314 THE WINTER SOLSTICE 



incredible to those who only have experience of it in 

 the Midlands and eastern counties. Provided that the 

 ground is not frostbound, the milky blossoms of the 

 snowdrop appear during the shortest and darkest days 

 of winter, thrust upwards first like white spear points, 

 then turning over and drooping like fairy bells. In the 

 west I have found the first bell as early as December 19, 

 and it is seldom that several may not be gathered before 

 the New Year. 



In one respect the snowdrop differs remarkably from 

 most other bulbous plants, including those of the Amaryl- 

 lis family to which it belongs. No forcing, no coaxing 

 under glass, either with or without artificial heat, will pre- 

 vail to produce blooms a single day before the appointed 

 time. Over and over again have I seen clumps potted 

 and grown through the winter in a greenhouse or frame. 

 These plants flower simultaneously with those exposed 

 to all weathers outside. Nobody has hit upon an ex- 

 planation of this peculiarity, which is the more puzzling 

 because of the readiness with which the various species 

 of Narcissus, members of the same family, respond to 

 warmth and shelter. 



Less well known than the snowdrop is the spring snow- 

 flake (Leucoium vernum), differing only from its near 

 relative in the inner segments of the petal-like perianth, 

 which are as long as the outer ones, both inner and outer 

 being delicately cusped and tipped with gold, and in the 

 anthers, which split longitudinally to discharge pollen, 

 whereas the anthers of the snowdrop open only at the 

 top. Moreover, the snowflake far surpasses the snowdrop 

 in fragrance, which is not what one would expect, for 



