which they may be brought inside to develop. Ixias are best increased by offsets.
IXIOLIRIONmontanum.—This beautiful plant (also known asI. PallasiandI. tataricum) has long-necked ovoid bulbs about an inch in diameter, and tufts of grassy leaves. The charming lilac blossoms, as shown onPlate 18, fig. 73, are borne in early summer in loose clusters on stems a foot or more high, and are very useful in a cut state. There is a good deal of variation in the colour, which has led to different names being given from time to time.
I.Kolpakowskyanumis a rare and little known species from Turkestan. It has much smaller bulbsthanmontanum, and the blue or whitish blossoms appear somewhat earlier in the year.
Ixiolirions may be grown successfully in the milder parts of the kingdom in warm sheltered spots in the flower-border or rock-garden. They should be planted about 3 inches deep in September or October in light sandy soil, and in cold localities should be protected with litter, &c., in winter.
LAPEYROUSIA(Anomatheca)cruenta.—A pretty South African plant, 6 to 12 inches high, with irregular roundish corms about 2 inches in diameter, and narrow sword-shaped leaves. The deep crimson or blood-red blossoms, with a still deeper-coloured blotch on each of the three inner segments, appear in late summer in loose clusters on slender stalks, and are very striking when seen in large masses. This species, although perhaps a trifle hardier, may be grown in the same way as the Ixias (seep. 90). The corms, however, being larger, should be planted about 6 inches deep, and new plants may be secured by detaching the offsets when the leaves have withered.
PLATE 23.
GLADIOLUS OPPOSITIFLORUS (87) LILIUM CANADENSE, VARS. (88-89)GLADIOLUS OPPOSITIFLORUS (87) LILIUM CANADENSE, VARS. (88-89)
LEUCOJUM(Snowflake).—Beautiful plants closely related to the Snowdrops, and somewhat resembling them in bulbs, and leaves, and flowers. The Spring Snowflake (L. vernum) is the first of the group to produce its drooping sweet-scented blossoms in Marchand April. They are usually borne singly on a slender stalk 6 to 12 inches high, and are white in colour with more or less conspicuous green tips to the petals, as shown inPlate 12, fig. 47. The next best-known kind is the Summer Snowflake—the paradoxical name ofL. æstivum. The pure white flowers, tipped with green, appear in May and June, sometimes as many as six being borne on a stem.L. pulchellumis closely related to this species, but has narrower leaves, and produces its smaller blossoms somewhat later. The pretty little plants, formerly known asAcis, are now included with the Leucojums. They all have small white drooping blossoms on slender stems 6 to 12 inches high, those ofhyemalisandtrichophylla, appearing in April, while those ofautumnalisappear in autumn.
The Snowflakes flourish in rich sandy soil, and appear to advantage in the rock-garden or in the grass, where they may be massed in the same way as Snowdrops, &c. Most of them are easily increased by offsets.
LILIUM(Lily).—Of all the hardy bulbous plants that may be grown in the open air in our climate, the Lilies may be looked upon as the most noble. Not only are many of them giants in stature among other hardy bulbs, but there is nothing to equal theirindividual blossoms in size, or their general gracefulness of appearance when borne collectively on the leafy stems.
They differ in another respect from other bulbous plants described in this book, and that is in having "scaly" bulbs as shown onpage 12. All the other plants have either bulbs with several coats rolled round each other (tunicated), or else they are solid, when they are known as corms. But in the Lilies neither of these two types appears. What are known as the "scales" are fleshy leaves that have been specially modified under the surface of the soil to act as reservoirs or storehouses for the surplus food that the green aërial leaves on the stems have elaborated for them during the daytime.
There are a large number of species of Lilium, differing greatly in size and blossom, and it is therefore only natural to expect the bulbs to vary a good deal also. Indeed, there are very large and very small bulbs, comparatively speaking, and they display a good deal of difference in their vegetation, and in producing offsets. For example, most kinds develop new bulbs or offsets round the base of the older bulb, while others, likecanadense,Grayi,pardalinum,Parryi, andsuperbum, develop their new bulbs along creeping stems or rhizomes as shown in the sketch onpage 31.
Useful as the offsets are for the purpose of increasing the stock, some kinds, notablybulbiferum,Browni,speciosum, andtigrinum, often develop what are called "bulbils" in the axils of the aërial leaves. These bulbils are small bulb-like bodies, which, when sown and covered with soil as if they were large seeds, will develop into flowering bulbs in the course of two or three years. The origin of these bulbils is more fully dealt with atp. 32.
