THE SNOWDROP. 139 



objectionable existence. To do justice to it, the planting 

 of the bulbs should take place early in the autumn, for 

 they require time to prepare themselves for their early 

 flowering-. And the next thing- is to leave them alone, for 

 annual disturbance is fatal to their prosperity. 



A very serious mistake is made in many gardens in the 

 tying of the leaves of snowdrops and crocuses, to make 

 them look " tidy." ' What an absurd proceeding- ! Tidy, 

 indeed! The leaves fall over in the most graceful lines 

 when left alone, and may supply an artist with a subject 

 worthy of loving- attention; but when tied they are 

 hideously ug-ly and altogether ridiculous. 



The varieties of snowdrops are about half a dozen in 

 number. The first to flower is a dwarf sort, called pneco.r. 

 In about seven days after this has flowered, the common 

 nivalis shows its familiar flowers. These are succeeded by 

 the princely imperati, which rises above all the rest, and pro^ 

 duces larger flowers. Plicatus is the folded-leaved Crimean 

 snowdrop, known by the folding of the edges of its leaves, 

 which are larger than the leaves of the common variety. 

 The flowers of this, however, are often smaller than those 

 of the common snowdrop, and they are always somewhat 

 greener. As regards colouring, green is often objectionable 

 in a flower, but its combination with white in the sub- 

 ject before us is exquisitely beautiful. A variety with the 

 divisions of the perianth bent back is called reflexm. 



In parlour gardening, the snowdrop is occasionally 

 grown in water-glasses, in association with crocuses, hya- 

 cinths, tulips, and polyanthus-daffodils. These bulbous- 

 rooted flowers are all amenable to the water culture, and 

 afford agreeable amusement to fireside gardeners. There 

 are two points of importance in the management that it 



