106 GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS 



Treatment of Cuttings in Frames. Guard against excessive 

 moisture, as it would cause the cuttings to decay at the soil-level. 

 Admit air on fine days, shade from bright sunshine, and be careful not 

 to overwater. Plunge the pots to their rims in sifted ashes, soil, or 

 cocoanut fibre. 



Hardening and Planting Out. Directly the cuttings are rooted 

 they must be exposed to more sunshine and air, this to be a gradual process. 

 A slight frost would cripple the plants. Fig. 1 1, No. 7 shows how a young 

 plant must be put out in its flowering quarters. The crocks used for 

 drainage should be removed and the roots carefully spread out. Fig. n, 

 No. 8 depicts how an old cluster of tubers may be planted, and Fig. n, 

 No. 9 shows the resultant new growths. It is well to reduce the young 

 shoots to two. Old tubers should be planted several inches deep in 

 well-manured, trenched ground in April. Young plants from cuttings 

 must not be put out before the end of May. In the North, June 8 will 

 be early enough. Surround the young shoots with sifted coal-ashes. 



Daffodil. See Narcissus, p. 113. 



Fritillaria (Fritillaries). Of these plants F. imperialis (the Crown 

 Imperial) is the most striking. It is a stately, spring-blooming plant, 

 growing to a height of four feet, and bearing heads of drooping flowers, 

 clear yellow and orange-red in colour. F. Meleagris (Snake's-head), with 

 its purple diapered flowers and its white variety, are charming when 

 naturalised in moist places in the grass. It is amongst the Fritillaries 

 that we find so many of the varying tints of green and others of a bluish 

 glaucous tone, from which they merge to purple and plum. The flowers 

 are usually of quiet beauty. Many of the species are quite easily man- 

 aged, not only in the border or in the rock-garden, but equally so in 

 ordinary ground or in pasture. F. pallidiflora is very distinct, and 

 certainly one of the best. The flowers are of a pale yellow tone, and 

 beautifully chequered, whilst the foliage is glaucous in colour. The 

 species comes from Siberia, and is therefore quite hardy. Another species 

 also in flower at this time and a good companion is F. pyrenaica, a rather 

 dark plum-coloured flower, heavily netted with dark brown, very hardy, 

 and quite easily grown in sandy soil. Others worthy of note are the 

 scarlet F. recurva, F. citrina, F. alpina, and the beautiful F. Whittalli. 

 In the general culture of Fritallaries remember to plant in autumn, and 

 for most a comparatively dry soil is beneficial. The Snake's-head, 

 however, prefers moisture. Seed sown as soon as ripe in pans of sandy 

 soil will not result in flowering plants under five years. Small bulbous 

 offsets are produced, which should be planted in a reserve bed of porous 

 soil, and soon make good specimens. Plant from four inches to six 

 inches deep. 



Galanthus (Snowdrop). The Snowdrop, though grown in every 

 condition of soil and site, flourishes best in a moist and shady situation. 

 G. plicatus and G. Elwesii are two fine forms. There are many other 

 Snowdrops, but these are quite sufficient for a small garden. The ordi- 

 nary Snowdrop, G. nivalis, is pretty too, and very effective under tall 

 trees. Plant two inches deep as early in autumn as possible. 