Besides these two fairly easy means of increasing the stock of Lilies, many kinds may be also raised from seeds, which at the end of three, six, or eight years, will have produced bulbs large enough to throw up flowering stems. Raising Lilies from seed is more common now than it used to be, especially in America, where some lovely hybrids have been raised, such asBurbanki,Dalhansoni,Marhan, &c.
Distribution of Lilies.—As Liliums are distributed throughout all parts of the north temperate hemisphere—extending from California in the west, to China and Japan in the east, across the continents of North America, Europe, and Asia—they are therefore found naturally growing in different soils, and under various climatic conditions, in all degrees of sunshine and shadow, drought and moisture. In theBritish flower garden they are, as a rule, best in positions where they will be shaded from the hot mid-day sun, as the flowers will last much longer than if exposed too much. They should not, however, be planted in deep shade under trees, or among their roots, as the latter would absorb too much food and moisture from the Lilies, while the overhanging boughs would prevent the rain from reaching the bulbs in sufficient quantity. During vigorous growth, Lilies like plenty of water, but the soil must at the same time be so well drained that it shall readily pass away from the bulbs. ("A Practical Guide to Garden Plants.")
Time and Depth of Planting.—If bulbs can be secured early in autumn, say in September or October, that would be the best time to plant Lilies. But very often bulbs of certain kinds cannot be secured till spring, so that planting must necessarily take place then. The depth at which Lily bulbs are to be planted depends greatly upon the size of the individual bulbs; some kinds are planted about 6 inches deep, while others require a depth of 9 or 10 inches. A safe general rule to follow, is to cover the bulbs with about twice their own depth of soil when planting in the open air. If a piece of peat be placed beneath each bulb at the time of planting, and a layer of sand abouthalf-an-inch thick round them, they will root much more freely. An exception to the general rule seems to beL. giganteum(seep. 100). When Liliums are hardy enough to be left undisturbed for several seasons in the same place, a good top-dressing or "mulching" of well-decayed manure in autumn will be of great advantage in replenishing the food for the roots.
So far as culture is concerned, Liliums may be arranged in three distinct groups as follows:—
I.Lilies that flourish in ordinary good garden soil, or better still, in strong loam that has been deeply dug and enriched with well-decayed manure in advance.
Alexandræ, 2 to 3 feet high, with pure white flowers, 6 to 8 inches across in July and August.
Batemanniæ, 3 to 5 feet high, flowers rich apricot, 4 to 5 inches across.
Bulbiferum, 2 to 4 feet high, with erect crimson flowers spotted with brown; May and June.
Candidum, the well-known "Madonna Lily," 3 to 5 feet high, with sweet-scented pure-white flowers, 3 to 4 inches across, and ten to thirty on an erect truss in June. When subject to disease in any locality, it is almost useless attempting to growthis Lily. (SeePlate 16, fig. 64).
Chalcedonicum, a fine "Turk's Cap" Lily, 2 to 3 feet high, with drooping bright scarlet flowers in July and August; there are several varieties, includingmaculatum, a spotted one.
Croceum, the "Orangeor Saffron Lily," with somewhat cobwebby stems 3 to 6 feet high, and golden orange, funnel-shaped flowers, spotted with purple at the base; June and July. (SeePlate 17, fig. 67).
Dalhansoni, a pretty hybrid betweendalmaticumandHansoni, about 5 feet high, with dark brownish-purple flowers in June and July.
Dauricumordavuricumgrows 2 to 3 feet high, and has orange-scarlet flowers spotted with blackish-purple.
Henryi, 3 to 6 feet high (sometimes much taller) with jagged-surfaced orange-red flowers from July to September.
Marhan, a lovely hybrid between the white-floweredMartagonandHansoni. It grows 4 to 5 feet high, and has clear orange-yellow flowers with red-brown streaks and spots.
Pomponium, a fine "Turk's Cap" species, 2 to 3 feet high, with drooping, bright-red, orange-yellow, flowers.
PLATE 24.
LILIUM TIGRINUM (90) BRODIÆA BRIDGESI (91)LILIUM TIGRINUM (90) BRODIÆA BRIDGESI (91)
Pyrenaicumis closely related topomponium, but issomewhat taller, and has bright-yellow flowers, blotched with crimson at the base (seePlate 18, fig. 71).
