OLD-FASHIONED GARDEN FLOWERS. 105 



dug in and as a top dressing with marked advantage. The 

 natural beauty of this subject fits it for any position the lawn, 

 shrubbery, borders, beds, or rockwork can all be additionally 

 beautified by its noble form ; grown in pots, it becomes an effec- 

 tive plant for the table or conservatory. The flowers in a cut 

 state are quaint and graceful, and the leaves are even more useful ; 

 these may be cut with long stalks and stood in vases in twos and 

 threes without any other dressing, or, when desired, a few large 

 flowers may be added for a change, such as a panicle of Spiraea 

 aruncus, a large sunflower, or a spike or two of gladioli. Leaves 

 so cut may be used for weeks; after they have become dusty they 

 may be sponged, when they will appear fresh, like new-cut ones. 



In the propagation of this plant certain rules should be ob- 

 served, otherwise the stock of young plants will prove stunted 

 and bad in colour. Do not divide any but strong and healthy 

 clumps, taking care not to damage more roots than can be 

 helped ; do not divide too severely, but let each part be a strong 

 piece of several crowns, and after this they should be allowed to 

 make three years' growth in a good, rich, deep soil before they 

 are again disturbed, and thereby the stock will not only be of a 

 vigorous character, but always fit for use in the most decorative 

 parts of the garden. 



Flowering period, July to September. 



Galanthus Elwesii. 



ELWES'S GALANTHUS or SNOWDROP ; Nat. Ord. 

 AMARYLLIDACE^]. 



THIS is a splendid species or variety, whichever it may be, said 

 to be the finest of all the Snowdrops ; it is a new kind and not 

 yet much known. My impressions of it last spring were not in 

 accordance with such reports, but I ought to add that, though the 

 bulbs were fresh when sent me, they had only been planted less 

 than a year, when they flowered somewhat feebly. 



Flowering period, February and March. 



All the Snowdrops may be propagated by seed or division of 

 crowded clumps after all the tops have died off is the proper 

 time ; the longer the delay, the worse for next season's bloom, as 

 new root action sets in about that period. 



Galanthus Imperati. 

 IMPERIAL SNOWDROP ; Nat. Ord. AMARYLLIDACE^C. 



I HAVE only recently flowered this kind. It is said by Mr. W. 

 Robinson to be double the size of G. nivalis, which estimate is 

 probably correct, judging from the blooms which I have ob- 

 tained. With me the bulbs seem either not to have a. happy 



