542, 
THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 
Narcissus—continued. 
the soil, and are not ‘‘hung up.”” The actual disposition 
of the bulbs will vary with the taste of the indiyidnal ; 
but as a rule, good-sized, irregular groups of one variety 
give the best effect in beds and herbaceous borders. 
Formality should be studiously avoided. Many who grow 
simply for cutting, dig a narrow trench and plant the 
bulbs in that; while others prefer lines. 
Plenty of water is essential in the growing season, and 
the flowers are always more beantiful in a moist season 
than in a dry one; while there are fewer complaints as 
to ‘‘blindness” through the bulbs receiving a check 
comparatively early in their growth. An imperfectly 
understood detail in connection with Border and Bed 
Narcissi is “‘lifting.’”’ Many cultivators lift their bulbs 
each year, and usually before the foliage has matured. 
This is a fatal error. As a rule, and providing the soil 
be suitable—say a nice moist loam—the bulbs do not 
need annual lifting. Many varieties may be left for 
years, indeed until the soil shows signs of exhaustion 
and the bulbs of deterioration. Then the whole batch 
should be lifted, and if the entire stock could be trans- 
ferred to a different part of the country it would most 
materially benefit it. It is surprising what a change of 
quarters will do, and the recuperative power that it 
possesses. Bulb-growers are aware of this, and period- 
ically change the Narcissi stock when they have trial 
grounds situate in two widely different parts of the 
country. 
Lifting must always be done with care, and the best 
time for the operation is when the foliage has assumed 
the yellow stage preparatory to decay. Where only just 
a change of quarters is called for, as in the average 
garden, the bulbs, after the process of lifting, should be 
carefully dried in a cool, airy shed. As soon as properly 
dry, any offsets large enough may be separated from the 
parent plants either by pulling them apart or by cutting. 
Then, again, there are some varieties which are best 
naturalised—in fact, they refuse to grow as border plants. 
These should be planted as freely as possible in the grass. 
Take the English Lent Lily; this is never so happy as 
when in the meadow-land ; or again, the beautiful Pallidus 
Precox, Scoticus, Spurius, and many others. Once a stock 
of these is planted in the grass, they will increase by 
means of seed in the course of a few years. This is a 
Fic. 576. 
NARCISSUS LEEDSIT NATURALISED. 
beautifal form of gardening. Fig. 576 represents some 
Leedsii Narcissi naturalised at Kew Gardens. When 
planting bulbs in meadow-land they may be dibbled in 
with a crow-bar, or similar tool, but in lawns the grass 
had better be taken up for the purpose, and the soil 
underneath arranged for their reception. 
For general planting some of the best varieties are to 
be found in Golden Spur, P. R. Barr, Barrii Conspicuns, 
Narcissus—continued. 
Maximus, Baroness Heath, Sir Watkin, Empress, Grandis, 
Horsfieldii, “Eggs and Bacon,” Gwyther (Fig. 577), 
W. P. Milner, Henry Irving, King of the Netherlands, 
and Johnstoni Queen of Spain. Any or all of these 
Fic. 577. 
NARCISSUS GWYTHER, 
yarieties make ideal pot plants. Those who wish to 
naturalise the bulbs will find Golden Mary, Duchess of 
Brabant, Obvallaris, Rugulosus, Princeps, Ornatns, and 
Thomas Moore, besides the varieties referred to above, 
give satisfactory results. There is in addition a most 
distinct and beautiful subject adapted either for pots 
or for growing in ornamental bowls. We refer to 
the Chinese Sacred Lily, Water Fairy Flower, Joss 
Flower, Flower of the Gods, or Good Luck Lily. This 
is a variety of Polyanthus Narcissus. Withont any soil 
or withont any more accommodation than an ordinary 
sunny living-room window affords during the day, this 
flower may be enjoyed in winter. At night the bowls 
should be taken from the window and stood where they 
are less likely to be affected by frost. Many Daffodils 
may also be grown in bowls in a similar manner. 
Besides the larger varieties of Narcissi employed for 
pot culture, there are a number of miniature species and 
varieties which must not be overlooked for pot work. 
These are, in addition to those mentioned in Vol. II., 
N. minimus, N. juncifolius, N. minor, N. nanus, N. Bulbo- 
codium monophyllus, and N. cyclamineus. There are also 
a host of small-flowering kinds too fragile to be risked 
in the mixed border, but whose beanty ought not to be 
lost. For these a place on the rockery shonld be 
assigned, and providing a suitable carpet-plant is pro- 
vided, they will push up their flowers before winter's 
icy grip has released its hold. They should not be 
disturbed so long as they are doing well. In low-lying 
pockets in the rock garden might be tried N. Bulbocodium 
and its varieties, except monophyllus (Hoop Petticoat), 
as well as N. cyclamineus, all of which are moisture- 
lovers; while in other pockets might be inserted 
N. nanus, N. minimus, N. lobularis, N. triandrus albus, 
and N. juncifolius. All will not flourish, though sufficient 
will to justify the experiment. Many advocate the 
planting of N. Bulbocodium monophyllus, but this, though 
undoubtedly dainty, is not often a success, even where 
the best of conditions—a warm, sheltered position, and a 
rich, light soil—are forthcoming. To appreciate this 
pretty species at its true worth, it must be grown in a 
pot and kept in a cool frame or greenhouse, when, if 
well watered, the exquisite flowers will be produced in 
