294 THE FLOEAL WORLD AND ^GARDEN GUIDE. 



be done slowly ; it ruins the best bulbs to drive them too hard. 

 Give plenty of light, air, and water, and a temperature ranging from 

 50"^ to 55^ will be the safest to adopt. Those put in last must 

 remain in the ash-bed a few weeks later, and after a short stay in the 

 cold-frame be removed to the greenhouse, where they will come 

 along with but little trouble, and last in perfection much longer than 

 those forced with artificial heat. 



In running through a few of the most important sections, I will 

 commence with the — 



Polyanthus NAECissrs. — If very fine bulbs, these should be 

 grown singly, otherwise a better effect is produced by growing two 

 or three together : there is no very great difference in the colours, 

 but some are much better than others. The following are some of 

 the best : — Bazelman Major ^ white, with yellow cup ; 'Florence NigJit- 

 ingale, white and yellow ; Go^'and Monarque, white, citron cup ; Grand 

 Soleil d'Or^ yellow, orange cup; JSewton, yellow; Ferle JBlanche^ 

 pure white ; Queen of the Netherlands^ white, citron cup ; States 

 GeQieral, citron, yellow cup. 



Eaelt Tulips. — These are the most showy of the whole family, 

 and are sufficiently bright to light up the most sombre collection of 

 plants, and are particularly useful early in the season on that 

 account. They are best grown three in each pot, and should be 

 brought into the conservatory immediately they begin to show 

 colour, for they last but a short time in good condition after the 

 flowers are fully open. As they can be bought for a trifle, I should 

 recommend them to be grown rather extensively, and brought into 

 the conservatory in batches of about a dozen pots at a time — I don't 

 care for too many at once. The following are all good for early 

 forcing, but Due Van Thol, both single and double, and Tournesolj 

 are the best for growing in quantity for early work. Of the single 

 varieties select the following : — Bride of Haarlem, crimson and white ; 

 Chrysolora, yellow ; Cottage Maid, rosy-pink, striped with white ; 

 Due Van Tliol, in its various colours of scarlet, white, and yellow ; 

 Faliola, rosy-purple and white ; Kelzerkroon, yellow and red, one of 

 the very best; PottehaJiker, in its three varieties of pure yellow, 

 white, and red and yellow ; Froserpine, dark rose, very dwarf, and an 

 early flowerer ; Rose Luisant, rosy crimson, edged with peach ; 

 Thomas Moore, orange ; Vermilion Brilliant, rich vermilion. The 

 best of the doubles are — Due Van Thol, red ; Dulce of York, red and 

 white; Bed: Ruhrorum, red; Tournesol, red and yellow; Tournesol 

 new, yellow, very distinct. The following are a dozen good single 

 varieties for growing in pots for enlivening a cold house : — Belle 

 Lissette and Canary Bird, bright yellow ; Donna Maria, white and 

 crimson ; Florida, purplish-violet ; Imjyerator smd Gris deLin, mauve, 

 striped with white ; Queen Victoria, white and crimson ; Eoi Bepin, 

 white and rose ; Sup)erintendent, violet-purple, feathered with white ; 

 Van der Neer, purplish-violet ; Yellovj Frince, yellow. 



Ceocuses. — These are extremely beautiful, but too ephemeral and 

 evanesceut to enable cultivators to grow them so extensively as the 

 beauty of the flowers deserve. The best way is to pot five bulbs 

 in a six-inch pot, and bury the bulbs half an inch below the surface. 



