58 



The Canadian Horticulturist. 



slips are struck in water, great care must be taken, or in potting much 



injury will be done the tender fibres. They will root equally well in sandy 



soil ; this must never, however, be allowed todry, or the roots will perish. 



Care must be taken when cutting thestems that the hands are free from 



wounds, as it " bleeds " very freely, and its sap is said to be poisonous. 



It is said to poison the water of the streams in Algeria, either by drip from 



its leaves or by the sap exuding from its roots. There are single and double 



varieties, pink and cream, or fleshcolor. Most of the flowers are almond 



scented, and the double pink variety is particularly so. 



F. C. 



CHINESE SACRED LILY, OR NARCISSUS. 



THIS variety having come into prominence within the last few years, 

 many of the readers of The Horticulturist may not be acquainted 

 with the marvellous simplicity with which this bulb is developed. 

 The Chinamen all over Canada and United States consider it a sacred duty 

 to have one or more of these flowering during the winter, and I must confess 

 that nothing is simpler, and at the same time more satisfactory to grow. 



As seen in the illustration the bulbs are grown in bowls or basins, in the 

 bottom about an inch and a half of ordinary sand is placed, on which the 

 bulb is placed, and around 

 the bulb a number of peb- 

 bles to prevent the bulb 

 from toppling over when in 

 bloom. The basin is then 

 filled with water so as to 

 cover the bulb about half 

 an inch, they may then be 

 placed in a shaded part of 

 the room for four or five 

 days, after which they may 

 be brought to the light, and 

 left there until in bloom, 

 which may take five or six 

 weeks, the water may be 

 poured off every day, when 

 they will flower quicker, but 

 if the amateur does not care 

 to take this trouble, change 

 the watsr every week. 



The great advantage this 

 variety has over many other winter flowering bulbs is that the bulbs remain 

 for such a length of time in good planting condition, and can be procured 

 or kept and planted when wanted up to the month of April. Now, with 



Fig. 20. — Chinese Sacred Lily, or Narcissus. 



