Nails 



(100) 



Narcissus 



NAILS. 



Formerly the cast iron wall or garden nails 

 were indispensable, but latterly they have fallen 

 largely into disuse, having given place to wires 

 strained close to walls and fences, to which the fruit 

 or other trees are tied. Against dwelling-houses it 

 is now a common practice to provide wires or light 

 wooden trellises for the support of climbing plants. 

 The nailing of fruit trees to walls has little to recom- 

 mend it ; the branches are too close to the shelter. 

 and at the same time every nail-bole provides a 

 retreat for some of the many pests attacking such 

 subjects. Nails are sold by weight generally 

 about 3d. per Ib. 



NAMA. 



Stove and greenhouse annuals and perennials 

 (ord Hydrophyllacese) that are not often seen. 

 Propagation, by seeds and division in heat. Soil, 

 fibrous peat, loam, and coarse sand. 



Principal Species : 

 jamaicense, 2', Je,, st. Parryi, 4', sum., lilf-hdy. 



aim., bl., wh. per., pur., lil. 



undulatum, Je., grh., vio. 



NANDINA. 



Greenhouse evergreen shrubs (urd. Berberidese). 

 Domestica, known as the Chinese Bamboo, 6', July, 

 white, is the only species. It will grow out of 

 doors in sheltered spots in the southern counties. 

 Propagation, by cuttings in very sandy peat beneath 

 a bell-glass over mild bottom heat. Compost, 

 fibrous loam and peat, with some sand. 



NANNORHOPS. 



Stove Palms (ord. Palmse). Propagation, by 

 imported seeds. Soil, loam and coarse sand with 

 good drainage. The only species is ritchieana, 

 from whose leaves fans are made. Under favour- 

 able conditions it will reach a height of 30'. 



NANODKS. 



Although, to be strictly correct, the plants known 

 in gardens as Nanodes (ord. Orchidacea:) ought to 

 be included under Epidendrum, yet so distinct are 

 they in habit and in the size and shape of their 

 flowers, that no excuse seems necessary for referring 

 to them here under their more popular name. 

 They are all from western tropical South" America, 

 where they inhabit the higher Andes, and conse- 

 quently under cultivation they succeed admirably 

 under cool conditions such as suit most Odonto- 

 glossums and Masdevallias. Grow in somewhat 

 shallow baskets, affording ample drainage, and 

 using a compost of fibrous peat and live sphagnum 

 moss. Suspend near the roof glass. When well 

 established they have a partiality for a position 

 close to the spot where top air is admitted. 

 Drought must be avoided, but the water supply 

 may be reduced when growth is finished. Propa- 

 gation is by division. 



Principal Species : 

 Medusoe, 4". sum., aut., lurid pur., growths drooping 



(now Epidendrum Medusas). 



Other Species : 

 discolor, 3", Aug., pur. (now Epidendrum man- 



(now Epideudrum dis- tinianum). 



color). Matthewsii, 3", aut., pur. , 



Mantinii, 3", aut., whitish lip blood pur., procum- 



grn., spotted pur. br. bent growth (now Epi- 



dendrum Matthewsii). 



Nailmort (see Paronychia), 



NAP^EA. 



Hardy herbaceous perennials (ord. Malvaceic). 

 Propagation, by division or seeds ; the plants thrive 

 in any fertile soil. 



Principal Species : 



dioica, (>', Jy., wh. (//. Sida Napiva). 



NAPOLEONA. 



Evergreen shrubs (onl. Myrtacea 1 ) requiring stove 

 heat. Propagation, by cuttings of half ripe wood 

 beneath a bell-glass. Soil, fibrous loam and peat 

 in equal parts, with sand. 



Principal Species : 



imperialis, 6', spr.. cream Whitfieklii, fl', Ap., My., 

 wh. (sytis. Heudelotii crim. (*.'/. imperialis of 



and Vogelii). Hooker). 



NARAVELIA. 



A stove evergreen climber (ord. Ranunculaoese), 

 allied to Clematis. Propagation, by cuttings in 

 sandy peat. Soil, fibrous loam and peat, with sand. 



Principal Species : 

 zeylanica, Id', My., yel. 



NARCISSUS. 



Description. The Narcissus (ord. Amarylliclese) 

 is one of the most useful and popular of bulbous 

 plants, and its value for the decoration of th& 

 garden, conservatory, or window, and for the supply 

 of cut flowers, is incalculable. From a purely com- 

 mercial point of view, also, it is an exceedingly 

 important article, as it is grown by acres. For 

 decorative purposes it has no rival in its season, 

 and its value for all purposes has been greatly 

 increased by the production of many beautiful 

 varieties and hybrids.' The progress in this direc- 

 tion has been enormous since the time of Dean 

 Herbert, who, with Backhouse and Leeds, was 

 a pioneer of crossing the Narcissi. At the 

 present time there are many engaged in this enter- 

 prise, which has had the result of improving and 

 giving variety to the flower. Annually a large 

 number of new Narcissi are introduced, and seem 

 to be readily absorbed at high prices, ranging from 

 a few shillings to 30 by retail. 



Classification. For the purpose of classification, 

 the Narcissi have been arranged by Mr. J. G. Baker 

 into three great groups, called Magni-ooronati, 

 Medio-coronati, and Parvi-coronati, so termed from 

 the length of the crowns or trumpets. The first 

 consists of those which have the " corona funnel- 

 shaped or cylindrical, as long as, or longer than, the 

 perianth segments." The second have the " corona 

 cup-shaped, about half as long as the perianth seg- 

 ments," and the Parvi-coronati have the " corona 

 small, obconic or saucer-shaped." Bulbocodium, 

 the Hoop Petticoat, and the common English Lent 

 Lily, Pseudo-Narcissus, may be taken to repre- 

 sent the Magni-coronati, commonly known as the 

 Ajax, or Trumpet Daffodils. Familiar representa- 

 tives of the Medio-coronati are the varieties of N. 

 incomparabilrs, such as Sir Watkin and others 

 with similarly formed flowers. The Parvi-coronati 

 have good representatives in the poet-ions type and 

 its varieties, or in the Tazettas, as represented by 



Napoleon's Weeping Willow (see Salix babylvnica 

 i najwleona). 



