158 A GROUP OF HARDY BTJLBS. 



bulb. The Alstromerias must not be forgotten in our enumeration of Amaryllids. The species 

 are not all quite hardy, but several most desirable ones are so. The A. aurea, A. Van Houttei, 

 or Chilensis, A. tricolor, and A. Simsii, •will bear our winters with impunity, though the two latter 

 species will be best protected with a slight covering of leaves. The whole of the species, indeed, 

 may be grown with slight protection in dry soils, and all are beautiful. The fig. of A. Van 

 Houttei, page 32, Vol. I, will give a good idea of their general character. Among the rarer plants 

 of this Order which deserve cultivation, the Lycoris aurea may be named. It produces in July 

 an umbel of from six to ten large flowers, of a golden yellow. They are remarkable for the 

 singular movements of their anthers, which, during warm weather, are frequently agitated for 

 a minute or two together. Its leaves are almost evergreen, and it therefore requires a little 

 protection in severe frost. Sandy loam suits it. It is a native of China, where several other 

 species are found. 



"We must pass over a few other Amaryllids, that we may find space for a brief reference to 

 the genus Narcissus, perhaps one of the most generally interesting of all the hardy plants of this 

 Order. There is considerable confusion in the names of the different species and varieties, to 

 which we will not here allude more particularly, as our readers might be bewildered. The 

 most ornamental species are those termed collectively the Polyanthus Narcissus, though several 

 species are included under that name. There is the N. concolor, known as Grand Primo, 

 with white flowers, sulphur cup, and its variety Grand Monarque, with yellow cup, both 

 splendid bulbs and very hardy ; the N. aureus, the Soleil d'or of the Florist, with deep 

 yellow flowers ; and the Totus alius, N. dubius, with pure white fragrant flowers. Bazelman 

 Major, white, with a yellow nectary, is an established favourite, and, with the preceding, 

 makes an admirable show, whether in pots or the open ground. The N. Tazetta is not 

 quite so hardy as the others, but is a beautiful pot bulb ; this is also sometimes called the 

 Polyanthus Narcissus. Of the species producing only from one to three flowers, there are a 

 large number. The iV. calathinus (the N. odorus of Linnseus) is a rather common plant, 

 with about three yellow flowers, very fragrant, and indifferent to soil or exposure. This 

 species is sometimes termed the Petticoat Narcissus, in allusion to the form of its nectary, 

 but that term is more usually applied to the Narcissus Bulbocodium, which produces only a 

 single yellow flower on each scape, with a very large conical nectary, supposed to bear 

 some resemblance to the hoop petticoats of a former generation. The N. pocticus, or Pheasants' 

 Eye, is much esteemed both for its fragrance and the delicate crimson edge of its nectary, 

 which contrasts with the pure white flower. This species likes a strong moist soil ; in dry soils it 

 rarely flowers in perfection. The Narcissus Pseudo-Narcissus, or Daffodil, is quite as common, 

 and the single flowers arc very pretty; but the double varieties, which present often only a 

 confused mass of imperfect petals, are not at all to our taste. The Peerless Narcissus, N. 

 incomparabilis, with single-flowered scapes: the JV. biforus, white; N. bifrons, yellow; N. 

 Orientalis, and all the varieties of the Jonquil, N. Jonquilla, are interesting plants, most of 

 them well known. The very pretty little dwarf N. nanus, or minor, should be in every 

 collection, however small, and a few roots should be potted for the window. The N. 

 pulchellus {Ganymede pulchella of Haworth) is an elegant species, with pale sulphur-coloured 

 blossoms : it is not common, but may be had at the Pine Apple Nursery, whera the rare 

 N. triandrus is also kept. The whole of the species are of easy cultivation, requiring only to 

 be planted in rich sandy loam, and succeeding equally in pots or the borders. The snow- 

 flakes, Leucojum vernum, cestivum, and pulchcllum, are all very pretty bulbs with white sweet- 

 scented flowers : the first species is now termed Erinosma verna ; its double variety is much 

 esteemed. 