Rubellum, a beautiful species about 2 feet high, with bell-shaped rosy-pink flowers in June (seePlate 26, fig. 97).
Testaceum(orexcelsum), a fine Lily, 5 to 6 feet high, with somewhat drooping, soft, buff-yellow or apricot-coloured flowers, dotted with orange-red.
Umbellatum.A number of Lilies are grouped under this name, being apparently hybrid varieties betweencroceum,davuricum, andelegans. The prevailing colours are orange, orange-red, and apricot, with darkly-spotted and unspotted forms.
Washingtonianumgrows 3 to 6 feet high, and has sweet-scented, drooping, funnel-shaped flowers of a pure white tinged with lilac or purple. The soil should be particularly well-drained for this Californian Lily.
II.Lilies that flourish in sandy loam, peat, and leaf-soil.
Auratum, a well-known Lily, 2 to 6 feet high, with ivory-white flowers, often 9 to 12 inches across, with a conspicuous yellow band down the centre, and deep purple blotches all over the inner surface. There areseveral varieties, some poor, some excellent, amongst the latter beingplatyphyllumwith very large heavily-spotted flowers. There is a white unspotted form of this calledvirginale, closely related to which isWittei, the flowers of which, however, are stained with yellow down the centre.
Browni, 2 to 4 feet high, with bell-shaped flowers, pure white with a central purple line.
Concolor, grows 1 to 3 feet high, and has bright scarlet flowers. There are several varieties, such asBuschianumand the dwarfpulchellum, scarlet, spotted with black;Coridion, bright yellow, spotted with red;Partheneion, orange-yellow, faintly spotted; andluteum, yellow, spotted with purple-red.
Elegans(orThunbergianum), 1 to 2 feet high, with erect cup-shaped scarlet flowers, slightly spotted with purple at the base.
Giganteum, a gigantic Himalayan Lily, with stems from 6 to 10, and sometimes 14 feet high, furnished with large heart-shaped oval leaves. The flower stem is 1 to 2 feet long and has drooping funnel-shaped blossoms of a greenish-white, suffused with violet-purple in the throat. Unlike other Liliums, the large conical bulbs of this species are not buried deeply in the soil. They are sunk in the soil about one-third of their depth, and are usually planted in April or May.In the event of spring frosts, the bulbs should be protected with dry leaves or litter.
Hansoni, 3 to 4 feet high, flowers drooping, bright orange yellow, and heavily spotted with dark purple-brown (seePlate 25, fig. 93).
Humboldti(orBloomerianum), 4 to 8 feet high, flowers orange-yellow, drooping, spotted with purple at the base; more conspicuous in the varietyocellatum, the yellow blossoms of which are tipped with crimson or purple.
Japonicum, 1 to 3 feet high, with sweet-scented pure white flowers faintly tinged with purple outside.
Kewense, a beautiful hybrid betweenHenryiand a variety ofBrowni; it grows about 6 feet high, and has buff-coloured flowers about 8 inches across, fading off to creamy white at the tips.
Krameriis likejaponicum, but taller, and with pink flowers.
Leichtlini, 3 to 4 feet high, with drooping citron-yellow flowers heavily spotted with purple.
Longiflorum, a very handsome Lily, 2 to 3 feet high, with large tubular pure white flowers. There are many so-called varieties of this species, includingHarrisi,eximium, andTakesima—all very popular for forcing in pots for greenhouses (seePlate 25, fig. 94).
Martagon, the "Turk's Cap," Lily, 2 to 3 feethigh, with many tiers of drooping purple-red or violet-rose flowers, spotted with carmine, but white in the tall growing varietyalbum(seePlate 26, fig. 95).
Monadelphum(orLoddigesianum) is a vigorous Lily, 3 to 5 feet high, with soft bright yellow flowers, which in the varietySzovitsianum(orcolchicum) are spotted with blackish-purple (seePlate 26, fig. 98).
Pardalinum, known as the "Leopard Lily," grows 3 to 8 feet high, and has drooping orange-red flowers spotted with dark purple at the base. There are several varieties, some being more highly coloured and spotted than others.
Roezli, 2 to 3 feet high, with dark blotched orange-red flowers.
Speciosum, also well-known aslancifolium, grows 2 to 3 feet high, and has white flowers suffused with rose, the lower portion of the segments being deeper in colour, and covered with papillæ. There are many varieties such asalbum, white;Krätzeri, white tinged with green down the centre;Melpomene, deep crimson-purple, &c.
