NARCISSI. i6i 



chapter on Crocuses, it is possible to cope with it 

 successfully. The foliage can be turned into neat 

 knots, and directly it begins to decay — at which stage 

 it has done all the good it is capable of to the bulbs 

 beneath — ^it can be removed. The green leaves break 

 off much more readily than those of Crocuses, and more 

 care is required in coiling them. It is certainly not 

 desirable to leave the foliage to droop and spread in an 

 unsightly mass on its way to maturity. 



Although Narcissi revel in a rich, moist soil, they are 

 so thoroughly under the subjection of a strong root 

 system as to be at home in almost any soil. A wet 

 summer is a great help to them on a thin, hot, dry, 

 soil ; it strengthens the bulbs, and insures abundance 

 of roots. But under a carpet they do not suffer 

 from drought as they would in hot, exposed soil. 

 The loamy soil of the average rockery suits them 

 admirably — the more so if it contains abundance 

 of grit. 



Unless the clumps are becoming much crowded it is 

 not necessary to interfere with the bulbs after flowering, 

 but if disturbance becomes necessary it should be done 

 in early summer, rather than in the autumn. At the 

 former season the plants have ripened off and shed — or 

 at all events arrived at the stage to be independent of — 

 the old roots ; at the latter they have formed new roots, 

 which they will require for the coming season. Late 

 lifting does no harm if the bulbs are replanted immedi- 

 ately, or if they hold tight to a good ball of soil, but it 

 does if they are left quite exposed for any length of 

 time. The earHer Hfting is the safer. When it is done 



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