382 



Garden and Forest. 



[Number 233. 



dropped a lump of quick-lime into my manure-tub, but I don't 

 know positively whether it ever did any good. 



When there is good drainage and a free open soil, it is per- 

 fectly safe and preferable to use highly concentrated manures 

 which contain no solid ingredients to clog the surface as do 

 those impervious mi.xtures of green cow-manure. I continue 

 feeding until the flowers begin to expand. I have tried it 

 longer, but do not think I gained anything. 



Wellesley, Mass. 



T. D. H. 



JI 



Hardy Narcissus. 



'HE time is at hand when Narcissus-bulbs may be trans- 

 planted with safety, and often with benefit. The individuals 

 in old-established clumps of these plants are often so cramped 

 for space that only the outside bulbs flower at all, and often 

 when these are lifted and replanted no flowers are produced 

 the next season for the reason that there had not been room 

 enough for the proper development of the flower-buds in the 

 bulb. Some persons have therefore concluded that their bulbs 

 came of poor stock or had deteriorated, but a season of good 

 growth will usually put them in a condition to flower profusely. 



Any one who wishes to move bulbs of the Poet's Narcissus, 

 whether of the type N. Poeticus, or any of its varieties, should 

 do so as soon as the foliage begins to turn yellow, and not 

 wait, as is best with other kinds, until the leaves have died off 

 completely. The reason for this is simple, and it is important 

 that it should be understood ; the fact is, that this Narcissus is 

 never completely at rest, for new roots are produced before the 

 old ones have decayed, and several weeks before the leaves 

 have died down completely. Our bulbs of N. Poeticus and its 

 varieties are lifted already.'and in a cool airy place, where they 

 are rapidly drying off, when they will be replanted in another 

 situation among grass. The flowers of this section are not 

 desirable for room-decoration in a cut state, owing to their 

 powerful fragrance, consequently they are removed from the 

 border and placed where they will require less attention, and 

 also to make room for the other kinds, most of which have 

 increased threefold in two years from planting. 



When planting Narcissus I find it is a great advantage to 

 place at least a handful of coarse sand under the bulb ; the dif- 

 ference between bulbs so planted and others planted in the or- 

 dinary way is very strongly marked when lifting-time comes. 

 Those planted with sand have not a trace of decay at the base, 

 while others do show symptoms of this dread disease, though 

 there appear no actual losses therefrom, although 1 was 

 rather apprehensive of danger before taking up the bulbs in 

 our collection of over seventy kinds. When we consider how 

 great are the ravages of this disease in Europe, this is a matter 

 for congratulation, but past experience has led me to the con- 

 clusion that the long dry periods we experience during the 

 resting-season of Narcissus is a safeguard against attacks of 

 basil-rot, and that the bulbs will remain perfectly sound if no 

 disturbing element in the shape of decomposing fertilizers be 

 admitted to contact with the bulbs when planted. If the texture 

 of the soil be correct — that is, of a porous nature — then fer- 

 tilizers can be applied as a top-dressing in fall, when root- 

 action commences, and the rains will wash it down to the roots. 



August is the best time to obtain bulbs when new plant- 

 ings are to be made. Narcissus should be in the ground and 

 making roots about the usual time of purchasing them — that 

 is, when the Dutch bulbs arrive here. There is no reason 

 why we should not obtain Narcissus as early as we do Roman 

 Hyacinths or Lilium I-Iarrisii, and dealers would be quick to 

 respond to inquiries for Narcissus were they made atan earlier 

 date than is the custom, and to the purchaser the results 

 would be far better than when planting is delayed until Octo- 

 ber, for all root-growth is suspended in November on account 

 of frost, before the bulbs have got fairly to work. If late 

 planting must be done, a covering of dry leaves may be put 

 over the beds, and these will keep out any but the most severe 

 frosts almost to the end of the year in ordinary seasons, but 

 this covering must be removed as soon as frost and snow will 

 permit in spring, so that all growth above ground may have 

 light and air. "The question may be asked, is it necessary to 

 keep the bulbs out of the soil for any length of time when 

 lifting in summer, as is the custom with English growers at 

 their annual lifting ? It will bear repetition, that there is no 

 need of lifting Narcissus annually here, but only for the sake 

 of division. "The bulbs, after drying gradually for a few days, 

 may be cleaned of old roots and foliage, separated with care, 

 and replanted at once, since the soil here is warm and usually 

 dry in August, and is, therefore, a better place for storage 

 than we could give them above ground at this season. 



South Lancaster, Mass. E. 0. Orpet. 



Correspondence. 



A National Wild Flower Exhibition. 

