702 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



XEMOI'HILA. 



pest checks both root and bulb growth, 

 but after the larvae are removed the rare , 

 bulbs recently infected may be planted for I 

 stock, for although the heart be eaten 

 away, the lateral buds at the base of the 

 bulb-scal'es often produce young bulbs. 



N. poeticus and its varieties have rarely 

 been infected by a leaf fungus (Puccinia 

 Schroeteri), and so far its ravages have 

 been limited. 



Bulbs of Narcissus are now and then 

 found to be afflicted with black canker or 

 " black-rot," probably caused by Peziza 

 cibovioides, but so far little serious injury 

 has been done. The most insidious 

 disease that affects Narcissi is one to 

 which Mr. C. W. Dod some few years 

 ago originally drew attention, under the 

 name of " basal rot." The stunted flowers 

 come up prematurely, while the leaves 

 have a diseased appearance, and are 

 much dwarfed and contorted. The base 

 of the bulb rots away, while no roots are 

 formed from the disc, and the wet and 

 flabby bulb-coats are more or less dis- 

 coloured, as if parboiled. This disease is 

 most prevalent among white Daffodils, 

 white single and double ; but yellow kinds 

 such as Ard Righ and maximus are 

 affected on wet and cold soils, and even 

 N. Tazetta, N. Leedsii, and N. jonquilla 

 are also affected. In many cases this 

 disease is checked by annual digging and 

 re-planting in July or August ; and 

 sometimes bulbs, affected on deep rich 

 borders, have recovered on being trans- 

 planted to Grass or beds of Moss and 

 Briar Roses. Cold and wet, or even 

 richly manured soils, seem especially 

 conducive to this disease, and the only 

 remedy is to alter the conditions of 

 growth as soon as the leaves have died 

 away. A celebrated northern grower of 

 Narcissi tells me that some sorts that 

 formerly failed on level borders do well 

 on the drier and warmer grassy banks to 

 which he transferred them. Facility in 

 altering conditions of growth is often 

 the best way to save plants that show- 

 signs of disease or failing in any way. It 

 is a great consolation to know that many 

 of the best and most showy kinds, if 

 broadly and naturally grown on the Grass 

 of meadow or of outlying lawn, are rarely, 

 if ever, afflicted seriously with the above 

 pests. F. W. B. 



NEILLIA (Nine Bark\N. opulifolia 

 is a hardy shrub generally known as Spiraea 

 opulifolia. It is usually 3 to 5 ft. in height, 

 but in good soils and in sheltered places 

 it makes a bush 8 or 10 ft. high, and as 

 much through. It blooms about mid- 

 summer, the small white flowers being 



borne in dense feathery clusters. A more 

 important shrub for ornamental planting 

 is the variety aurea, with golden leaves. 

 The yellow tinge of the foliage is ex- 

 tremely bright, and, at a distance, looks 

 like a glowing mass of yellow bloom. 

 This variety is a hardy and vigorous 

 shrub suitable for planting anywhere. 

 Other kinds as yet little known in gardens 

 are N. Amurensis, N. thyrsiflora, and N. 

 Torryii. 



NELUMBIUM ( Yellow Sacred Bean). 

 N. hiteum is the hardiest known Sacred 

 Bean, and therefore the one most inter- 

 esting for northern gardens. Its large 

 blossoms are a pale yellow, and its large 

 round leaves arise boldly out of the water 

 3 to 4 ft. I have seen it flower strongly 

 in the Garden of Plants at Paris : it re- 

 mained out all the winter in a fountain 

 basin in a sheltered and warm nook in 

 the open air. It would probably flower 

 out-of-doors in a sunny and sheltered 

 spot in the south of England. It is rare, 

 but may be procured from some nurseries, 

 or from America. The beautiful N. 

 speciosum is another noble aquatic, and 

 is well worth a trial wherever there is a 

 contrivance for heating the water of a 

 small pond or tank in the open air. 



NEMESIA. Pretty hardy annuals of 

 the simplest culture, N. floribunda growing 

 about i ft. high, and bearing in summer 

 fragrant Linaria-like blossoms, white with 

 yellow throats. N. versicolor has blue, 

 lilac, or yellow and white blossoms ; and 

 its variety compacta, blue and white 

 flowers. If sown in ordinary soil in 

 masses in early spring and then well 

 thinned, the plants will have a pretty 

 effect for several weeks after June. In 

 N. strumosa the flowers display a variety 

 of colours, white, pale yellow, and shades 

 between pink and deep crimson. It grows 

 12 to 15 in. high, and has five or six stems, 

 each of which bears a head of flowers, 

 blooming from summer until late in 

 autumn. Sow in heat in March, and 

 transplant the seedlings in May, or sow 

 in the open ground after the middle of 

 May. S. Africa. 



NEMOPHILA (California*, Bluebell}. 

 Pretty Californian hardy annuals of 

 much value for our gardens. The species 

 from which the cultivated varieties 

 have been derived are N. insignis, 

 N. atomaria, N. discoidalis, and N. 

 maculata. N. insignis has sky-blue 

 flowers, and its varieties are grandiflora, 

 alba, purpurea - rubra, and striata. N. 

 atomaria has white flowers speckled 

 with blue. Its varieties are coelestis 

 (sky-blue margin), oculata (pale blue and 



