Hortus Nitidissimis - Christophorus Jacobus Trew

Chapter 14, page: 177

page: 176 page: 177 page: 178 page: 179 page: 180 page: 181 page: 182 page: 183

View Latin TranscriptionView Latin Transcription

Information about this page

Next pageNext Page

Previous page

Next chapterNext Chapter

light dry soil and must be planted at least six inches deep. Because if the bulbs are too close to the soil surface, they are often damaged by the winter' cold.

The French did bring this plant originally from Canada. Since then, however, the English obtained several such roots from Virginia where it also grows frequently in woods. The flowers of this variety are almost as large as those of the orange lily, but they are more reflexed. They a beautiful yellow colour with black spots. It flowers in July.

The bright, red Turk's cap with narrow tepals is one of the most beautiful among all the varieties of the Martagon. Among all of these varieties it bears most flowers on a stalk, particularly when the bulbs are strong and have remained undisturbed for three or four years; they will then have frequently nearly eighty flowers on a stalk. The flowers are not as big and not as dark-coloured as in the scarlet Turk's cap, but rather yellowish-red with black spots. It flowers usually at the end of May or with the beginning of June.

The bulbs of this plant are delicate and cannot endure frequent transplanting, because this [will lead to their decay]. The best moment to transplant them is immediately after their stalks have wilted. One must not leave them for long above ground, but plant them again as soon as possible. They require a fresh, light sandy soil. In a nutrient-rich soil, by contrast, they don't grow at all but decay [rot] easily. Furthermore, they have to be planted in an open space because they will not grow below overhanging canopies. They are planted just as deep as the Turk's cap from Canada, and for the same reason that was mentioned there.

The scarlet Turk's cap with many flowers is, regarding the cold, a very durable plant. It is also, like the other varieties, easily propagated by bulbils. At the same time it requires a warm, light dry soil that does not lie in the shadow of trees and must not be manured, because both factors contribute to the decay of the roots. It is quite a pretty flower, useful in embellishing the borders of large flower gardens. It flowers in July, later than most other varieties. The flowers are dark scarlet and there are masses on a stalk. The other scarlet Turk's cap is frequent in many gardens but does not have such high value. The flowers are not so dark-coloured and it rarely generates more than six or eight on one stalk. It flowers at the same time as the former and requires the same soil and treatment.

The ninth variety also flowers at the same time. It is the yellow Turk's cap from Constantinople, which is rarely found in gardens. It must not be transplanted frequently. Not alone the bulb is weakened by this but it is also prevented from flowering. Miller often observed more than forty flowers on one stalk looking beautiful, if the bulb of this plant had remained for three years in a good, fresh, dry soil.

Due to the variety of their flowers the tenth and further varieties of the Martagon deserve a place in every good flower garden. The most careful flower enthusiasts in Holland try to obtain them; but in English gardens they are rare. They are as durable as the former and are tended in the same way.

The seventeenth variety was sent to Mr. Peter Collinson from Pennsylvania, where it grows in the forests. Mr. Collinson has a large variety of these lovely