298 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



first stage with all Dutch bulbs. The hyaciuths are not much in 

 bloom until January ; we then get Grand Vainqueur, white ; Water- 

 loo and .L'Aml dio Cceur, red ; Baron Van Tuyll, and the blue 

 variety of V Ami du Gceur, for blues. These will be found the 

 best for early work, and after these kinds it will only be needful 

 to pick out those from outdoors that are showing most forward 

 for bloom. 



In reference to the Narcissus, I would observe, some pots of the 

 old Soman Narciss come into bloom very early after Cliristmas, and 

 should be grown for that purpose ; but they are far behind in ex- 

 cellence of colour and truss the later varieties, such as Grand 

 Primo, Queen Victoria, and Queen of the Netherlands. This last 

 kind especially is very fine, the single flowers being larger than a 

 half-crown piece. 



Amon2;st the flowers of lesser importance may be mentioned 

 the Snowdrops and Sqioills. At the time we plant our first batch of 

 early tulips, we fill a box or two with Single Snowdrops for early 

 work. These will be found very useful, as is also a bos of Scilla. 

 sibirica, for they both come into bloom about the same time, and 

 are handy for filling small baskets and vases for room decoration, as 

 well as the conservatory. Some of these vases have a charming 

 effect if filled with, say a hyacinth for the centre, some bright tulips 

 around, then around the edge scillas and snowdrops. It will not 

 be necessary to plant them very closef as the wlaole should be 

 finished off" with some nice green moss, to hide all the mould, also 

 to form a fresh ground for the flowers. 



Speaking of scillas and snowdrops reminds me to ask my readers 

 if they have at any time introduced some pots of the Repaticas in 

 the conservatory for early blooming ; if they have not, they have 

 missed a treat, for I know of no plant that reminds one so much of 

 the return of spring as this does. Oue of the best of the hepaticas 

 is the variety named Anrjulosa. The flowers are a heavenly blue, 

 and thrice the size of any other kind: I have seen it, in fact, as 

 large as a crown-piece ; so here is a real gem for all lovers of this 

 kind of plant. 



Some Lilies of the Valley should be introduced into a gentle 

 heat, for early blooming, about the middle of January ; but it is 

 little or no use starting them before that time, as the flowers are 

 very loose and watery-looking if forced too early ; and as for 

 foliage, you get none, unless you wait for it until the flowers are 

 past. Splendid clumps of lily of the valley for early forcing are 

 imported every year from Paris and elsewhere. Oil their arrival 

 they must be at once potted in sandy soil (usijg pots for the pur- 

 pose proportionate to the size of the clumps), and placed away in a 

 cold frame and covered up with cocoa-nuc fibre to a depth of four 

 inches. They may remain thus until required for forcin;?; they will 

 by that time have begun to push their crowns up a bit through the 

 fibre. It will be found better not to at ouce plunge them into great 

 heat to start with ; if they are kept just warm for a week or so to 

 start the foliage, it will be found that, when greater heat is after 

 given to them, that bloom and foliage will come nicely together. 



