NARCISSUS. [Amaryllidaceae.] A very large genus 

 of showy, hardy, well-known bulbous-rooted plants, all 

 species of which are ornamental and desirable spring border 

 flowers. Under the name of Polyanthus Narcissus, great 

 numbers of some florists' varieties are imported annually, 

 like the Hyacinth and early Tulips ; and these may be forced 

 in pots, or bloomed in water, or planted in the borders. 

 They require in every respect the same treatment as the 

 Hyacinth. If grown in pots, they may be planted in any 

 rich, light soil. If bloomed in glasses, they want a change 

 of water once a week. When put out in the borders, they 

 should be in patches of three, put in pretty close to each 

 other, forming a triangle, with one in front and two behind : 

 a sandy loam is preferable for them. They require no pro- 

 tection except a covering of tan over the bed in the North- 

 ern States, and will bear a good deal of frost without injury. 

 The plant has grassy or leek-like leaves : the flower-stem 

 comes up in the centre, and from a sheath at the top bursts 

 on one side the bunch of flowers, which are white or yellow, 

 with a yellow or orange cup in the centre. The Jonquil is a 

 species of Narcissus, considerably smaller than the Polyan- 

 thus Narcissus, and very sweet-scented : there are varieties 

 with both double and single flowers. There is considerable 

 variety among the other species of Narcissus, all of which 

 are worth growing as border-flowers. The following very 

 limited selection comprises a few of the most distinct plants. 

 N. aurantius (orange) ; hardy bulb ; i foot ; flowers yellow, 



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