OLD-FASHIONED GARDEN FLOWERS. 181 



23deg. Still this little Daffodil continued to push up its golden 

 blossoms, so that in the latter half of the month, it formed one 

 of the most pleasing of the hardy flowers of the spring garden. 

 Its blue-green leaves are densely grown, and being only 4in. high 

 and somewhat rigid, they not only form a rich setting for the 

 bright blossom which scarcely tops them, but they support the 

 flowers, which have a drooping habit. Later on, however, they 

 lift their fair faces and look out sideways, but whether seen in 

 profile or otherwise, they are alike charming. 



I do not remember ever to have seen or heard this flower 

 described as finely scented ; as a matter of fact, it is deliciously 

 so. The odour is aromatic and mace-like. If the bloom is cut 

 when in its prime and quite dry, a few heads will scent a fair- 

 sized room. Of course, all the species of the genus (as implied 

 by the generic name) exhale an odour, and some kinds a very 

 fragrant one, whilst others are said to be injurious ; but the spicy 

 smell of this can scarcely be otherwise than acceptable, and it 

 must always be a desirable feature in a flower suitable for 

 cutting, and more especially in a winter and spring flower. 

 From its dwarfness this Daffodil is very liable to be soiled; 

 either of three plans may be adopted to prevent this : Plant 

 on grass; top-dress in January with longish litter, which 

 by the blooming time will have a washed and not very objec- 

 tionable appearance ; or, lastly, let the patches grow broad and 

 thick, when their own foliage will keep down the mud, excepting 

 at the sides. I find the litter method to answer well for scores 

 of things for a similar purpose. 



Flowers are produced on slender scapes, Sin. to 4in. long, 

 singly, from the long membranous spatha ; they are lin. across 

 the expanded perianth, and about the same length; the six 

 divisions are rather longer than the tube, and of a pale yellow or 

 lemon colour ; the crown or nectary is campanulate, longer than 

 the petal-like divisions, lobed, fringed, and of a deep yellow 

 colour. The leaves are strap-shaped, stout and glaucous, and 

 about the same length as the scapes. 



This plant is in no way particular as to soil, provided it is 

 well drained. It enjoys, however, partial shade and liberal top- 

 dressings of manure. It increases fast by offsets, and, if 

 desirable, the bulbs may be lifted the third year for division, 

 after the tops have died off in late summer. 



Flowering period, March and April. 



Nierembergia Rivularis. 



WATER NIEREMBERGIA, or WHITE CUP; Nat. Ord. 



SOLANACE^:. 



THIS alpine plant comes from La Plata ; when well grown (and 

 it easily may be) it is a gem hardy, herbaceous, and perennial. 



