. The Book of gardening; a handbook of horticulture. Gardening; Floriculture. ON HARDY BULBS AND TUBERS. 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^ Trifeleia, 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
. The Book of gardening; a handbook of horticulture. Gardening; Floriculture. ON HARDY BULBS AND TUBERS. 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^ Trifeleia, 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 Brodicea coccinea (now Brevoortia coccinea) and the remarkable plant Bi^odicea vohibilis (now Stropholirion vohibilis). Mr. J. G. Baker, in 1896, issued an excellent monograph of the genus in the Garde?iers Chronicle^ and all who are botanically interested would do well to consult it. Brodiseas 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 Brodi^eas 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, Brodiseas have few superiors. Some of the best kinds are B. Hoivelli 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 lao^a, Triteleia laxa), var
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