Tenuifolium, so called from its grass-like leaves, grows 1 to 2 feet high, and has small drooping scarlet blossoms (seePlate 25, fig. 92).
Tigrinum, the "Tiger Lily," with woolly stems2 to 4 feet high, and deep orange-red flowers heavily spotted with blackish-purple. (SeePlate 24, fig. 90.)
III.Lilies that flourish in very moist but well-drained sandy loam, peat, and leaf-soil. They are excellent for planting in shady borders, under north walls, or by the side of ponds, &c.
Burbanki, a fine hybrid betweenpardalinumandParryi. Flowers, pale orange-yellow, spotted with chocolate and flushed with crimson at the tips. A single stem often has as many as twenty or thirty blooms upon it.
Canadense, a rhizomatous "Turk's Cap" Lily, 2 to 4 feet high, with drooping funnel-shaped flowers varying in colour from bright orange-red to pale red, the upper portion of the segments being heavily spotted with purple-brown. (See Plate 23, figs. 88 and 89.) There are several forms such asrubrum,flavum,parvum, &c.
Catesbæi, an elegant species, 1 to 2 feet high, having erect bell-shaped flowers of a bright orange-red heavily spotted with purple.
Cordifolium, a very distinct-looking Lily, 3 to 4feet high, having broadly heart-shaped ovate leaves, and tubular white flowers with violet-brown spots at the base.
Grayiis closely related tocanadense, but has deep crimson flowers heavily blotched with purple at the yellowish base.
Maritimumis a pretty Lily, 3 to 5 feet high, with small deep red bell-shaped flowers spotted with dark purple.
Parryiis another rhizomatous Lily, 2 to 6 feet high. The more or less drooping flowers are citron-yellow, spotted with purple-brown, and are sweetly fragrant.
Superbumis known as the "Swamp Lily" of North America. It has creeping rhizomes which produce bulbs at intervals, and the violet-purple stems grow 4 to 10 feet high. The drooping orange-red flowers, sometimes as many as twenty to forty on a stem, are heavily spotted with violet-purple. The varietycarolinianum(also known asautumnaleandMichauxianum) has flowers like those of the type, but the plants only grow about 2 feet high.
PLATE 25.
LILIUM TENUIFOLIUM (92) LILIUM HANSONI (93) LILIUM LONGIFLORUM (94)LILIUM TENUIFOLIUM (92) LILIUM HANSONI (93) LILIUM LONGIFLORUM (94)
Most of the Lilies described in these three sections may be grown in beds by themselves on the grass, or they may be planted in clumps in borders or shrubberieswhere they will have plenty of space and enough sunshine to enable them to develop fully. The peat-loving kinds—those in the second and third sections—are excellent for planting amongst such plants as Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Kalmias, and other peat-loving shrubs.
LYCORISsquamigera.—This distinct Japanese plant is closely related to the Belladonna Lily (seep. 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 (seePlate 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 asaurea, golden-yellow;straminea, pale yellow with a pink central line and red dots; andradiata, bright red.
MERENDERABulbocodium.—A pretty Pyrenean plant closely related toBulbocodium vernum. It grows only 3 or 4 inches high, and produces its rosy-lilacfunnel-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.
MILLAbiflora.—There is now only one Milla, the plants formerly known under that name being now included in the genus Brodiæa (seep. 56).M. biflorahas 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. biflorashould 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 flowerborder, 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 (seep. 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 byM. conicuminPlate 12, fig. 48:—Armeniacum;botryoides, with a white-flowered varietyalbum;comosum, the monstrous form of which, with twisted and wavy bluish-violet filaments, is known as theOstrich FeatherHyacinth;conicum(seePlate 12, fig. 48), of which there is a beautiful brilliant blue variety called "Heavenly Blue."Heldreichi, likebotryoides, but larger;Maweanum;neglectum;racemosum;amphibolusporcelain blue; andSzovitsianum.
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 calledflavumormacrocarpum. Some forms ofneglectumare salmon-pink, while the blossoms ofM. paradoxummight 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.
PLATE 26.
