238 BULBS AND TUBEROUS-BOOTED PLANTS. 



than enough written on the Narcissus to fill more pages 

 than are contained in this entire work. 



There are three distinct classes of Narcissus, the 

 old and well known Daffodils, both single and double 

 forms; the white-flowered or Poet's Narcissus, and the 

 Tazetta, or Polyanthus Narcissus. The first two classes 

 are perfectly hardy, and will thrive in almost any soil or 

 situation. In the open border they should be planted in 

 quantity, especially in those spots where they appear 

 naturally at home, such as under the shade of trees, and 

 in the shrubbery borders, where many other plants 

 refuse to bloom. The newly awakened interest in the 

 many forms of single and double Daffodils is almost as 

 lively as when the poets sang so loud their praises. 

 This interest is well deserved, as they certainly are most 

 effective and desirable border flowers. All the species 

 and varieties of Narcissus should be grown in clumps 

 and patches in every suitable vacant spot, and there is 

 not a spot where grass will grow in which the Narcissus 

 will not thrive. 



Under fences and beside hedges, or in any out-of- 

 the way place, large quantities of the more free-growing 

 sorts, especially N. poeticus, should be planted for a 

 supply of early cut flowers, and a portion should be in 

 sunny, and a portion in shaded places, to prolong the 

 season of flowering. Their graceful appearance renders 

 tli em peculiarly valuable for this purpose, and, if cut 

 when partially opened, they will develop in water, and 

 last for many days. In planting, be guided by the size 

 of the bulb, allowing four to five inches between small 

 sorts, and from six to eight inches between the large 

 varieties. At this distance apart the bulbs will soon 

 completely fill the spaces forming a compact mass, and 

 it is then their flowers are produced the most freely. In 

 fact, they do not make an effective mass of bloom until 

 the bulbs are crowded. This is one of the good features 



