396 FLORA DOMESTICA. 



SNOW-DROP. 



GALANTHUS. 



NARCISSE^E. HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 



Galanthus is of Greek origin, and signifies Milk-Flower : the flower 

 being very white. Its name of snow-drop expresses the same thing, 

 and is, at the same time, applicable to the time of its appearance, 

 often when snow is on the ground. In mild seasons it will blow in 

 January, but it usually appears in February, on which account it has 

 also been named Fair-Maid of February. French, la galantine ; perce- 

 niege (snow-piercer). Italian, galanto, galantino, buca-neve (snow- 

 piercer.) 



THE Snowdrop is a native of Switzerland, Austria, 

 Silesia, and England, in meadows, and orchards; but 

 doubts are entertained whether it is really indigenous, or 

 whether it is a relic of cultivation. Every third year, the 

 roots should be taken up in June, when the leaves have 

 decayed, and kept in a dry place till August ; they should 

 then be replanted ; and the best way to make them look 

 well is to plant twenty or more together in a clump, which 

 has a very pretty effect when they blow. They should 

 not however be less than an inch and a half apart, and 

 should be set two inches deep. 



There is a flower called the Leucojum, or great Snow- 

 drop, very similar to this, but twice its size. Of this there 

 are three kinds, commonly called the Spring, the Summer, 

 and the Autumnal Snow-drop. Some, to distinguish them 

 better, being of a different genus, have named them Snow- 

 flakes ; others Bulbous White- Violets ; but the kind which 

 one calls the early-flowering Bulbous White- Violet, in 

 reference to a kind flowering later, another calls the late- 

 flowering, in reference to one blowing earlier, which occa- 

 sions infinite confusion. The Spring kind is called by 

 the French violctte dc Fevrier [February Violet]; violier 



