MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN 35 
flowers and pot-grown plants has been enormous. The prin- 
cipal species used for forcing are N. Tazetta papyraceus 
(paper-white narcissus), NV. Pseudo-Narcissus (trumpet daf- 
fodil), N. incomparabilis, N. Jonquilla, and N. poeticus. 
N. Tazetta produces 4-12 white flowers with shallow cups. 
It is an extremely variable species both as to color and size. 
The most important varieties are the common paper-white 
narcissus (N. Tazetta papyraceus) and the Chinese sacred 
lily (N. Tazetta orientalis), the latter being extensively 
grown in bowls of water. 
N. Pseudo-Narcissus (trumpet daffodil), with its brilliant 
yellow single and double flowers, is one of the favorites. 1 
mcomparabilis differs slightly from the trumpet daffodil in 
having a shorter trumpet, and is thought to be a hybrid be- 
tween N. Tazetta and N. Pseudo-Narcissus. N. Jonquilla 
(jonquil) is a hardy species forced extensively for its small 
yellow shallow-cupped flowers produced upon slender stalks. 
N. poeticus is an old favorite easily recognized by the red- 
margined shallow cup and spreading white segments. 
The majority of the bulbs are grown in Holland and 
to a certain extent in France. Upon their arrival in Septem- 
ber, immediate potting is recommended to prevent drying 
out and thus impairing the quality of the flowers. The best 
soil is a mixture of equal parts of leaf mold, well-rotted 
manure, and fibrous loam, nitrogenous fertilizers tending 
to turn the flowers green. For cut-flower oy pees the bulbs 
are usually placed close together in shallow flats, their tops 
being just level with the surface of the soil. When used as 
pot aby several bulbs are placed in a 6-inch pan. Care 
should be taken to provide sufficient drainage and not to 
press the bulbs into the soil, as this may compact the soil 
underneath to such an extent as to lift the bulb out of the 
earth when the roots begin to develop. Thorough watering 
- and storage in a cold-frame in a manner similar to that prac- 
ticed for lilies give best results. Subdued light is neces- 
sary upon removing the bulbs from the frames, in order to 
draw up the foliage and prog uniformity of bloom. At 
this time a temperature of 50° F. should be maintained, but 
as the light is increased the temperature 1s raised 10-15 
degrees. Under proper conditions 4-6 weeks are required 
to bring the bulbs into bloom. 
HYACINTH 
Very little is known of the early history of the hyacinth. 
Gerard mentioned it in the “Herbal,” but failed to state its 
origin or source of introduction. White, pink, and blue 
