6 JUNE 1952, Page 17

Fritillaries

Sm,—Although it is obvious from the context that the Turk's Cap mentioned by Matthew Arnold, to which Dr. Garrod refers in his letter in the Spectator of May 16th, is not fritillaria imperialis, the Crown Imperial, I am wondering whether he confused it with fritillaria meleagris, in so far as the name is concerned. This occurs to me because I find that the Crown Imperial is sometimes referred to here as Turk's Cap, and I have seen it so listed in at least one bulb catalogue. Whether it comes from some district in England or grew up in the States I have been unable to discover.—I am, Sir, yours

Two Rivers Farm, Lyons Plains Road, Westport, Connecticut.