June 15, 1S92.] 



Garden and Forest. 



283 



light green foliage, tliey liave a peculiarly attractive cfi'ect when 

 a plant is in full liloom. A situation where it can have partial 

 shade is the best for this shrub, as the flowers become bleached 

 sooner in intense sunlight. 



The plant is not what we would call thoroughly hardy in all 

 situations in this climate, as very frequently many of the 

 branches or tips of the branches are destroyed during winter. 

 But once well established it will generally thrive in a partially 

 sheltered and well-drained situation. It may be propagated 

 by cuttings, layers or by division of the roots, and pieces of 

 roots will also put forth sprouts and make good plants. The 

 stems of Kerria are of a light yellowish green color, with some- 

 thing of the effect produced by someWillovvsorCornels, so that 

 in winter they form a striking contrast among the stems of 

 other plants in the shruLibery. There is a form of this with 

 white variegated leaves, but it should not be selected e.xcept 

 as a monstrosity or curiosity. ^ ^ ^ , 



Arnold Arboretum. /. G- Jack. 



Hardy Narcissi. — II. 



EVERY year these interesting spring bulbs are more widely 

 grown, the dealers tell us, and frequent inquiries are 

 made for the choice hybrid varieties included in the Leedsii, 

 Barrii and Burbridgei sections. These varieties differ but little 

 from each other, and if many of each section are grown labels 

 are necessary for their identification to any but the most ex- 

 pert. Among the Burbridgei varieties Falstaff is the most 

 striking. The perianth segments meet and form a perfect 

 flower without any of the starry look, which is a feature in 

 many varieties. Constance is another good kind, and John 

 Bain, Guinever and Edith Bell are cheap and good. The prin- 

 cipal feature of this section is their pure white perianth and 

 general likeness to the Poet's Narcissus, although most of 

 them flower earlier than that species. The centre of the 

 Ifower is cup-shaped, often distinctly margined with orange or 

 scarlet, although these markings are hardly as distinct as the 

 catalogues would have us believe. The climate, soil and sea- 

 son may, however, be responsible for variations. 



The iLeedsii, or Eucharis-flowered kinds, contain many beau- 

 tiful varieties ; these are high-priced, and are, therefore, not 

 generally cultivated, but one of them, Duchesse de Brabant, 

 should be grown in any collection, however small. It is a free 

 and early flowering kind, coming in with the varieties of N. 

 incomparabilis. It is always noticeable for its chaste ele- 

 gance and for the number of flowers of somewhat starry out- 

 line. While the Leedsii kinds are said to have white perianths, 

 it is not the white of a Poeticus, but is of a creamy shade. 

 Duchesse de Brabant would be a good variety for pot-culture, 

 owing to its early flowering, and it is easily obtainable in 

 quantity at a low price. Barr's hybrid or chalice-cupped Daf- 

 fodils may be said to resemble the varieties of N. poeticus in 

 shape, but the perianth segments are of various shades of 

 yellow, with the cup distinctly edged with orange. Of these, 

 Conspicuus is a variety of marked beauty. The flowers stand 

 out on long stems, and are remarkable for their durability. In 

 the four varieties we have tried there is not one that could be 

 spared. Orphge, iVIaurice Vilmorin and Sensation are good and 

 distinct from each other. The varieties of N. incomparabilis 

 need, perhaps, no description except the division that contains 

 the well-known Sir Watkin, in which are classed many that are 

 free growers and useful for cutting, such as Stella, which is 

 also a good kind to force, and Cynosure, a bold variety, with 

 very long stems and striking flowers. These varieties are ro- 

 bust growers and need plenty of encouragement, with perhapsa 

 biennial transplanting in August, or e.\actly similar treatment 

 to the Bicolor and Trumpet major Ivinds. William Wilkes is a 

 valuable late-flowering kind, though not sutficiently estab- 

 lished yet to bear out the character given it. Hume's Giant 

 is one of the straight-crowned Daffodils. It is distinct from 

 most other kinds, but the stems are sliort and the flowers 

 drooping, so that it cannot be seen to advantage unless it is 

 planted on a level with the eye, as on a rock-garden. The 

 same is true of N. capax plenus as to habit ; the flowers of 

 this variety are double and consist of six rows of petals placed 

 one above the other in the form of a star. This variety is 

 interesting in a collection, but must be planted among 

 the weaker-growing kinds. It has no affinity to the Poeti- 

 cus group, the color being pale primrose-yellow. I find 

 that very few cultivators care for double Daffodils and call 

 them monstrosities, which is technically correct ; but who can 

 find it in his heart to say that wild double Daffodils running 

 riot in the fields are monstrous ? I have seen acres of them, 

 and have gathered them in pasture-fields by the armful at 

 Easter-time. The owners would willingly have paid any one 



to dig out the bulbs, for cattle will not touch the Daffodils, and 

 they crowd out the grass for half the season at least. Cer- 

 tainly a word of praise is due to Orange Pluijnix, Sulphur 

 Phcenix, Von Sion and the double Incomparabilis, not even 

 omitting the double form of the Poet's Narcissus, though some 

 one will probably tell you that it always goes blind and does 

 not flower. Last year not one flower opened with us from 

 newly planted bvilbs ; this year they are in full bloom with 

 pure white double Gardenia-like flowers, fragrant and beau- 

 tiful. 



