CHAPTER XVI.

BULBS FOR SUMMER FLOWERING.

"Look at the Lilies, how they grow!'
'Twas thus the Saviour said, that we,
E'en in the simplest flowers that blow,
God's ever watchful care might see.
Shall He who paints the Lily's leaf,
Who gives the Rose its scented breath,
Love all His works, except the chief,

And leave His image, man, to death?”

The Japan Lilies.

Bulbs that can be preserved in the house in a dry state during the winter, and planted in the ground in the spring, or those which live out during the winter and bloom in the house, are called Summer Bulbs.

To this class belong the Japan Lilies, Gladiolus, Dahlias, Tuberoses, Tigridias, Amaryllis formosissima, Valotta purpurea superba, and Tritomas.

These flowers are of very easy cultivation, and contribute largely to the beauty of the garden; their magnificent bloom well repaying the little attention they require. The peculiar nature of a bulb is not generally well understood; it really partakes more of the properties of a seed, for, when in the act of vegetating it sends down into the soil roots, and into the air a living stem, and the matter contained in the bulb decomposes and nourishes the young plant, while the seed decays in giving birth to the plant; but the bulb is renewed, and from the roots another bulb is composed which appears to be the same one planted, yet it is its offspring, and the offsets or young bulbs are its suckers, and

are distinct from the parent bulb. Thus like the myth of the Phenix springing from the ashes of the parent bulb, the offspring is formed. This formation is readily seen in the Gladiolus and the Crocus.

The rarely beautiful Lilies which have been imported from Japan are great additions to the list of summer flowers. They are shaped like the old-fashioned Tiger Lily, always seen in old gardens, but entirely surpass it in the beauty of their coloring.

They were first treated as “ stove plants,” and did not show forth their glories, but now they will survive the coldest northern winter with a slight covering of leaves, and have proved themselves indispensable.

They grow readily in any good soil, but like all other flowers, will repay their cultivator if supplied with a rich, loamy soil, mixed with sandy peat; this is their native soil, and they will produce many more flowers upon one stalk if attention is paid to their wants. They require much moisture when in flower, and if the season is very hot and dry, will bloom much longer if mulched with moist manure.

We are indebted to the enterprising and scientific traveler, Dr. Siebold, for the introduction of the Japan Lilies to our gardens.

Lilium speciosum has been thus described:-"The clear, deep rosecolor of its petals are all rugged with rubies and garnets, sparkling with crystal points. Indeed, the diamond bouquets, the Queen of Spain's jewels, and even the far-famed Koh-i-noor itself, must pale their ineffectual fires, when compared with this gorgeous flower. The jeweler who wishes to produce a most exquisitely tasteful, as well as dazzling and brilliant ornament, should take one of these Lilies as his model."

Lilium lancifolium album has pure white flowers; sometimes the lower part of the petals are washed with violet.

Lilium lancifolium punctatum has flowers of a flesh color, with spots of delicate rose.

Lilium lancifolium rubrum possesses very large flowers of rose-color, suffused with carmine, and purplish colored papilla.

Lilium longiflorum is a very beautiful species, growing nearly two feet high, and producing from one to five flowers, according to the size of the bulb; the flowers are of a pure, waxy white, trumpet shaped, and from six to eight inches long. It blooms early in July, while the abovenamed varieties do not bloom until August.

Lilium eximium is another handsome variety, resembling L. longiflorum, but the flowers are larger and their color is of a sating whiteness.

Lilium Brownii possesses many of the characteristics of the two preceding, but the outside of the flower is striped with deep brownishviolet lines.

All these Lilies will grow and blossom luxuriantly for several weeks. They increase rapidly by small bulbs below the soil, and it is well to remove them every autumn, and plant them separately. Thus treated, they will often bloom the second season. The small bulbs should be planted in a light, sandy soil, and covered two inches deep. The soil should not be made too rich with manure, as it tends to rot the bulbs. A Double Japan Lily has been produced, but as yet the bulbs are very rare and high priced.

And Mr. Fortune has introduced from China, Lilium tigrinum Fortunei, which is remarkable for its vigorous growth, and its immense cluster of flowers which branch out in three successive series from the main stem, thus prolonging its season of bloom.

Another novelty is Lilium tigrinum splendens, introduced by M. Van Houtte, which resembles the Fortunei in many respects, but differs from it in color, and has more prominent spots on the perianth. Both of them are considered gorgeous additions to the family of bulbous plants.

