BUDS, BLOOM, AND EARLY BIRD 



will tell his acquaintances about it in the train, and Feb. 

 assume a Man from Bedfordshire attitude towards the l5-2o 

 world at large. It is nice to have this feeling. 



Flowers 



Christmas Roses. — Almost every amateur is interested 

 in the Christmas Rose — the Helleborus niger of botanists. 

 He loves to think of outdoor flowers at mid-winter, there 

 are so few. And he really can get them. The Christmas 

 Rose does not make a mere pretence of winter blooming; 

 it flowers whole-heartedly with enjoyment, with genuine 

 gusto. It is delightful to see the pure white flowers 

 among the dying brown fern fronds at Kew — freshness 

 taking a foil from decay. Experts in Christmas Roses 

 (everything in gardening is specialised in these days, 

 and very nearly every plant has a Society) tell us an 

 interesting fact about the plant, namely, that it forms 

 two sets of roots — the first in September, the second in 

 early spring, when the new leaves begin to push up. 

 The former are the large roots, the latter the fibres. 

 From this we deduce an important cultural fact, namely, 

 that the best time to pot or plant Christmas Roses is 

 September. But I mention them now because I want 

 people to learn about them while they are in bloom, and 

 grow really interested in the different varieties. The 

 form of the common called Major is very good, and by 

 no means must be ignored, as it will flower abundantly 

 for several weeks, but Praecox is worth noting as an 

 early autumn bloomer. AltifoUus is a fine variety which 

 flowers in November. Angustifolius and Juvernis bloom 

 in winter. A variety of a distinct and pretty colour is 

 Apple Blossom. In view of the scarcity of winter 

 flowers, I beheve that the Christmas Rose will grow in 

 favour as the years pass. 



93 



