94 GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS 



Feather Hyacinth is interesting from its quaint formation. M. conicum 

 is one of the best and least known of the family. The rich violet-blue 

 flowers are produced in profusion, and their delicate fragrance is enjoy- 

 able. It may be used with advantage to cover the ground in shrubberies 

 and beds where the plants are not too close together. Naturalised in 

 the grass it is quite at home, multiplying freely. The flowers last long 

 in beauty, and are useful for cutting. This useful and easily-grown 

 group is much neglected in English gardens, notwithstanding the fact, 

 that a rough bank may be purpled with their flowers in early spring. 

 Plant Muscari bulbs two inches deep, and for increase separate the 

 bulbs when they are lifted. 



Narcissus (The Daffodil and Pheasant's Eye). These surpass all 

 other hardy bulbs in their value for the decoration of the garden. Deli- 

 cately-fashioned species, such as N. triandrus, N. bulbocodium, and 

 N. minimus, are seen at their best in the rock-garden, while showy 

 kinds brighten the mixed border before the herbaceous plants have 

 spread their foliage, and the most vigorous varieties provide exquisite 

 pictures when naturalised by thousands in the grass. Of the golden 

 Trumpet Daffodils, or Magni-coronati, the following are excellent varieties : 

 Maximus, Golden Spur, Emperor, N. obvallaris, and Queen of Spain. 

 In bicolors, which have golden cups and white perianths, Horsfieldi, 

 Empress, Grandee, and Victoria are good, while of the white Trumpets 

 Madame de Graaf is the best, but this variety is still too expensive for 

 general planting ; other good kinds in this section being Albicans, Mos- 

 chatus, N. pallidus pr&cox, and Princess Ida. Of the double Trumpets 

 none excel the old double Daffodil. In the chalice-cupped, or Medio- 

 coronati section, Sir Watkin, a fine bicolor, is the most vigorous ; C. J. 

 Backhouse, a lovely flower, with orange- scarlet cup; Barri conspicuus ; 

 Mrs. Langtry, white ; Goliath, and Madge Matthew are also particularly 

 attractive. The Parvi-coronati group includes the Pheasant's Eye 

 Narcissi, of which N. poeticus ornatus, P. poetarum, P. recurvus, and 

 the double form, are beautiful flowers, as well as the handsome Bur- 

 bidgei section. The best for general culture of the Polyanthus, or 

 many-flowered, Narcissi are Grand Monarque, Soleil d'Or, and Scilly 

 White. This group is, however, rather more tender than those already 

 alluded to. It is not wise to have too many kinds. The time to plant 

 Daffodils is quite the early autumn, September, or even late August. 

 This may surprise some amateur gardeners, as October and November 

 are still the months sacred to bulb-planting. This, of course, is difficult 

 to remedy, as one cannot, as a rule, receive the bulbs from the dealers 

 before the autumn. Plant the Pheasant's Eye or Poet's Narcissus 

 (N. poeticus) first, as this starts into root-growth before the others. It 

 is worth knowing the opinion of the Rev. G. H. Engleheart, who has 

 raised so many beautiful hybrids, as to the depth to plant Narcissus 

 bulbs : " I think four inches clear, or even five inches or more in the 

 case of the largest bulbs, is none too much soil above their tops. This 

 insures their being well below the unstable top-layer of the soil i.e. 

 that which is subject to contraction and expansion in the frosts and 

 thaws of winter. In my opinion it is the immunity from this move- 



