46 THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



Crocus is wild in rich meadow grass in various parts of England, at 

 Nottingham and in Essex. The autumnal kinds may be naturalised 

 too, but they ask perhaps for a warmer soil than the vernal kinds. 

 Recent years have brought us many new Crocuses. The effect of the 

 old kinds is not surpassed, but their beauty may be more fully shown 

 than in lines and dots by scattering them in natural-looking groups 

 in grassy places among trees or in the open turf. 



The old Snowdrop gives as good an effect as any other, but the 



many new varieties give the Snowdrop more value. Whether these 



new forms are species or varieties matters little ; 



Snowdrop and their value as garden plants is the only question 



Snowflake. that concerns flower gardeners. Who would have 



thought a few years ago that our Snowdrop was 



Narcissus princeps. 



only one of a large number taking care of themselves in the mountains 

 o . . .a Minor and other regions ? Others are coming, and when 

 these increase in our gardens we shall have fresh aids to make our 

 spring gardens more beautiful. As these new kinds are mostly plants 

 from cool regions, they will probably be easily naturalised in many 

 soils. The Snowflake must not be forgotten few spring flowers 

 are more free than the vernal and late Snowflakes. 



The lovely early group of plants allied to our Wood Hyacinth 



Scilla, Chionodoxa and Hyacinthus (the more tiny and dwarf wild 



species are referred to here under this last name) 



Scillas and as ^ f r some thought as to their artistic use. 



their allies. The Scillas are well known, but the newer forms of 



Chionodoxa give an unlooked-for loveliness of 



blue very early in the spring, and show a pretty variety in their 



