Fcbraarj 26, 187i. ] 



JOURNAL OF HOBTICDLTUBB AND COTTAGE GABDENER. 



170 



THE SNOWDROP, AND ITS USES FOR 

 NAKED PLACES. 



me it has always appeared strange that so 

 little attention has been paid to this the 

 earliest of all our spring bulbs, either by 

 those who prepare elaborate catalogues of 

 such things, or by the gardening world in 

 general. The charge of commonness ought 

 not to be an excuse in an age when the 

 Daisy and the Primrose are so much sought 

 after, and yet the Snowdrop has the merit 

 of flowering much earlier than the first of 

 these, and also before the bulk of other bulbs. It has, 

 besides, claims of its own, as differing widely from either 

 of the plants specially named, and being of easier cultiva- 

 tion — in fact it is on the latter account that I now call 

 attention to it. As in an article a year ago I noticed the 

 purposes of arrangement to which the Snowdrop may be 

 put, I need not repeat these here, but will at once endeavour 

 to point out a fresh field to operate iipon, and one from 

 which it wUl not drive away any previous occupant. 



The places which I would orniiment with this lovely 

 emblem of spring are among the least inviting of the 

 whole area usuaUy set apart for the dressed grounds ; or 

 even if outside of the latter it will serve the purpose as 

 well, and the effect will be equally pleasing and agreeable. 

 Near most country residences there are groups of large 

 trees, or it may be a few single deciduous ones, with 

 branches touching the ground, or nearly so, and stretch- 

 ing a long distance in all directions. Some single trees 

 cover as much space as a fair-sized flower garden, afford- 

 ing a dehghtful shade and retreat in hot summer weather, 

 but the branches are so close that only the vei-y scantiest 

 vegetation is met with on the ground, and this for but a 

 very short time in spring or early summer, when a few 

 weeds present a httle greenery, which all disappears before 

 the leaves fall. The ground is then all but naked, in fact 

 often perfectly so, and there being no foliage on the trees 

 the sofl is evei-ywhere seen, and the whole is of one hue. 

 Well, it is in such places as this that I would invite the aid 

 of the designer of pretty patterns, for here is ample scope 

 for him, and the material to be dealt with is also simple 

 and convenient. They present the best possible sites for 

 embroidery, and very agreeable and interesting designs 

 may be woi'ked out with Snowdrops, and these when 

 once planted will last for a number of seasons, without any 

 trouble or attention. It is only necessary to look each 

 returning season for the bvdbs coming up in the same 

 order as before, somewhat more thickly perhaps, but 

 this is an advantage rather than otherwise ; and when 

 eventually (generally not for several years) it is advisable 

 to take them up to restore the design, which may have 

 become too crowded, the extra bulbs will be of service for 

 planting elsewhere. There are few places without some 

 naked unsightly space which a few patches of Snowdrops 

 would render cheerful in midwinter, when there is so Httle 

 to admire and interest the spectator. 



In recommending the above mode of planting Snow- 

 No. 674.— Vol. XXVI., New Series. 



drops to the consideration of the spring gardener, I may 

 remark that it is only what we have done here with per- 

 fect success, and that rows of Snowdrops also line the 

 edges of many of our walks that lead through shrubberies 

 where it is hopeless to expect anything else. Such walks 

 are generally edged with bricks laid diagonally so as to 

 show a ridge-top of 4.5° each way, and a few inches h-om 

 this edge we plant a line of Snowdrops, which in all 

 cases have done well. Even when the ground is so hard 

 and full of roots as to be difiicult to get them planted 

 deeply enoiigh, they come up year after year with perfect 

 regularity, increasing a little, of course, but not so much 

 as in better ground. Further, I may observe that the 

 time of planting has seldom or never been the most 

 suitable one, for it has often been when the plants were 

 in flower or just coming into bloom ; yet so accommo- 

 datiug is the Snowdrop that it rarely succumbs under any 

 bad treatment, so long as its roots are in the ground and 

 the foliage allowed to ripen before being taken off ; indeed 

 the dead foliage in such places is seldom objected to. 

 The Snowdrop will also succeed amongst grass in shady 

 places, but the leaves ought not to be cut until they begin 

 to ripen, which in most cases they might be allowed to 

 do when surrounding shrubs. Snowdrops are here ex- 

 tensively planted in this way, and we find that their ap- 

 pearance during the latter part of January, throughout 

 February, and early in March, more than compensates 

 for the little roughness of the grass left as it is growing 

 up to the middle of May ; then tlie foHage is usually so 

 far faded as to be cut without injuiy. In the case of 

 those planted in the naked ground under deciduous trees, 

 there need be no hurry in cutting, rather let the tops 

 ripen and di-op off. 



Those having a piece of ground of the kind referred to, 

 and a plentiful supply of bulbs, will find the labour of 

 planting by no means heavy. The most that I have are 

 planted in single rows, forming scrolls, curves, and other 

 figures more or less pleasing ; but it is well not to attempt 

 too complex a design, which only confuses the whole, 

 and that no two lines should be nearer each other than 

 18 inches or more. My plan is merely to scratch the 

 design on the groiind with a pointed stick, and run a thin 

 mark of white sand along it, which on the naked ground 

 win give the figure at once, and enable one to judge of 

 its appearance. If approved of, it is only necessary with 

 the spade to notch-out the ground about 2 inches deep, 

 or a httle more, lay-in the bulbs of Snowdrops 2 or 

 3 inches apart, or more if they are scarce, fiU-in the 

 ground again, and tread-in ; the whole operation being 

 quickly performed, and the ground very little broken. If 

 tliis bo done before the flowering period Snowdrops wUl 

 bloom pretty well the same season, but wiU not multiply 

 much tin the following year. Snowdrops are easily ob- 

 tained early in .January, and that time seems as good as 

 any other for planting — in fact I do not know any plant 

 more accommodating than this in regard to growing 

 under almost all conditions, and but rarely succumbing, 

 excepting when treated with undue harshness during its 

 growing period; I have seen the plants eaten-off by 



No. U2S.— Vol. LI., Old Seeies. 



