NARDOSTACHYS. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



NEMESIA. 



585 



planted for stock, for although the 

 heart be eaten away, the lateral buds 

 at the base of the bulb-scales often 

 produce young bulbs. 



N. poeticus and its varieties have 

 rarely been infected by a leaf fungus 

 (Puccinia Schrceteri), and so far its 

 ravages have been limited. 



Bulbs of Narcissus are now and then 

 found to be afflicted with black canker 

 or " black-rot," probably caused by 

 Peziza cibovioides, but so far little 

 serious injury has been done. The 

 most insidious disease that affects 

 Narcissi is one to which Mr C. W. Dod 

 some few years ago originally drew 

 attention, under the name of " basal 

 rot." The stunted flowers come up 

 prematurely, while the leaves have a 

 diseased appearance, and are much 

 dwarfed and contorted. The base of 

 the bulb rots away, while no roots 

 are formed from the disc, and the wet 

 and flabby bulb-coats are more or 

 less discoloured, as if parboiled. This 

 disease is most prevalent among white 

 Daffodils, white single and double ; 

 but yellow kinds such as Ard Righ 

 and maximus are affected on wet and 

 cold soils, and even N. Tazetta, N. 

 Leedsii, and N. jonquilla are also 

 affected. In many cases this disease 

 is checked by annual digging and 

 replanting in July or August ; and 

 sometimes bulbs, affected on deep 

 rich borders, have recovered on being 

 transplanted to grass or beds of moss 

 and Brier Roses. Cold and wet, or 

 even richly manured soils, seem especi- 

 ally conducive to this disease, and the 

 only remedy is to alter the conditions 

 of growth as soon as the leaves have 

 died away. A celebrated northern 

 grower of Narcissi tells me that some 

 sorts that formerly failed on level 

 borders do well on the drier and warmer 

 grassy banks to which he transferred 

 them. Facility in altering conditions 

 of growth is often the best way to 

 save plants that show signs of disease 

 or failing in any way. It is a great 

 consolation to know that many of the 

 best and most showy kinds, if broadly 

 and naturally grown on the grass of 

 meadow or of outlying lawn, are rarely, 

 if ever, afflicted seriously with the 

 above pests. 



NARDOSTACHYS (Spikenard). 

 There are two kinds, but only one is 

 in cultivation, N. Jatamansi, a pretty 

 little perennial plant, hardy, and very 

 attractive when well grown in the 

 rock garden. Its leaves are spoon- 



shaped and pointed, and rising above 

 them are stems of 6 to 10 inches high, 

 bearing dense heads of pale pink or 

 whitish flowers in September. Though 

 the flowers are sweet, the special 

 fragrance lies in the short thick root, 

 from which the celebrated perfume of 

 the ancients is supposed to have come. 

 Himalayas. 



NEILLIA (Nine Bark). N. opuli- 

 folia is a hardy shrub generally known 

 as Spircea opulifolia. Usually 3 to 5. 

 feet in height, but in good soils and 

 in sheltered places it makes a bush 8 

 or 10 feet high, and as much through. 

 It blooms about mid - summer, the- 

 small white flowers being borne in 

 dense feathery clusters. The yellow 

 tinge of the foliage is extremely bright, 

 and at a distance looks like a glowing 

 mass of yellow bloom. This variety 

 is a hardy and vigorous shrub suitable 

 for planting anywhere. Other kinds 

 as yet little known in gardens are N. 

 Amurensis, N. thyrsiflora, N. Torryii, 

 sinensis, and capitata. 



NELUMBIUM (Yellow Sacred Bean). 

 N. luteum is the hardiest known 

 Sacred Bean, and therefore the one- 

 most interesting for northern gardens. 

 Its large blossoms are a pale yellow, 

 and its large round leaves arise boldly 

 out of the water 3 to 4 feet. I have 

 seen it flower strongly in the Garden 

 of Plants at Paris ; it remained out all 

 the winter in a fountain basin in a 

 sheltered and warm nook in the open 

 air. It would probably flower out of 

 doors in a sunny and sheltered spot in 

 the south of England. It is rare, but 

 may be procured from some nurseries, 

 or from America. 



NEMESIA. Pretty hardy annuals- 

 of the simplest culture, N. floribunda 

 growing about i foot high, and bear- 

 ing in summer fragrant Linaria-like 

 blossoms, white with yellow throats. 

 N. versicolor has blue, lilac, or yellow 

 and white blossoms ; and its variety 

 compacta, blue and white flowers. If 

 sown in ordinary soil in masses in early 

 spring and then well thinned, the 

 plants will have a pretty effect for 

 several weeks after June. In N. 

 strumosa the flowers display a variety 

 of colours, white, pale yellow, and 

 shades between pink and deep crimson. 

 It grows 12 to 15 inches high, and has- 

 five or six stems, each of which bears a 

 head of flowers, blooming from summer 

 until late in autumn. The blue forms 

 are charming in effect, but seem dying 



