. The Book of gardening; a handbook of horticulture. Gardening; Horticulture. ON HARDY BULBS AND TUBERS. 317 Brodi^a.—To America we are indebted for this most beautiful family of liliaceous plants, which until a few years ago were practically unknown in the hardy garden. The genus is a some- what confused one—at least, by amateurs—and those in search of the plants will find them catalogued as well under Milla, Triteleia, Bloomeria, &c, while several of the plants best known to gardeners under the name of Brodiaeas are now allocated to other genera. Two of the best examples of these latter
. The Book of gardening; a handbook of horticulture. Gardening; Horticulture. ON HARDY BULBS AND TUBERS. 317 Brodi^a.—To America we are indebted for this most beautiful family of liliaceous plants, which until a few years ago were practically unknown in the hardy garden. The genus is a some- what confused one—at least, by amateurs—and those in search of the plants will find them catalogued as well under Milla, Triteleia, Bloomeria, &c, while several of the plants best known to gardeners under the name of Brodiaeas are now allocated to other genera. Two of the best examples of these latter may be found in Broditza coccinea (now Brevoortia coccined) and the remarkable plant Brodicea volubilis (now Stropholirion volubilis). Mr. J. G. Baker, in 1896, issued an excellent monograph of the genus in the Gardener's Chronicle, » and all who are botanically interested would do well to consult it. Brodiaeas are quite hardy if but intelligently treated, and the marvel is that such gems for the border or choice rockery should have escaped notice so long. A south border (raised) and a light sandy- soil are their chief requirements. Planting should be done in October or early in November, and the bulbs need not be disturbed except for removing the offsets, which are freely pro- duced. A dozen bulbs in a group will prove very effective. In height Brodiaeas range from ift. to 2ft. on the average, the colours varying con- siderably. There is one slight draw- back to the plants, or, rather, to some species, and this is that the foliage is frequently shabby before the flowers are at their best. Gardeners, however, get over this by carpeting the spot with a later-flowering compact annual. For pot-plants, Brodiaeas have few superiors. Some of the best kinds are B. Howelli lilacina, soft blue, tipped with white; B. grandi- flora, rich violet-blue, dwarf-growing, very free; B. congesta, purplish-blue, lasting a long time in perfection, 2ft. ; B. laxa {Milla la-xa, Triteleia laxa)
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