South Lancaster, Mas3. O, 



Natural Varieties of Narcissus Tazetta. 



NARC1.SSUS TAZETTA and its varieties, commonly known 

 as Polyanthus Narcissi, are less hardy than most of the 

 other species of the genus, but, with a single exception, there 

 is no trouble or risk of loss in growing them in the open 

 ground as far north as Boston. A light covering of corn-stalks 

 or other material should be given, not for the sake of warmth, 

 but to shade the ground and keep it from cracking down to 

 the bulbs in the alternate terms of freezing and thawing which 

 make up our winters. With such protection I never lose a 

 bulb in the severest seasons. In sections where snow lies on 

 the ground all winter no covering is needed. I advise the out- 

 of-door cultivation of the finer varieties of N. Tazetta, the 

 planting to be done at the end of October and the covering to 

 be applied a month later ; pot-grown specimensare poorcom- 

 pared with those in this way grown. I have this spring had 

 eighteen flowers of Grand Monarque on a single stalk, each 

 blossom nearly as large as those of N. poeticus. In its wild 

 state N. Tazetta sports into many well-marked varieties, so 

 distinct that some authors have regarded them as valid spe- 

 cies, and many of them are figured as such by Jordan and 

 Fourreau. I have cultivated many of these for several years, 

 and offer here the observations I have made upon so me of them. 



N. Tazetta canaliculatus makes a slow and feeble growth, 

 its longest foliage rarely exceeding nine inches, and the leaves 

 are few and slender. The flowers, not more than four or five 

 on a stalk, are small, their segments narrow and pointed. The 

 color of the segments is yellowish white ; the cup is light yel- 

 low. The bulbs are larger than those of some varieties of far 

 stronger growth ; they can be bought for thirty-five cents a 

 hundred, a low price apparently, but far more than they are 

 worth to a gardener, for this is the least attractive Narcissus I 

 have ever seen. N. Tazetta neglectus is somewhat better in 

 color and size, but is of little interest or beauty. Patulus is 

 somewhat better, and Siculus is still another step upward in 

 the scale of beauty, for in these the segments are clear, un- 

 stained white. They are, however, hardly worth growing, as 

 far more beautiful varieties are obtainable. The form that is 

 considered the type of N. Tazetta is quite attractive, though 

 no larger than the other kinds named, for its colors are clearer 

 and its form more graceful. Tenorii has comparatively broad 

 petals and is very handsome ; but the best of these Italian 

 forms is N. Barlae, which may claim equality of beauty with 

 the best garden forms. Though not as large as some of these, 

 it is exceedingly bright and beautiful, and its fragrance is less 

 heavy than in most varieties of the species. N. pachybolbos 

 is an Algerian kind which is ranked as a variety of Tazetta, 

 though widely different from any other variety of this family. 

 The bulb is very large and rough-coated, the foliage taller 

 than is usual in the genus, and the flowers, pure white with 

 light lemon cup, are very small and closely clustered. It is 

 well worth growing for its distinctness, though it is somewhat 

 tender and ought to have the protection of a frame. The va- 

 riety Papyraceus is the Paper White of the florists, very 

 pretty and early in flower, but now superseded by a seedling 

 variety of the same color and larger growth. Italicus and 

 Obliquus are varieties we can very well dispense with, espe- 

 cially the latter ; they are little, if any, better than Patulus. Of 

 Beitoloni I cannot speak ; I have had it two years, but have 

 not yet seen the flower. 



I have tried seven or eight other wild varieties, most of them 

 from Italy, of which there is nothing in particular to say. 

 Tenorii, Barls and Pachybolbos are the only ones which have 

 any horticultural value. „, „ _ ,. 



Canton, Mass. iV. E. EndlCOtt. 



The Water-gartden. 



T T is very pleasant, these balmy June mornings, to be greeted 

 ■'■ as one's first glances turn to the garden by the beautiful 

 Nymphseas gracefully anchored in the clear pool. In the early 

 morning the water-garden is full of animation, the flowers ex- 

 panding rapidly, the fish full of activity, engaged now in ap- 