 To the Editor of Garden and Forest : 



Sir, — One of the most vivid and pleasing recollections of a 

 recent visit to Scotland is the Wild Flower Exhibition held at 

 Edinburgh. The principal objects of this exhibition are to 

 engage the active energies of the young in a healthful and 

 instructive recreation, and to enlist their sympathies on behalf 

 of their sufferingand unfortunate fellow-creatures in children's 

 hospitals. The exhibition at Edinburgh was the fourth one 

 held under the auspices of The People s Friend, a juvenile paper. 

 The former exhibits were held in Glasgow, Dundee and Aber- 

 deen. The distinguishing feature of the one just held is, that 

 the exhibits liave been entirely gathered by children. In all, 

 there were over 1,700 entries, consisting of iiand-bouquets, 

 baskets, bouquets of Heather and Thistles, of Heather and 

 Bluebells, of wild Grasses, of white Heather, of wild Ferns in 

 rustic baskets, wreaths of wild Roses and Ploneysuckles, col- 

 lections of dried wild flowers, and of dried leaves of native 

 trees tastefully mounted, crosses of wild flowers, and window 

 flower-boxes. All, with the exception of the last class, was the 

 work of children. These floral attractions were systematically 

 grouped into various classes and artistically arranged upon 

 tables in Music Hall, where they were subject to leisurely in- 

 spection. 



The exhibition was opened by Sir William Muir, Prin- 

 cipal of the University of Edinburgh, while Mr. John Leng, 

 M. P., acted as Chairman. Upon the platform were many gen- 

 tlemen of note, including several members of royalty and 

 many of the principal clergymen of the city. Apologies for 

 absence were received from the Duchess of Buccleuch, the 

 Marchioness of Tweed, the Earl of Stair and others, showing 

 the general interest taken in the enterprise. 



After calling the large assembly to order, Mr. Leng said, in 

 substance, that Edinburgh was a city of exhibitions. It was 

 regarded, not only by Scotchmen but by all who visited it, as 

 an exhibition in itself. They had floral exhibitions to satiety, 

 representing all the seasons of the year. In the last week they 

 had held a grand horticultural show, but they had never yet 

 had a show like this one, which claimed to be unique, both in 

 its exhibits and in respect to its exhibitors. As a wild flower 

 exhibition it had a character of its own, and he would admit 

 that people generally had little idea that the common wild 

 flowers of the highways and hedges, the meadows, woodlands, 

 hills and nioimtains, 'could be set forth with such artistic effect 

 or could produce such a beautiful combination. The exhibi- 

 tion was not local in its character ; it did not bring together 

 simply the wild flowers of Mid-Lothian or the east of Scofland ; 

 it set before the visitors the entire midsummer wild flora of 

 Scotland from the Shetland Islands to the Borders, and even 

 beyond the Borders, for there were exhibits from England and 

 Ireland as vv'ell. The exhibitors of these bouquets and baskets, 

 these devices and decorations, were all children. The flow- 

 ers had been gathered by their industry and arranged by their 

 skill, so that there were represented before them the results of 

 the labors of nearly two thousand children working with a pur- 

 pose and a will, that purpose being to help their sick brothers 

 and sisters in the Royal Sick Children's Hospital. 



Sir William Muir said he believed that in many respects this 

 would be the most charming exhibition ever held in Edin- 

 burgh. Nothing could be more pleasant than to see how the 

 people of the country, especially the children, wei-e interesting 

 themselves in the growing of flowers. It was one of those 

 objects which the public should encourage to the utmost of 

 their power. He trusted that by this flower-show the funds of 

 that most useful hospital, the one devoted to sick children in 

 the city of Edinburgh, would be greatly enlarged, for the insti- 

 tution was well worthy the confidence and support of all inter- 

 ested in the exhibition. The people of Scotland owed an im- 

 mense debt to Mr. Leng for having originated this idea. The 

 exhibition was then formally declared open. During the day 

 excellent music and dramatic recitals were provided. 



The most largely patronized competition was that of the 

 hand-bouquets of wild flowers. In this class there were two 

 sections, junior and senior, with a grand total of no less than 

 800 entries. One of the principal constituents of these bou- 

 quets was the well-known Ox-eye Daisy, while the Dandelion, 

 Poppy, Vetch, Clover, Buttercup, and other species common 

 to the United States, were seen in profusion. Tlie baskets of 

 wild flowers formed very pleasing exhibits. The baskets them- 

 selves were usually rustic in character, being made of rushes, 

 willow, bark or some similar material. The flowers in them 

 were usually of the same general character as those in the 