LILIUM MARTAGON ALBUM (95) WATSONIA ARDERNEI (96) LILIUM RUBELLUM (97) LILIUM COLCHICUM (98)LILIUM MARTAGON ALBUM (95) WATSONIA ARDERNEI (96) LILIUM RUBELLUM (97) LILIUM COLCHICUM (98)
Daffodils—with the exception, perhaps, of a very few varieties—require as little attention, and evenless than Snowdrops or Crocuses. Once planted they may be left undisturbed for years, and as each season comes round they gaily shoot their blue-green strap-shaped leaves and creamy or golden blossoms through the ground.
They grow in almost any soil, but prefer a rather stiff and well-drained loam. They are appropriate in any situation in the flower border or rockery. But their natural position is undoubtedly in the grass, or—
"Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze,"
As Wordsworth has it.
When to Plant.—The best time to plant Daffodil bulbs is from the end of August to November. As there is a great difference in the size of the bulbs, according to the variety, the depth of planting should vary accordingly. Thus bulbs 1 to 2 inches deep from top of neck to base should be planted quite 3 or 4 inches deep, while larger ones will be planted 4 to 6 inches deep in proportion, and about the same distance apart, except, of course, when they are used between other plants like Tulips, Wallflowers, Polyanthuses, &c., for a combination display in spring.
Most of the Daffodils are valuable for cutting anddecorative purposes generally when in season, and when one has the convenience of a greenhouse—cold or otherwise—the flowering period can be extended from Christmas onwards.
Daffodils are most easily increased by the offsets from the old bulbs. These may be lifted in early summer, when the leaves have begun to turn yellow. Seeds may also be sown when ripe (seepage 36), but to secure them the plants must be left much longer in the ground, so as to mature them.
Nearly all kinds of Daffodils—especially those having only one flower on a stem—may be grown in the open air. There are hundreds of varieties to choose from, but the uninitiated may start with such kinds as the beautiful white and flat-flowered "Poet's Narcissus" (N. poeticus), which is also called the "Pheasant's Eye" Narcissus, because of the crimson and orange circles round the rim of the flat saucer-like "corona" in the centre (seePlate 7, fig. 29). There are several varieties of the Poet's Narcissus, one of the best for ordinary purposes beingornatus. Where the soil is particularly rich and well-drained the double-flowered variety, called the "Gardenia" Narcissus, owing to the shape of its beautiful white blossoms (seePlate 7, fig. 28), may be grown. Unfortunatelythis variety often comes "blind," that is, the blossoms remain undeveloped in the papery sheath on top of the stem. To check this the bulbs are best lifted and transplanted early to fresh soil. Another popular and easily-grown Daffodil is the common Double Yellow one known asTelamonius plenusorVan Sion. It is a form of theTenby Daffodil (N. obvallaris) which is a single form with beautiful yellow flowers, having a large "trumpet" or corona in the centre. Closely related to this is the Great Spanish Daffodil (N. major) which has large bright lemon-yellow flowers, which are still larger and of richer yellow in the varietymaximus.
"Ajax"Daffodils.—To these may be added the numerous forms, of which the common Lent Lily (also called "Ajax" or "Trumpet Daffodil") is the type, and which has pale sulphur-yellow blossoms with a lemon-yellow "trumpet." Some of the finest Daffodils, with large spreading flowers and correspondingly large and deep trumpets, belong to this section, among which may be mentionedArd RighorYellow King,C. W. Cowan,Colleen Bawn,Emperor,Glory of Leiden,Golden Spur,Henry Irving,Hudibras,John Nelson,Madame de Graaff(seePlate 4, fig. 17),Monarch,W. Goldring, &c. All these have single flowers varying in colour from almost pure white (asinC. W. Cowan,Colleen Bawn, andMadame de Graaff) to deep golden-yellow in many of the other varieties. There are a few double-flowered forms of the "Lent Lily," the best known beingCapax, lemon-yellow;grandiplenus, deep yellow,plenissimus, and the Old Double Lent Lily grown in Gerarde's garden over 300 years ago.
"Bicolor"Daffodils.—Another very fine group of Trumpet Daffodils are those known as "bicolors," so called because the spreading segments are one colour (generally white or creamy), while the trumpet is another colour (usually some shade of soft or deep yellow). Amongst the most popular forms in this group may be mentionedEllen Willmott(seePlate 4, fig. 16),Empress, Grandee,Horsfieldi(seePlate 4, fig. 18),Mrs. J. B. M. Camm,Mrs. Morland Crossfield,Mrs. Walter T. Ware,PrincepsorIrish Giant, Victoria,andWeardale Perfection(seePlate 6, fig. 26).