ON DAFFODILS AND NARCISSI 147 



remove the leaves of the bulbs while still green, and we 

 have already seen that experts condemn this practice. 

 Only a belt of grass beside the walks and sufficient for 

 a tennis or croquet lawn need be kept mown. The grass 

 may be cut with a scythe twice in the season, the first 

 cutting being in June, by which time the foliage of the 

 bulbs will be sufficiently ripened to bear removal, and 

 the second in September. These cuttings give crops 

 of hay. The grass loses its fine quality of course, but 

 if at any time the owner becomes " better off " he can 

 soon restore it to lawn condition again by dressing with 

 manure and fine soil, and regular cutting and mowing ; 

 or he may make a compromise, by having the grass 

 scythed over once a month throughout the spring and 

 summer. This will be less exhausting to it than taking 

 a hay crop ; but if the Poet's Narciss is planted, its late- 

 blooming and early-ripening throw the first cutting so 

 late that the grass is getting near the flowering stage 

 when the scythe comes into play. 



The Poefs Narciss Naturalised. And the Poet's is 

 one of the most beautiful of all the Narcissi for natura- 

 lising. It looks lovely on a shady bank in May so 

 beautiful that there seems no rhapsody even in the 

 description of Forbes Watson : " In its general expres- 

 sion the Poet's Narcissus seems a type of maiden purity 

 and beauty, yet warmed by a love-breathing fragrance ; 

 and yet what innocence in the large soft eye, which few 

 can rival in the whole tribe of flowers. The narrow yet 

 vivid fringe of red, so clearly seen amidst the whiteness, 

 suggests again the idea of purity, gushing passion purity 

 with a heart which can kindle into fire." 



Daffodils in Grass. Amateurs need not fear that 

 Daffodils will be unable to force their way through if 

 planted under turf. They pierce it with ease ; and 



