1879.] CHOICE HARDY SPRING FLOWERS. 303 



additional merit also of being generally known by the names attached 

 to them, which is not always the case with many other varieties ; for 

 many are merely known to a few who make a speciality of the genus, 

 and distribute them one to another in the way of exchange. 



N. bifiorus. — This is a strong-growing sort, with broad glaucous 

 leaves a foot or more long. The flowers, usually in pairs, but some- 

 times solitary, are large, the divisions of the corolla overlapping each 

 other in their ample breadth ; the crown is yellow and cup-shaped. 

 N. bicolor. — This is one of the most beautiful, and certainly not one 

 of the most plentiful. The petals or divisions of the corolla are very 

 light canary, and the crown, which is long and trumpet- shaped, is a 

 fine saffron colour. N. hulboeodium — the Hoop-petticoat jSTarcissus 

 — is one of the most singular, as well as one of the most beautiful, 

 of the genus. There is no confounding it with any other species : it 

 is so thoroughly distinct and characteristic, that it is by some authors 

 held to be worthy of a separate generic status and name. The leaves 

 are almost cylindrical and rush-like, the ilowers composed of very nar- 

 row strap-like petals, and the crown very long, wide, and expanding 

 elegantly and vase-like ; and both crown and petals are a very bright 

 and pleasing tone of yellow. N. incomparabilis, and its variety, 

 called bicoloratus, are striking and handsome. The foliage is broad, 

 massive, and long, deeply glaucous, and in fine harmony with the soft 

 canary of the flowers. N. jonquilla — the Jonquil — though not 

 one of the showiest, is one that should be in every garden on account 

 of its peculiarly delicate and pleasing fragrance. Being also one of 

 the earliest to appear, it is the more welcome and desirable. N. Em- 

 press. — This is a fine garden form, one of the boldest and most strik- 

 ing, with immensely large golden-yellow flowers, the trumpet-shaped 

 crown being very long, and expanding wide. N. Maclean. — A very 

 distinct and fine sort, with, for the vigour and robustness of the plant, 

 comparatively short leaves, which usually do not exceed half the length 

 of the flower-scapes. The latter ascend to about a foot high, some- 

 times terminating in two flowers, but more commonly in one flower 

 only, the petals being broad and overlapping, pure white ; while the 

 crown, which is about half an inch long, is bright yellow. N. mos- 

 cliatus. — Of this there are some varieties well worth growing, but the 

 most useful is the type with fine pale canary or maize-coloured petals 

 and crown, and the double-flowered form, which is one of the hand- 

 somest of the group. Between this form and the N. cernuus and 

 cernuus plena occurs an illustration of the embarrassing synonymy 

 alluded to a little farther back as cumbering this popular genus of 

 spring flowers. I have failed to discern the distinction, whatever it 

 may be, that is alleged to exist between these two so-called species, 



