48 GARDEN AND FARM TOPICS. 



green-house in mid-winter. It is perfectly hardy, how- 

 ever. Loudon remarks : " It is rather singular, and also 

 to be regretted, that no variations or hybrids have been 

 produced from this early and pretty little flower." By 

 way of episode, we may mention that there are but two 

 species of the genus and one variety, but it is probable 

 that a cross might be obtained between it and the allied 

 genus Leucojum, or, indeed, other genera of the same 

 order, the great difficulty being, however, to have the 

 different species in flower at the same time. The earli- 

 ness of the Snow-drop putting it out of the question in a 

 natural manner, it would be necessary to retard the latter 

 till the blooming season of the genus to be selected. 

 Natives of Great Britain. 



NASTURTIUM, (Tropaeolum.) 



AN extensive genus of hardy annuals and green-house 

 tuberous and herbaceous perennials, all natives of tropical 

 America. The tuberous-rooted varieties are confined to 

 Peru. The well-known annual plants called the Nas- 

 turtium are common in every garden, and only require 

 sowing with the other hardy annuals in spring. There 

 were formerly only two kinds of the annual Tropaeolums, 

 T. major and T. minor, but since 1830 numerous varieties 

 have been raised. One, with very dark flowers, is called 

 T. minor atrosanguineum, and another, with dark stripes, 

 is T. minor venustum. The young shoots of these plants 

 are succulent, and taste like the common land Cress, the 

 botanical name of which is Nasturtium, and hence they 

 have received their popular name. 



Besides the hardy annual kinds, there are several 

 tender tuberous species, most of which are kept in the 



