440 THE GARDENER. [Oct. 



(a formosissima) before mentioned, should be deeply planted on a 

 well-drained border, close to a warm plant-house wall with a sunny- 

 exposure. 



Next April and May hundreds of people will be delighted with 

 the lovely flowers of the blue Siberian Squill (Scilla siberica), the 

 golden chalices of the Hooped Petticoat Narcissus (Narcissus bulbo- 

 codium), or the vivid blue white-eyed flowers of the " Snow Glory " 

 (Chionodoxa lucillias). Then the exclamation is, "Oh, how lovely ! I 

 wish you would tell us how we may grow these in our own garden ! " 

 The right way is to obtain bulbs at this season, and to plant them 

 carefully in light sandy earth, placing a little silver sand around the 

 bulbs, and burying them 4 to 6 inches below ground-level. A coafmg 

 of leaf-mould preserves them from frost, and enriches the earth like- 

 wise. All the above are now to be purchased at a moderate price by the 

 dozen, or hundred. The Chionodoxa last season fetched 5s. per bulb, 

 and is now offered at 20s. to 30s. per 100. Narcissus bulbocodium, one 

 of the best of bulbs for flowering in pots in a cold frame, is offered at 

 15s. per 100, and the Siberian Squill at 5s. to 7s. 6d. per 100. All are 

 fine for pots, but any attempt to force them early is fatal to their 

 beauty. 



FORCING LILY OF THE VALLEY. 



The plants that produced flowers about Christmas or the New Year, if 

 aided by light and heat until growth was completed, as previously 

 directed from time to time in the ' Gardener,' will now have plump 

 buds or crowns. The foliage would be fast fading, if not entirely gone, 

 during the month of August ; and this is necessary to obtain success 

 with this much appreciated flower if wanted early. Where the plants 

 have been properly matured, and brought to rest under a judicious 

 system of cultivation, they will be ready for forcing, and cannot fail to 

 give satisfaction. Home-grown plants are preferable to those obtained 

 from the Continent for very early work. I have produced flowers with 

 ease about the 3d of November during the past few years, and this 

 cannot be done with purchased single crowns. It is generally believed 

 that Continental single crowns are the best for early forcing, but this 

 is a great mistake. It is unreasonable to suppose they can com- 

 pete with plants grown and prepared for the purpose. For flowers 

 about Christmas and onwards, single crowns are invaluable ; and in the 

 majority of cases they produce very fine sprays of flower. Clumps, 

 when sent over, not unf requently have a quantity of foliage attached — 

 I have never seen foliage adhering to the single crowns — sufficient to 

 convince the practical cultivator that they are in any but a satisfactory 

 state to be forced at once. The plants require a rest ; and without a 

 fair season of repose, Lily of the Valley will not force, — they will not 



