I.] IRIS STYLOS A SNOWDROP HELLEBORE 51 



found by our troops ; roots resembling small onions were 

 scattered over the trenches, and in a few weeks these 

 developed into a veritable garden of spring flowers. It 

 is, however, in Greece that a greater variety of these 

 plants is found than elsewhere. Some blossom there in 

 September and October. 



A peaty soil suits them best, but a mixture of loam 

 sand and peat-mould would be an ideal soil for them. 



Their near relations, the Snowflakes, are also very 

 attractive and free-growing plants. 



Somewhat after the Snowdrops the Lent Hellebores 

 enliven the spring garden. As cut flowers they are not 

 as satisfactory as the Christmas Rose, but, if properly 

 treated, they will retain their freshness for ten days. 

 Miss Jekyll suggests that "before being put into water 

 their outer skin should be scraped off, or the stalks slit 

 up 3 or 4 inches, then plunged in water for some hours 

 up to the very flowers, and they may then be arranged 

 in their vases, though they have an inclination to droop, 

 and need support from some sprays of Jasmine or 

 Berberis." 



The Narcissus, of all spring flowers, are the hardiest and 

 best ; they vary so much in form and colour and in 

 their season of bloom, that a most perfect spring garden 

 might be made of them alone. They like best the fresh, 

 virgin soil or any well-drained fibrous sandy loam, whether, 

 in pots or borders, they rather resent manure, and should 



