DECEMBER 253 



ness to remain in a cold frame, with proper pro- 

 tection, until the greenhouse is ready to receive 

 them. Twenty degrees of frost in the open will 

 not hurt hardy bulbs in well-protected frames. As 

 the soft-wooded plants go out of bloom, and are 

 either thrown away or hidden in some corner until 

 they require attention again, the boxes of bulbs 

 may be moved into the greenhouse to continue the 

 winter supply. Snowdrops are better left in the 

 frames until the buds are formed, or even until the 

 blossoms are partly expanded, and there are other 

 things which will not suffer under this treatment. 

 I have this winter two or three boxes of narcissi, 

 the double Roman and the paper -white, whose 

 flowers are actually opening in the frames, and 

 although this might not be possible in a severe and 

 continued frost, it is wonderful what a little extra 

 protection will do for bulbs. 



There are various other things in bloom, though 

 not as yet in any quantity ; these are cyclamens, 

 freesias, cinerarias, arums, or calla Richardias, 

 Christmas roses, the scarlet Due van Tholl tulips, 

 scillas, and muscaris of sorts, chiefly the beautiful 

 Heavenly Blue variety. Chrysanthemums still 

 abound, thanks to the cold treatment which the 

 latest plants have had, and I expect to enjoy them 

 for quite another fortnight, though they will be but 

 few towards the end of it. 



Another useful plant that has an extended flower- 

 ing season, and is now at its best in some of my 

 neighbours' houses, is the fibrous-rooted begonia 

 Gloire de Lorraine. I should work up a stock of 

 it but that I have discovered that we have not 

 warmth enough to flower it when I want it most. 



