BOOK II. NARCISSUS. 839 



purposes. The latter generally flower the first spring after planting, and are treated in 

 all respects as full-grown roots. 



6290. By seed. The following directions are by Haworth. " The seeds of crocuses are best sown, 

 immediately after being gathered, in light dry earth, in large pots, or pans, or small shallow boxes, 

 with a sufficiency of holes and potsherds at the bottom, for the purpose of draining off with certainty all 

 superfluous moisture thinly ; for almost every seed will vegetate, and cover not more than half an inch 

 with the mould. The most eligible aspect, or situation, for the seminal boxes, until the autumnal rains 

 set in, is a moderately shady yet unsheltered one : permitting them to receive all the influence of the 

 weather, except such heavy showers as would wash bare the seeds. As soon, however, as the autumnal 

 rains commence, remove the boxes to a warm aspect ; and protect them from all excessive rains, frosts, 

 and snows, by the occasional shelter of a garden-frame : allowing them, nevertheless, the benefit of the 

 full air at other times, but more especially after the seminal leaf (for they have but one, being monoco- 

 tyledonous plants), eager to commence the career of life, urges its fine setaceous point above the surface 

 of the earth. This occurs sometimes about the end of the year; but oftener in earliest spring. After 

 this it is quite essential that they should have complete exposure to the air, even in frosty weather ; 

 screening them, however, occasionally, like early radishes, with loose straw, from other injurious effects 

 of frost ; so as to prevent their being raised out of their infantile beds by its baneful effects. In this 

 manner may the young crocuses be treated until the sun acquires sufficient power to dry the earth in 

 their boxes, so as to require daily waterings. It will be then found advantageous to remove them to a 

 cooler, but not sheltered situation, and here they may remain until their leaves die down ; giving them, 

 as just hinted, at all times, and in every situation, while their leaves are growing, such discretional rose- 

 waterings, when the sun is not shining, as they may reasonably appear to require : but never until the 

 earth they grow in becomes dry: not any whatever, after their leaves begin to look yellow. After this 

 period, it is necessary to defend them from all humidity, except dews and gentle rains, until the end of 

 August, or beginning of September." 



6291. From weeds, worms, slugs, and snails, " it is almost needless to observe, they should constantly be 

 kept as clear as possible. And if the surface of the earth in their boxes is occasionally stirred with the 

 point of a knife, or fine piece of stick, it will never fail to be attended with beneficial effects, and invigo- 

 rate the bulbs : operating no doubt, as a sort of hoeing, and, like that important practice, (as the writer 

 of this paper conceives,) proving salubrious to vegetables of every denomination, not only by lightening 

 the soil, but by admitting new accesses of atmospheric air towards their roots ; and thereby facilitating, 

 and stimulating their absorbent inspiration of its oxygen : without a due supply of which all vegetables, 

 as well as animals, eventually become feeble and sick. If, notwithstanding the precaution 

 of thinly sowing the seeds, the plants in any of your seminal boxes should have grown so thickly 

 together as to have incommoded each other, it will be desirable to have such taken up, and replanted 

 immediately further asunder in fresh earth, and about three quarters of an inch deep. But if they are 

 not too crowded, they will require no shifting this their first autumn ; but merely about a quarter of 

 an inch of fresh mould sifted over them, previously stirring and cleaning the surface of the old from 

 moss and weeds ; and observing not to bury the young bulbs not yet so large as lentils, deeper than 

 three quarters of an inch, or an inch at the most. The second season requires exactly the same manage- 

 ment as the first. But as soon as their second year's foliage has passed away, the roots should all be 

 taken up, and replanted again the same or following day, into fresh earth, of the same kind as before, 

 about an inch deep, and as much apart, and treated as above. Nor does the third season demand any 

 alteration in their management ; sifting over them in autumn half an inch of fresh earth. The spring 

 following, if they have been duly attended to, most of them will show flowers (a few, perhaps, having 

 done so the season before) in the midst of- their fourth crop of leaves ; fully rewarding with the cheering 

 colors of their new faces all the preceding assiduity and care." (Hort. Trans, i. 125.) 



6292. Choice of bulbs. Observe that the base is not mouldy, nor the bud or summit of the bulb 



6293. 'Soil, situation, and culture. They will grow in any common soil, but prefer a loamy sand. Octo* 

 ber is the best season for planting; the more select varieties are grown in beds like the hyacinth, and the 

 colors mingled in the same manner; the distance from bulb to bulb about three inches. The more ordi- 

 nary sorts are grown as border-flowers, and form an important part of the early flowers of the front row. 

 (Jte, 552. a) They are very hardy, and require no care till the leaves begin to fade, when they should 

 be 'taken up, and kept in a state of rest for two or three months. Some do not take them up oftener than 

 once in three years, which answers very well for the border sorts. Even these, however, should not be 

 left longer, because, as the young bulbs are formed on the tops of the others, they come nearer to the sur- 

 face every year, till at last, if neglected, they are thrown out and lost. 



SUBSECT. 6. Narcissus. Narcissus, L. Hex. Monog. L. and Amaryllideee, B. P. 

 Narcisse, Fr. and Ger. ; and Narcisso, Ital. 



6294. The bulb of the narcissus is pear-shaped and tunicated, the leaves succulent and 

 linear, and the flower-stems, which are from six to eighteen inches in height, bear either 

 solitary or fasciculated flowers ; the color of the flower is either white or yellow, and 

 generally Odoriferous. Most of the species are natives of the south of Europe, but one, 

 the N. Pseudo- Narcissus, is a native of England, and common in woods in clayey soils. 

 They come into flower in February, March, and April. 



6295. Species and varieties. The popular division of this genus is into daffodils, 

 white narcissus, jonquils, and polyanthus narcissus. 



6296. Criterion of a good narcissus. Strong erect stems ; regularity of form and dis- 

 position in the petals and nectars ; distinctness and clearness of color ; and in the many- 

 flowered sorts, the peduncles all of the same length, and coming into flower at once. 



6297. ProiHigation. By seed for new varieties, but generally by offsets, which, as they 



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