CULTURE OF THE NARCISSUS. 



ashes or other covering,) the outsides of the pots washed with a sponge, and they may- 

 then be placed in a moderately warm hot-bed or in a green-house or parlor. I have grown 

 them as fine in a room as ever I did in my green-house. Of course the period that will 

 elapse between their removal from their first situation to the time of the expansion of their 

 bloom will depend upon the degree of heat to which they are subjected. The more gra- 

 dually they are brought forward the finer will be the bloom, and in any event they should 

 not be, for the first fortnight, in a higher temperature than from 55" to 60" Fahrenheit; 

 which will be quite sufficient to bloom them in perfection; but if it be desired to hasten 

 the bloom, the tempeiature may be increased after a fortnight or three weeks, gradually, 

 by 10" or 15", which will expedite their progress. After the pots are taken from under 

 their first covering, they must be moderately watered occasionally, so as to keep the 

 earth moist, but by no means to an extent which will render it of the consistence of wet 

 mud, which I have sometimes found my lady friends think essential to the well doing of 

 their bulbs. When the bloom buds have begun to expand, the quantity of water may be 

 increased; this if accompanied by a slight increase also in temperature, for two or three 

 days, will add to the size of the bloom. 



The Polyanthus Narcissus also grows well on water, in Il3'acinth glasses. Its treat- 

 ment is precisely like the Hyacinth. When first placed in the glass, the water should not 

 be allowed to touch the bottom of the bulb, but the glass should be filled to within half 

 an inch of it. The reason for this is, that if the bottom of the bulb is permitted to rest 

 in the water, the outside coats of it become decomposed V>y saturation, and a slimy result 

 is formed, which putrefies, and decay of the bulb is frequently the consequence. Until 

 roots are protruded, it is best to place the glasses in a dark closet, as it is found to be a 

 law in vegetable ph3'siolog3', that darkness is favorable to the formation of healthy roots, 

 which are produced under such circumstances, also more speedily than when exposed to 

 the influence of light. 



There is another species of Narcissus which should always be grown, and Miiich may 

 generally be found in tlie eaily autumn, in the seed stores, befoie the other sorts arrive. 

 It is called the Double Roman Narcissus; and another from the neighborhood of Mount 

 Vesuvius, N. Papyraceus, (the paper white of the shops.) The Double Roman and the 

 Paper White, will both bear forcing much better than the other kinds, their season of 

 blooming in their natural habitat, being from one to two months earlier. I have for 

 j-ears grown this in my parlor onl}^, and got it into bloom by the first week in Janu- 

 ary, and any one may do the same by simply following the plan I have given above, only 

 that to have them in bloom thus early, the}' cannot be allowed more tlian a month or so 

 to remain under ashes — for you can seldom buy the bulbs until the middle of October, 

 and in the parlor where m}' family sit, (with a fire of course, at that time of year,) they 

 take six weeks to bloom from the time they are brought in. No bulb can be got to bloom 

 in anything like the same perfection, so early in the year as this. Indeed, I have several 

 times had them with some flowers open on the 25th December. 



The scent of the Double Roman is strong, and to man}' very agreeable; but in odor 

 all nmst yield the palm to the delicious Jonquil. The bulbs of the Jonquil are small, and 

 three or four should be placed in a pot of the same size as is used for the larger varieties. 

 The pot culture of the Jonquils is precisely the same. 



No object amongst our early spiing flowers, is more beautiful than the Narcissus, for 

 the flower garden. Any of the varieties may be planted in the open border in the fall of 

 ear; they should be jjlaced deep enough in the ground for the bulbs to be cov 

 inches, and their situalion should be a short distance from the edge of the bor 



