For blossom P. spectabilis and Scheideckeri must be given Bulbs to 

 a foremost place. Trees of P. spectabilis^ the Chinese Crab, may plant under 

 attain a height of thirty feet, and every bough will be crowded Cherries 

 with the semi-double flowers about an inch and a half across, an( j Crabs 

 either white or pale rose pink. With the fresh tints of the trees 

 it is very beautiful. P. Scheideckeri is of more recent introduc- 

 tion and is even more prolific the trees are literally smothered in 

 bloom, reminding one of P. floribunda, of which it is said to be 

 a hybrid, but with large semi-double flowers an inch and a half 

 across. It is a charming plant to force for either the house or 

 conservatory. 



All these Crabs and Cherries look best growing from grass, 

 so thought may well be given as to what bulbs should be grown 

 to flower below them. With the wild Cherry of the sketch the 

 following are contemporary : Early Pheasant Eye ornatus, the 

 yellow Campernell Jonquil, and also many of the intermediate 

 Daffodils, such as Horsfieldii, Stella superba, Minnie Hume, 

 JV. Goldring, and Albicans. Many of the cream varieties of 

 Daffodils do better in grass and semi-shade, so advan- 

 tage should be taken of these positions below flowering 

 trees. 



With the late Cherries such as Avium flore pleno and 

 Mabaleb, and the Pyruses Narcissus poetarum and poeticum 

 would be in season, and all the May flowering Tulips. Some 

 of the Cottage varieties last with us a year or two, in coarse 

 long grass, and are worth trying ; in finer grass and better soil 

 they should do really well. Picotee and Virginalis, both white 

 with pink edges, I have found to succeed the best, and being 

 only four or five shillings a hundred, they are cheap enough to 

 experiment with. 



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