Lilium auratum is styled the "Queen of the Japanese Lilies." To its perfect form and rare coloring, it adds the most delicious fragrance. Its blossoms are very large, and each petal is decorated with a golden band running through its center. It is perfectly hardy, and often produces from fifteen to twenty-five blossoms on a single stalk. Good flowering bulbs are now held at a low price. It flowers in August, but by planting in pots its time of blossoming can be forestalled. Like the other Lilies, it delights in a sandy loam. The Japan Lilies make fine lawn plants. If planted in a circular bed, with the tallest in the center, the effect is very pleasing.

The Gladiolus.

The Gladiolus has become the chief favorite among its class. Its name is derived from its sword-shaped leaves; it possesses upwards of sixty species, divided by hybridization into an immense number of varieties. In nearly all the species the flowers retain the same form, but they differ in colorings and markings. These bulbs are mostly natives of Cape of Good Hope, Madagascar and Southern Africa. They will not

survive our northern climate, and must always be kept in a cool, dry place during the winter.

In their native land, they bloom during the wet season, which shows us that they require a good supply of moisture to bloom in perfection in our dry, hot summers.

These flowers were not much known until 1795, when the Cape Colony was ceded to England, and her botanists and collectors of rare plants seized upon them with delight. Since then they have become "Florists' Flowers," and their successful hybridizations have greatly increased their beauty and colorings.

To grow the bulbs in perfection, they should be planted in a sandy loam, enriched with leaf mould and peat. A mixture of one-half loam, one-quarter peat, and one-quarter leaf mould will suit them perfectly. They may be planted in the open air during April or May.

If strong manures are used in the soil, it causes the colors of the flowers to run into each other, and gives them a muddy appearance. The bulbs can be planted in groups or singly. Groups of three or five are the most usual way of planting them. They should be set from two to four inches deep, according to the size of the bulbs. As they grow up, they should be tied to a light stake, from three to four feet long. When the frost has killed the leaves, dig up the bulbs, dry them in the sun, cut off the leaves an inch from the stem, and put the bulbs in a paper bag. Kept in a frost-proof cellar, they will retain all their life. From one bulb, two or three bulbs will spring; they increase rapidly, and can be purchased cheaply.

The high prices in the catalogues are no criterion of their beauty, but only mark them as "novelties."

Many bulbs are held at four dollars a root, but that shows their scarcity.

Low priced varieties will often please us quite as well, and are not surpassed by the colors of the "novelties."

Among the most beautiful of the Gladiolus, are:

Belle Gabrielle, a perfectly shaped flower, fine lilac-colored rose, marked with a bright rose-color.

Charles Dickens, delicate rose, tinted with chamois, striped with a rosy carmine.

Comte de Morny, rosy scarlet flecked with rich crimson, lower petals shaded with crimson.

Dr. Lindley, very large flower of perfect shape, rose-color petals of a brighter shade, feathered with cherry-color; very showy.

Lady Franklin, white, slightly tinged with rose, striped and blazed with carminate rose.

La Français, flower pure white, and very large, with small bluish violet blotches; very fine.

Moliere, flower very large; a bright cherry-red with large, pure white stains.

Mozart, bright rose, tinted with violet, blazed with dark carmine, with pure white stains; a very beautiful variety.

Roi Leopold, bright rose, tinged with orange, and stained with white. Stephenson, large flower, cherry-colored, striped with white lines; splendid spike of flowers.

Stella, perfect shaped flower, white ground, slightly tinged with yellow and rose; very brilliant and showy.

Sir Walter Scott, very bright rose-color on a white ground, striped with carmine; very fine.

Vicomtesse de Belleval, delicate blush, stained with violet.

Good varieties can be purchased from $1.50 to $2.00 per dozen.

Gladioli show to good advantage if planted around rose bushes, or among herbaceous perennials. They bloom late in the season, when most of these flowers are past, and if well trained to stakes, which should be set when the flower is planted, they will produce a charming effect. They make very nice house plants for window gardens; six or eight bulbs can be grown in a twelve-inch pot, and each kind tied to a thin stake. They will bloom finely. If the stalks are cut off for vases or bouquets, they will continue to bloom for a week or two, sending forth fresh flowers daily.

There is no bulbous root which gives a greater variety of colors in its flowers, or better repays the care and attention bestowed upon it. All lovers of flowers must cultivate a few of these desirable bulbs.

The Dahlia.

The great variety and beauty of its blossoms, and their profusion in the later summer and autumn, when many of our handsomest flowers are gone, make it well worthy of good culture. The Dahlia is a native of Mexico, and was found by Baron Humboldt growing on the elevated, sandy plains of Mexico, five thousand feet above the level of the sea.